Second evolution of Audi RS Q e-tron options all-new physique, enhanced aerodynamics, extra environment friendly drivetrain

In March 2022, the Audi RS Q e-tron 500 kW series-hybrid racer (earlier publish) gained its first desert rally in Abu Dhabi; now the subsequent evolution is prepared. The modern prototype, bearing the abbreviation E2, is considerably improved for the 2022 Morocco Rally and the 2023 Dakar Rally.

RS Q e-tron E2

The physique is totally new and options considerably enhanced aerodynamics. It helps decrease the prototype’s weight and middle of gravity. New working methods additional enhance the effectivity of the electrical drivetrain. Within the inside and when altering wheels, the motive force and co-driver profit from simpler operation.

The brand new Audi RS Q e-tron E2 (prime) and its predecessor (backside).

This marks the start of the second part of the event program. In October, Group Audi Sport will put together for the 2023 Dakar Rally with the brand new prototype in Morocco.

The Audi RS Q e-tron E2 doesn’t undertake a single physique half from its predecessor.

—Axel Löffler, Chief Designer of the RS Q e-tron

With the intention to adjust to the prescribed inside dimensions, the cockpit, which was beforehand narrowly recessed in the direction of the roof, is now considerably wider. The entrance and rear hoods have additionally been redesigned.

The brand new Audi RS Q e-tron E2 (left) and its predecessor (proper).

We at the moment are taking away the underflow of the rear hood to the left and proper of the B-pillars. Together with modified lay-ups, i.e. optimized cloth layers of the composite supplies, this answer reduces weight.

—Axel Löffler

The T1U prototypes must weigh 2,100 as a substitute of two,000 kilograms sooner or later. On condition that the primary technology of the RS Q e-tron was chubby, it was nonetheless mandatory to save lots of a number of dozen kilograms. That is accompanied by the decreasing of the automobile’s middle of gravity.

The aerodynamic idea within the space of the physique under the hoods is totally new. This part is sort of paying homage to the form of a ship’s hull: its widest level is on the peak of the cockpit, whereas the physique tapers considerably in the direction of the entrance and rear. Audi has now allotted with the a part of the fenders that was behind the entrance wheels and fashioned the transition to the door. Internally, this construction was referred to as the “elephant foot.” In consequence, the designers saved extra weight and optimized the air movement.

The brand new cockpit dimensions imply that the physique has a bigger and due to this fact much less favorable cross-section. However, it was doable to scale back the general aerodynamic drag by round 15{7e44665ad31c7163a3225b5cdeca12ae8e1ba5a9651d05b2285576263eb8f3ac}—i.e. the product of the CD worth and the frontal space (A). This doesn’t change the highest velocity. It stays restricted to 170 km/h within the laws.

The improved air movement additional reduces the vitality necessities of the electrically powered automotive, says Löffler. The Audi crew carried out the aerodynamic calculations solely utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD). These pc simulations substitute the time-consuming work within the wind tunnel and nonetheless ship extremely exact outcomes.

The electrical drivetrain of the Audi RS Q e-tron E2 contains an vitality converter consisting of an inside combustion engine and a generator, in addition to a high-voltage battery and the 2 electrical motors on the entrance and rear axles.

The digital management system of the complicated electrical drivetrain proved its value within the first rally occasions. Challenges solely arose in excessive circumstances. On the Dakar Rally, for instance, Audi famous short-term surpluses of energy in conditions the place the wheels made much less contact with the bottom whereas leaping or on uneven terrain. The officers of the FIA, the world vehicle federation, intervene at a threshold of two kilojoules of extra vitality and impose sporting penalties.

By means of comparability, multiple hundred occasions the quantity of vitality flows to the motors per second inside the permissible limits. We may have made it straightforward on ourselves and set our threshold a number of kilowatts decrease, however that will have meant efficiency disadvantages. As an alternative, we put loads of fine-tuning into the ability controllers.

—Florian Semlinger, growth engineer for embedded software program, utility and check bench

Two particular person limits—one for every motor—at the moment are recalculated by the software program inside milliseconds. In consequence, it operates exactly alongside the permissible restrict.

The auxiliary shoppers additionally profit from optimized management. The servo pump, the air-conditioning cooling pump and the followers have a measurable impression on the vitality stability.

In the middle of the debut season in 2022, the Audi and Q Motorsport rally crew gained useful expertise that allows higher evaluation. The air-conditioning system, for instance, works so aggressively that it may trigger the coolant to freeze when always working at its most output. Sooner or later, the system will run in an intermittent mode. This protects vitality, but the inside temperatures solely fluctuate barely, even over longer intervals.

The working technique for the followers and the servo pump has additionally been optimized. For instance, the programs can now be regulated in another way for the decrease masses on the liaison phases than on the particular phases.

The cockpit shows are nonetheless within the driver’s area of view and situated within the middle console within the traditional fashion, and the central swap panel with its 24 fields has additionally been retained. Nevertheless, the engineers have restructured the shows and controls. The driving force and co-driver can now choose from 4 system areas utilizing a rotary swap.

• The “Stage” theme incorporates all of the features which can be necessary whereas driving competitively—such because the velocity limiter in sections with velocity limits or the air jack.

• The “Highway” half incorporates, for instance, flip alerts and the rear-view digicam, features which can be usually in demand on the liaison phases.

• The “Error” possibility is used to detect, categorize and catalog errors.

• The “Settings” part consists of every little thing that’s helpful for the engineering crew throughout testing or after the automotive arrives on the bivouac—for instance, detailed temperatures of particular person programs.

Crews can now work rather more simply after a puncture. Easy, flat and simply detachable physique elements substitute the earlier cumbersome covers for the spare wheels within the flanks. The brand new ten-spoke rims from associate Rotiform are a lot simpler to deal with. Drivers and co-drivers can grip them extra simply and full the change extra safely.

Following preliminary testing led by Arnau Niubó Bosch, Head of Check Engineering, Audi Sport unveiled the RS Q e-tron E2 in Neuburg an der Donau on 1 September. From 1 to six October, the brand new know-how must show itself in competitors for the primary time on the Rally du Maroc. All three Audi driver pairings will then contest the desert rally that begins and finishes in Agadir, within the southwest of the North African nation.