That Audi is the world’s first automobile manufacturer to compete for overall victory at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel engine and is, as a result, a step ahead of the competition is almost self-explanatory: Audi is the inventor of the TDI and therefore the trend setter in this area.
At the International Car Show in Frankfurt in 1989, Audi presented the world’s first diesel engine with direct injection and complete electronic engine management for use in passenger cars – a five-cylinder TDI producing 120 hp and 265 Newton metres torque. It was the birth of the revolutionary TDI technology which helped the diesel to change its image: Slow, loud and uncultivated were superseded by agile, comfortable and extremely economical. The Audi TDI brought the opposites of sporting-dynamic and long-range through low consumption in an emotional way down to a common denominator, without neglecting the diesel’s exceptional reputation: its long-life.
Today every second Audi is delivered with a TDI engine – the outlook is bright. Audi has constantly set new technical standards during the development of the TDI engines over the last 16-years. The current highlight is the Audi V8 4.2 TDI quattro with 326 hp and 650 Newton metres torque – one of the most powerful compression ignition engines found in a production limousine – and all this whilst complying with the EU 4 emission limits and with an average fuel consumption of 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres.
With the V12 TDI for Le Mans, Audi demonstrates impressively just how much potential TDI technology has. The Audi customers will once again benefit from the experience gained in motorsport as they did from the R8 and the quattro models.
Technical partners – R10 project: Bosch, Michelin, Shell & Co
The success of AUDI AG in motorsport is no coincidence. The company’s technical expertise is a guarantee for this – however, cooperation with the best external technical partners is also important.
Most of the partners involved in the R10 project have already been working successfully with Audi Sport for many years – and with several since the start of the "original quattro" project at the beginning of the 1980s.
Bosch, Michelin and Shell have all played particularly important roles. As was the case with the direct fuel injection TFSI, which was developed by Audi and Bosch together, Audi Sport and Bosch continue their cooperation for the R10 project. The V12 TDI engine management is performed by the Bosch Motronic MS14. The latest generation Common Rail System also originates from Bosch. The input is however not only limited to the engine: A completely new vehicle-data-logging system (FDE) was created together with Bosch.
Michelin was an exclusive and reliable tyre partner during the R8 years. The R10 project also makes new demands of the current Formula 1 World Champions: A wider front tyre was designed specifically for Audi. The enormous torque of more than 1,100 Newton metres produced by the TDI engine makes great demands on the rear tyres, which only one tyre partner with a technical background like Michelin could deal with.
Shell, another partner previously involved with the R8, is also on board. Shell VPower Diesel is a particularly efficient fuel, from which the R10 will also benefit: From 2006 Shell V-Power is the official fuel supplier for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Shell uses the R10 project to develop the next generation of Shell V-Power Diesel.
Numerous other proven technical partners have contributed to the R10 project: The gearbox was designed together with the company X-trac, the carbon fibre monocoque was created under the watchful eye of Audi Sport at Dallara. ZF Sachs supplied the clutch – a partner with whom Audi Sport have been working since the rally days. Megaline supplies the gearbox control system and the new high-tech steering wheel, O.Z. the wheels, Öhlins the dampers and Garrett the turbo chargers.
- Audi Motorsport, Stephan Grühsem, Jürgen Pippig -
photos copyright AUDI
