<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=650 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>
</TD></TR><TR><TD>
</TD><TD vAlign=top>Communications Motorsport
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=topKontakt width="50%">Jürgen Pippig
Telephone: +49 (0)841 89 34200
E-mail:
[email protected] </TD><TD class=topKontakt width="50%">Eva-Maria Veith
Telephone: +49 (0)841 89 33922
E-mail:
[email protected] </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
March 10, 2009
Audi R15 TDI: first “second” generation diesel racing sports car
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
- Audi launches new LMP1 racing sports car
- New TDI engine and many innovative approaches
- Race debut on March 21 at Sebring (USA)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Ingolstadt – AUDI AG is the world’s first automobile manufacturer to develop a "second" generation diesel racing sports car. Audi aims to underline its supremacy and consolidate its expertise in car technology once more at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans with the all-new Audi R15 TDI.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is particularly suited for this: Efficient and economical cars are especially required for the French endurance classic. Lightweight construction, environmentally friendly drive concepts and well-thought out aerodynamics are the focus of attention at Le Mans just as they are during the development of production cars. For this purpose the regulations intentionally give the engineers plenty of freedom.
Audi Sport fully exploited this creative freedom and put a new LMP1 race car on the track that differs significantly from all previous Le Mans sports cars. "The R15 TDI has many detailed technical solutions never seen before on a sports prototype," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "To a certain extent we followed entirely new routes."
Highly efficient TDI engine
The heart of the R15 TDI is a newly developed V10 TDI engine producing more than 600 hp, with a maximum torque output in excess of 1,050 Newton meters and which reflects the latest version of the TDI Technology invented by Audi. The power unit is more compact and lighter than the twelve-cylinder engine used in the preceding R10 TDI model. The specific fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions could also be reduced. Innovations in the turbo-charging and fuel injection areas simultaneously ensure improved engine response. The R15 TDI is also equipped with a new generation of even lighter diesel particle filters.
The new sports car’s aerodynamics, which play a particularly important role at Le Mans, are extremely refined. Like the DTM 2008 championship winning Audi A4, the airflow around and through the car was optimized with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). Included among the many innovative detail solutions which can be spotted at first glance are a rear wing suspended from the top and a high nose.
Innovative vehicle electrical system concept
The vehicle electrical system in the Le Mans sports car is entirely new: A lithium-ion battery, as found in some hybrid vehicles, is used for the first time. It is lighter than the conventional battery and supplies a higher voltage.
The headlights fitted to the R15 TDI also benefit from the higher power. At Le Mans, Audi competes for the first time with a low beam unit comprised entirely of light emitting diodes, which represents the next generation of Audi LED technology for road cars.
Innovative approaches
Numerous innovative approaches are also hidden in the chassis and suspension of the diesel sports car. Due to the aerodynamic concept the front and rear suspension have been raised. Thanks to a longer wheelbase and the optimized vehicle weight the R15 TDI is significantly more agile than its predecessor.
Audi is the only automobile manufacturer to have won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel car. "With the R15 TDI we have created the base to be in a position to win also in 2009," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.
The Audi R15 TDI celebrates its race debut in the 12-hour race in Sebring, Florida in the USA on March 21. Audi Sport Team Joest plans to field three cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13/14.
- Ends -
Photographs of the Audi R10 TDI, a PDF version of the press kit and further information are available at
www.audi-motorsport..info
</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD><!-- Bild --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=434 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=1 bgColor=#b4baad>
</TD><TD width=165 bgColor=#b4baad>
</TD><TD width=267 bgColor=#b4baad>
</TD><TD width=1 bgColor=#b4baad>
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#b4baad>
</TD><TD rowSpan=2>
</TD><TD class=white bgColor=#b4baad>
Download</TD><TD bgColor=#b4baad>
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#b4baad>
</TD><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#e1e1e1>
Download image</TD><TD bgColor=#b4baad>
</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#b4baad colSpan=4>
</TD></TR><TR><TD height=13></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- Ende Bild --><!-- Kontakt -->
AUDI AG sold around 1,003,400 cars in 2008 and thus achieved its thirteenth consecutive record year. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Györ (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium). Aurangabad in India saw the start of local production of the Audi A6 at the end of 2007 and of the Audi A4 in early October 2008. The company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide. AUDI AG's wholly owned subsidiaries include Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. in Sant'Agata Bolognese (Italy) and quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm. Audi currently employs around 57,000 people worldwide, including 45,000 in Germany. The brand with the four rings invests more than €2 billion each year in order to sustain the company's technological lead embodied in its "Vorsprung durch Technik" slogan. Audi plans to significantly increase the number of models in its portfolio by 2015 to 40. The Audi brand celebrates its 100th birthday in 2009. The company was founded by August Horch in Zwickau on July 16, 1909; he named it Audi after the Latin translation of his surname ("hark!").
AUDI AG
85045 Ingolstadt
[email protected]
Audi of America > Home
Sitz/Domicile: Ingolstadt
Registergericht/Court of Registry: Amtsgericht Ingolstadt
HRB Nr./Commercial Register No.: 1
Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats/Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn
Vorstand/Board of Management: Rupert Stadler (Vorsitzender/Chairman), Ulf Berkenhagen, Michael Dick, Frank Dreves, Peter Schwarzenbauer, Axel Strotbek, Dr. Werner Widuckel
Wichtiger Hinweis: Die vorgenannten Angaben werden jeder E-Mail automatisch hinzugefügt und lassen keine Rückschlüsse auf den Rechtscharakter der E-Mail zu.
Important Notice: The above information is automatically added to this e-mail. This addition does not constitute a representation that the content of this e-mail is legally relevant and/or is intended to be legally binding upon AUDI AG.
<!-- Ende Kontakt --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
