This mean looking machine is charged with the responsibility of winning the tenth Le Mans title for Audi, who are the defending champions of the world’s most famous endurance race after conquering the 2010 podium with a 1-2-3 finish. And for the first time since its Le Mans debut in 1999, the four rings will contest a car with a roof.
“In the future, aerodynamic efficiency will be even more important at Le Mans than it was in the past,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “A closed car has clear advantages in this respect. Our computer simulations have been confirmed in the wind tunnel and during initial track tests.”
The engines have shrunk for 2011 as the rule makers aim to cap engine power. The R18 will be motivated by a 3.7L V6 TDI (from a 5.5L V10) but no figures have been released. Although hybrid drive has been approved for 2011, Audi is keeping faith with a pure diesel. The 6-speed transmission has been modified for use with the smaller engine.
Today’s Audis sport eye catching LEDs, and it’s the same for the R18. Those imposing headlights, which are the first to completely consist of LEDs with optimised amount of light, are a technical highlight here. During the day, the lights form the shape of a “1”, inspired by Audi’s historic brand logo, not 1Malaysia.
Development of the R18 started in mid 2009 while the V6 TDI has been running on the dynos since the summer of 2010. This car completed its first track test with Allan McNish at the end of November. The planned race debut is at Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours in May 2011. Prior to that, the prototype will be able to lap Le Mans during the official test day on April 24.
Le Mans 2011 happens on June 11-12. Audi will field three R18s, which will be entered by Audi Sport Team Joest. The team will contest the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, consisting of seven endurance races on three continents (including the Le Mans 24 Hours) with two cars. At the opening race at Sebring in March, the team will use two “R15 plus plus” cars instead of the R18. “Sending the R18 into a race at such an early point in time would be difficult in terms of logistics and interfere with our development program,” explains Dr. Ullrich.
Gallery after the jump.
[zenphotopress number=999 album=1791]
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Thats odd.
It looks awefully familiar.
HOLY TURBO DIESEL, its BATMANS Car!
wow..can the light make trail like trons movie?…hehe..bada$$ design..
sweet car …
the should have brought this to klims instead of that styrofoam batmobile!
Tested this car in Forza Motorsport wuth Xbox 360. The car 0~60mph in…………,in gear 1 oled achieved. But the traction control is off, therefore rear rim keep spinning until the torque force lost. I can hardly imagine this monster can bypass Bugati Veyron in Nuburing race track.
I wish they will keep it in black like this. Very menacing. The livery is of course not finalised and eventually it will be coloured up.
I’m hope this R18 will finally be quicker that the dominant Peugeot. About time Audi had the quicker machine
Audi’s racing colour is silver… so don’t keep your hopes up on keepin the colour black
i meant to say… audi’s racing colour is silver… so no hope of it being kept black…
Remove all the decals, add a fire burner at the back, voila!, batmobile!
I’m writing on behalf of S60
“Honda Civic Type R will beat this car, VTEC engine is the best. You can see a lot of Honda, but you can not see this car, so Honda is the best and can beat this car anytime”.
haha, so sarcastic lah!
nice
wow!! look like a new Bat mobil to me!!
Diesel power and where is malaysia going?
hybrid……lame
Diesel is the future… VTEC can smell smoke!
This is more like it. I never liked open top sports-prototype cars, for aestethics reasons (maybe becoz a big fan of Group C cars of the yesteryear) and hopefully this is the beginning of a total replacement of LMP class with, GTP class cars. This car looks more worthwhile to compete with the likes of Peugeot & Aston Martin & Lola GTP.
Aston Martin is going open cockpit for 2011 which is a little strange given the further disadvantage of this layout given the new regs, and the very reason why Audi is switching to closed cockpit
I not a big fan of fin styled on engine hoods ever since the F duct on F1 2010 cars and the fin hood did killed off the Peugeot 908 HDI car. I make this an exception. This one looks awesome n menace!
The fin unfortunately is a regulatory requirement for 2011 to reduce the propensity of LMP cars especially closed cockpit types from taking off when it finds it self going sideways
Hope Gran Turismo TV will feature this race and as downloable contents..
I watch only Gran Turismo TV at the moment
look like classical bat Mobile
“During the day, the lights form the shape of a “1?, inspired by Audi’s historic brand logo, not 1Malaysia.”
LOL!!! so random…
BatMobile, get out of my way…