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TDI power drives forward a whole new generation of high
performance diesel cars
An all-new Audi TDI
endurance racer carrying the genes of the first and only diesel-powered
sports car to win the Le Mans 24 Hours has opened its account with a
maiden victory in Florida’s Sebring 12 Hours (21 Mar), and these same
genes are spawning advanced diesel-powered road cars like the TT TDI, Q7
V12 TDI and A5 3.0 TDI.
The Vorsprung durch
Technik brand is leading the way in diesel power for road going
performance cars, and this is especially evident in the Q7 V12 TDI
quattro with its 6.0-litre TDI unit directly derived from the pioneering
and history-making R10 TDI sports prototype which conquered Le Mans.
Spurred on by a mammoth 1,000Nm torque output, the flagship Q7
accelerates from rest to 62mph in just 5.5 seconds, but bald figures
can’t hope to convey its epic performance.
The new Audi R15
TDI has an incredibly hard act to follow in the R10 TDI, which in 2006
became the first in the history of endurance racing to win an
international sports car race using TDI turbo diesel power, and went on
to make Le Mans 24 Hour race history with an inaugural victory that same
year. But the newcomer is already showing great promise, taking a debut
race victory in the historic Sebring 12 Hours in Florida on March 21st.
Britain’s Allan McNish and co-drivers Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Dindo
Capello (Italy) clocked up a record distance at a record average speed
in the process.
Equally
encouragingly, the R15 TDI, which will race in this year’s Le Mans 24
Hours over 13-14 June, was not only the most reliable and fastest
prototype at Sebring but also the most efficient: Audi celebrated a
clear 1-2 victory in the "Michelin Green X Challenge" in which fuel
consumption is measured in relation to the performance.
The new 10 cylinder
Audi TDI racing engine responsible for this unparalleled efficiency
replaces the V12 TDI powering the three-time Le Mans-winning R10.
Compared with this already exceptional power plant, specific fuel
consumption and associated CO2 emissions have been further
reduced, despite the fact that the V10 TDI produces over 600PS and a
maximum torque of approximately 1,000 Newton metres.
“In our opinion
this is the best compromise for new regulations introduced by the Le
Mans organisers for this year which sees 10 per cent smaller air inlets
and almost seven per cent less turbo pressure,” says Ulrich Baretzky,
Head of Engine Development at Audi Sport.
“It’s not only a
question of absolute power but also weight, size and driveability. This
means also the engine has been subject to the strong demands of the
whole package of the car.”
In accordance with
regulations the V10 TDI has the same maximum 5.5-litre displacement as
the 12-cylinder. The removal of two cylinders, however, enables a more
compact design and a significant reduction in weight, the distribution
of which has consequently been dramatically improved compared with the
V12 TDI.
The exhaust system
mated to the Audi engine is also completely new. The titanium tail pipes
now emerge on the upper side of the bodywork directly behind the power
unit. Shortening the tail pipes also saved weight. Furthermore, the
gases are now channelled more efficiently on to the rear wing and, as a
result, also have an aerodynamic function. The lighter, next generation
diesel particle filters (DPF) are even more compact than those of the
R10 TDI and generate even less back pressure. |
