In order to initiate new technology, Audi AG has again used Motor sport. Audi’s new Le Mans race car is the first LMP1 car in the world, which combines a sophisticated TDI with a hybrid system. In a complete new form, quattro drive also entered the race track. On May 5 the new Le Mans prototype, Audi R18 e-tron Quattro will make its race debut at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) in the 6-hour race. Further on June 16/17, the car will participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (France).
In order to create a new type of drive ‘e-tron Quattro’, two technologies are united by Audi. The company has already tested this technique for using it in the production of future cars. In the background of this description is the future generation four-wheel drive with which the company clubs the benefits of proven quattro drive with the capability of electromobility. The vehicle axle is conventionally powered and the latter by electric motors.
“Audi has always consciously selected championships and categories in racing that have a close relationship to production and therefore have technical relevance for the Audi customers,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, who personally drove the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro onto the stage on Wednesday evening during its world premiere in the Audi Training Centre at Munich airport – electrically and almost silent. “quattro, TFSI and TDI are three excellent examples of how motorsport has stimulated production development. A similar tendency is apparent with the e-tron quattro: we test a completely new technology on the race track before it’s introduced to the Audi production line.”
On the Audi R18 e-tron Quattro, during the braking stage, kinetic energy is recovered on the front axle. Before being retrieved under acceleration at a speed more than 120 kmph, it is provided as electric into a flywheel accumulator. Front axle is combined only during this procedure. Power to the rear wheels is continuously provided by the V6 TDI engine producing 510 hp (375 kW). To form new drive principle e-tron Quattro, both systems complements one another.
In February 2010, project e-tron quattro for motorsport started. From early conceptual ideas to the first test, only 18 months passed. “This is a relatively short cycle for a technology that has never been tested in motorsport and which still doesn’t even exist in production,” stresses Dr. Martin Mühlmeier, Head of Technology at Audi Sport. “The challenge is correspondingly big.”
Parallel to the Audi R18 e-tron quattro, Audi R18 ultra has been developed by Audi Sport as the company took two crucial steps this year in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With and without any hybrid drive, the 2012 model year Audi R18 has been developed.
For Audi Sport and the race team, additional logistical effort is limited as base of both vehicles are similar. “The TDI engine invented by Audi is still the most efficient drive in the world,” says Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “We are convinced that the TDI has even more potential. This is why Audi not only supports the hybrid in motorsport as it does in production, but in parallel also the further development of the conventional drive.”
During the development of 2011 Le Mans race winning R18 TDI, focus was laid on the lightweight design and construction to manage the extra weight of the hybrid system. Apart from complete optimisation, innovation is also done in the transmission section. For R18, the company developed a new gearbox with a carbon-fibre composite housing.
“The new R18 ultra is a distinct evolution of last year’s Le Mans race winning car,” summarizes Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Our drivers’ impressions were very positive from the first moment. Without the weight optimized R18 ultra we would have not been capable of realizing the R18 e-tron quattro which is absolutely identical with the exception of the hybrid system.”
In the Le Mans 24 Hours scheduled to be held on June 16/17, 2012, two R18 ultra and two R18 e-tron quattro Audi Sport Team Joest will field two R18 ultra and two R18 e-tron quattro prototypes. Last years winning trio André Lotterer (D), Marcel Fässler (CH), and Benoît Tréluyer (F) as well as Tom Kristensen (DK), Dindo Capello (I) and Allan McNish (GB) drives the two hybrid cars. They hold pride of winning 13 Le Mans.
In an R18 ultra, Romain Dumas (F) Loïc Duval (F) starts with Romain Dumas (F) and Timo Bernhard (D) as do Mike Rockenfeller (D), Oliver Jarvis (GB), and Marco Bonanomi (I). At Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) Audi Sport Team Joest participates in World Championship round, which will be held on May 5. For the 24 hours Le Mans, the race doubles as a dress rehearsal. As there is a date clash with the DTM, Mike Rockenfeller will miss the race.
In the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), an R18 ultra and an R18 e-tron Quattro will enter after the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As per reports, Allan McNish and André Lotterer will be the drivers. Audi Sport Team Joest relies on the last years successful R18 TDI for the World Championship opener at Sebring (USA), which is scheduled on March 17. Drivers of R18 TDI are Tom Kristensen/ Dindo Capello /Allan McNish, Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer as well as Timo Bernhard/ Loïc Duval/Romain Dumas/
In 2011, around 1,302,650 cars of Audi Brand have been delivered by the Audi Group to the customers. The company registered operating profit of €3.96 billion and revenue of €32.4 billion in between January and September 2011. Vehicles of Audi are manufactured in Changchun (China), Győr (Hungary), Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), and Brussels (Belgium).
In the Aurangabad plant of India, the company started manufacturing Audi A6 during the end of 2007. Audi started producing its A4 in the beginning of October 2008 in India, which was followed by the production of Audi Q5 in July 2010. In June 2011, the company started manufacturing Audi A6 in Aurangabad. Since May 2010, the company is carrying out the production process of new Audi A1 at the Brussels plant. Further, the manufacturing process of new A1 Sportback started in 2012. The company in its Martorell (Spain) facility began the production of Audi Q3. In more than 100 markets across the globe, the company has made its presence.
Wholly owned subsidiaries of Audi AG comprise quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm, Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. in Sant’Agata Bolognese (Italy), and Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. At present, the company provides employment to 63,000 people across the globe out of which 47,900 people are employed in Germany.
The company is planning to invest €13 billion in between 2012 to 2016 on human resource, new products and development of production capacities, so that the technological lead of the brand remains intact as per the “Vorsprung durch Technik” slogan. The company’s Győr (Hungary) site is currently undergoing expansion. In late 2013, the production in Foshan (China) will begin. The car maker aims to increase its car portfolio to 42 by 2015.
Authorized Dealer Showrooms in India are listed below:
- Audi Gurgaon - Orchid Centre, Sector – 54, Golf Course Road
- Audi Hyderabad - 8-2-684/A, Road No.12, Banjara Hills
- Audi Indore – NRK Business Park, Plot B1, Vijay Nagar
- Audi Jaipur- Kamal & Co. Premises, Opp GPO, M.I. Road
- Audi Kochi - NH. 47, Vytilla Aroor, Bye Pass Road, Marudu P.O.
- Audi Kolkata - 9 AJC Bose Road
- Audi Ludhiana – GT Road
- Audi Ahmedabad - Rudra-Path, S.G. Road
- Audi Bengaluru – Survey No 6/1, Beratana Agrahara, 15 KM Road, Hosur Road, Electronic city P.O
- Audi Chandigarh - Plot No. 171, Industrial Area, Phase I
- Audi Chennai - 535, Anna Salai, Nandaman
- Audi Delhi - B -1/H 1, Mohan Co-operative Industrial Estate, Mathura Road
- Audi Mumbai West - New Link Road, Andheri West
- Audi Pune - Pro1 Business Centre, Plot No. 395+396, Senapati Bapat Road, Shivajinagar
- Audi Surat - Nr. Rundhnath Mahadev Mandir, Surat Dumas Road
