At the beginning of the month Audi unveiled it's new R18 prototype race car, leaving the standard V6 TDI (turbo diesel) powerplant layout for a hybrid diesel setup. Much like KERS technology in F1, but much more similar to Porsche's regenerative technology in the GT3 Hybrid racecar (Audi and Porsche are both under the VW corporate umbrella), the new Audi R18 hybrid powertrain captures energy created during braking through a flywheel to provide stored thrust that can be called upon at driver request. This thrust is sent to the front wheels via electronic motors, effectively making the R18 an all wheel drive racecar, during use of the stored energy, at speeds above 120 kph (74 mph). The use of identically sized front and rear wheels on the R18 are starting to make more sense now, aren't they.
The Audi R18 E-Tron will hit the track this upcoming weekend in Florida, at the 2012 12 Hours of Sebring. An updated and even lighter version of the non-hybrid R18 will be also fielded, along side the R18 E-Tron, through out this years international endurance races.
Video courtesy of Audi.
Video hosting courtesy of oneightturbo.
More R18 E-Tron Quattro testing footage can be viewed here.
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