Audi Gives More Details on Dual Hybrid R18 E-Tron Quattro

A day after PorschePorscheGermany, 1931 > present43 models
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revealed that its 2014 LMP1 racer would use a four-cylinder engine with two energy recuperation systems, AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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is letting the details slip on its 2014 R18 E-Tron QuattroAudi R18Germany, 2011 > present4 versions
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. While the name is unchanged, the car is getting many updates in line with the rules changes.

“A fundamental approach to motorsport is being abandoned. Instead of power output, energy consumption will be subject to limitations – this is in line with the spirit of our times and opens up great technical freedom to the engineers. In 2014, we’ll be seeing a wide variety of concepts on the grid at Le Mans,” said Chris Reinke, Head of LMP at Audi Sport.

The car continues to use a turbodiesel V6 with power going to the rear wheels with a flywheel hybrid powering the front wheels that gets energy from brake energy recovery. However, there is the new edition of a heat energy recovery system that takes the heat that the engine produces, converts it to electricity and uses the power for a further electric turbocharger for the engine. It claims that with internal upgrades to the engine, the car is 30% more fuel efficient than the 2013 car.

Physically, the car is 10cm narrower than the previous generation and 20mm higher. Changed rules allow for a front wing, rather than a diffusor. It saves teams money by allowing them to change the angle of the wing at each track, rather than building different bodywork assemblies for each track. However, cars are no longer allowed to have blown exhaust diffusors at the rear. The rules also prescribe that each wheel has two tethers to improve safety.

The 2014 R18 will make its racing debut at the Six Hours of Silverstone on April 20, 2014, and will be testing across the world until then.