Radical new Audi R15

The world got its first look Monday at Audi’s new R15 TDI, the latest diesel-powered factory prototype from Audi AG that will race for the first time at the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. It will mark the start of the 2009 American Le Mans Series and serve as its 100th all-time event.

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,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

Audi has taken LMP1 victories at Sebring every year since its first race in 2000. It won every Sebring race overall from 2000-2007. In 2006, Audi unveiled its R10 TDI that won its first time out at Sebring International Raceway. Since that time, the R10 TDI is unbeaten at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans.

Audi aims to underline its supremacy and consolidate its expertise in car technology once more at Le Mans with the all-new R15 TDI. 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.

Rupert Stadler, Michael Dick, Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich with the new Audi R15 TDI

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,” explained Ullrich. “To a certain extent we followed entirely new routes.”

Next week at Sebring, Audi will take on fellow manufacturers Acura, Mazda, Lola and Peugeot for overall victory.

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 12-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.