2012 Audi R18 TDI Pictures, Specifications, and Information

Fast-Autos.net


Home - Makes - Audi - 2012 Audi R18 TDI

2012 Audi R18 TDI Pictures, Specifications, Information

Follow fastautosnet on Twitter

specifications information


General Information
Vehicle Type: Race Car
Price: NA
Miles Per Gallon:
Drivetrain
Configuration
Engine: 3.7 liter, Twin Turbo, TDI V 6
Displacement:
Horsepower: 550 HP
Torque:
Max RPM:
Transmission: 6 speed Sequential
Dimensions
Weight:
Height:
Length:
Width:
Wheelbase:
Track:
Performance
0-60 mph:
0-100 mph:
Quarter Mile:
Top Speed:
Lateral Acceleration:
Braking, 60-0 mph:
Slalom Speed:
Nürburgring Lap Time:

Audi aims to continue its string of victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours with a completely new LMP1 sports car development. Since its debut in 1999, the brand with the Four Rings has won the world's most important endurance race as many as nine times with the R8, R10 TDI and R15 TDI models. In doing so, Audi has equaled this feat in the race's roll of honor with Ferrari. With the new R18, which was presented at the Audi Sportpark in Ingolstadt on the evening of Friday, December 10, 2010, Audi is aiming for its tenth Le Mans success in 2011.

For the first time since 1999, Audi will contest Le Mans with a closed coupe again. "In the future, aerodynamic efficiency will be even more important at Le Mans than it was in the past," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "A closed car has clear advantages in this respect. Our computer simulations have been confirmed in the wind tunnel and during initial track tests."

Significantly smaller engines than those used before will be prescribed at Le Mans in 2011 as the rule makers aim to achieve a substantial reduction of engine power. By opting for a 3.7-liter V6 TDI unit, Audi retains the diesel concept that saw its first victorious fielding in 2006. "From our point of view, the TDI continues to be the most efficient technology," says Ulrich Baretzky, Head of Engine Development at Audi Sport. "There are good reasons why the share of TDI units among Audi's production models is as high as it is."

Through the innovative V6 TDI engine for the Le Mans 24 Hours, motorsport is yet again performing pioneering work for the production arm at Audi where there is a growing trend towards smaller, more economical but yet powerful engines.

Another new development is the six-speed transmission in the R18 which has been specifically modified for use with the smaller engine.

With regard to the chassis Audi Sport wants to live up to its promise, expressed in the brand's "Vorsprung durch Technik" tagline. Unlike those of the closed Le Mans prototypes, the carbon fiber monocoque of the R18 does not consist of two halves but features a single-component design. This saves weight and increases stiffness.

For the development of the closed R18, engineers at Audi Sport were able to draw on the experiences gained in 1999 with the R8C and in 2003 with the LMP1 of the corporate "sister brand" Bentley that was victorious at Le Mans. "Also the Audi A4 DTM, which for example, features a heated windshield, allowed us to shorten the development cycle with respect to the ventilation of the cockpit, the doors and the heating of the windshield," explains Dr. Martin Mühlmeier, Head of Engineering at Audi Sport.

The chassis and aerodynamics package contains a lot of know-how from the R8, the R10 TDI and the R15 TDI whereas the fitting of identically sized front and rear wheels is new to an Audi Le Mans sports car. This configuration allows a more balanced weight distribution.

The R18's headlights, which are the first to completely consist of LEDs with optimized amount of light, are a technical highlight. The new generation of headlights was developed in close cooperation between Audi Sport and the Technical Development (TE) division of AUDI AG and by using at Le Mans, will be prepared for future use in production vehicles. Audi's light designers had the chance to make their mark on the development as well: The LEDs of the daytime light form the shape of a "1" which is intended to inspire associations with Audi's historic brand logo.

The Audi R18 has been designed for progressive electrification, which Audi Sport is planning to drive forward step by step. "But efficiency is always the crucial factor for us," says Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "No matter which form of energy recovery we may choose the key aspect for Audi - in motorsport as well as on the production side of the house - is that it provides a true advantage."

The development of the new Audi R18 started in mid 2009. The V6 TDI engine has been running on the dynamometers since the summer of 2010. The R18, with Allan McNish at the wheel, completed its first test on a racetrack at the end of November.

The racing debut of the Audi R18 is planned for the Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) 6 Hours on May 8. Prior to the event, the new prototype will be able to do its first laps on the race track at Le Mans during the official test day on April 24 and gather important data for the race on June 11 and 12.

Audi is planning to field three Audi R18 cars at Le Mans, which will be entered by Audi Sport Team Joest, the most successful Le Mans team of all time. In addition, Audi Sport Team Joest will contest the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC), consisting of a total of seven endurance races on three continents (including the Le Mans 24 Hours) with two cars. At the opening race at Sebring on March 19, the team will use two "R15 plus plus" cars. "Sending the R18 into a race at such an early point in time would be difficult in terms of logistics and interfere with our development program," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.


photos
Image Credits: Audi

Front Disc Rotors + Ceramic Brake Pads for 2012 2013 2014 2015 - 2019 VW Beetle picture

Front Disc Rotors + Ceramic Brake Pads for 2012 2013 2014 2015 - 2019 VW Beetle

$91.34



10pc Front Lower Control Arms +Ball Joints Kit for Jetta Golf Eos GTI A3 Quattro picture

10pc Front Lower Control Arms +Ball Joints Kit for Jetta Golf Eos GTI A3 Quattro

$132.74



Turbo Turborcharger GT1749V GT17 VNT For VW Beetle Golf Jetta ALH 1.9TDI 98-04 picture

Turbo Turborcharger GT1749V GT17 VNT For VW Beetle Golf Jetta ALH 1.9TDI 98-04

$235.99



312mm Front Brake Rotors for VW Jetta Passat CC Beetle Golf GTI Tiguan A3 Q3 TT picture

312mm Front Brake Rotors for VW Jetta Passat CC Beetle Golf GTI Tiguan A3 Q3 TT

$81.71



Turbocharger Actuator - 2.0 TDI, 170 BHP for AUDI, SKODA, VW, TURBO 53039700207. picture

Turbocharger Actuator - 2.0 TDI, 170 BHP for AUDI, SKODA, VW, TURBO 53039700207.

$40.50



Front Engine Splash Shield For 2005-2014 Volkswagen Jetta 2006-2009 Rabbit picture

Front Engine Splash Shield For 2005-2014 Volkswagen Jetta 2006-2009 Rabbit

$28.48



10.71

10.71" REAR Disc Brake Rotors Ceramic Pads for 2015 2016 2017 Audi A3 A3 Ouattro

$62.89



312mm Front & 272mm Rear DRILLED Brake Rotors for VW Jetta Passat Beetle GTI A3 picture

312mm Front & 272mm Rear DRILLED Brake Rotors for VW Jetta Passat Beetle GTI A3

$147.45



AC Condenser For 2005-2011 Volkswagen Jetta 2006-2009 Rabbit With Drier picture

AC Condenser For 2005-2011 Volkswagen Jetta 2006-2009 Rabbit With Drier

$55.79



Set of 2 HID Headlights Driving Head lights Headlamps  Driver & Passenger Pair picture

Set of 2 HID Headlights Driving Head lights Headlamps Driver & Passenger Pair

$399.98




Contact | Copyright Information | Privacy Policy & Terms of Use