Roberto Berasategui
07/24/2021 10:51
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 07/24/2021 10:51 AM
Audi is news in the world.
The German brand presented the vehicle with which it will debut in the Dakar.
It is a hybrid prototype, which combines a combustion engine with electric drives, based on its experience in Formula E and the German DTM: the Audi RS Q e-tron.
The brand new, impressive vehicle was designed by Argentine Juan Manuel Díaz.
And it will be driven by the three riders of the brand: Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz and Mattias Ekström.
In a leading role in this project of the prestigious house, the Rosario Díaz takes on a notable relevance, since he is the designer of the brand new vehicle with which he will fight in the next Dakar, which will be held in Saudi Arabia.
"It was the most difficult project of my life in my 20-year career," said the designer in a talk given to very few Argentine media.
Based in Munich, where he heads the design work, Díaz not only put the Dakar project on his shoulders, but also spearheads the development of the car with which Audi will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2023.
Juan Manuel Díaz, from Rosario, has been working at Audi Motorsport for four years.
The Audi RS Q e-tron has a propulsion system composed of a front MGU05 (250 kW and 33 kg) on top of the front axle;
batteries of 13 modules of 266 cells each (52 kWh and 375 kg), located between the crew and extending to the lateral ends.
The fuel tank has a capacity of 295 liters and feeds the four-cylinder TFSI 2.0 combustion engine, which will rotate between 4,500-6,000 rpm to optimize consumption.
It is connected to the converter (second MGU) that will recharge the battery together with the recovery of energy in braking.
The third MGU drives the rear axle and is not mechanically connected to the front.
“For many years I was in Production cars and now, for 4 years, in Audi Motorsport.
It is formidable and very exciting to work on the Dakar project, as well as on the Le Mans project, ”Diaz underlined.
"The Dakar car is a UFO," said the designer, who had already worked at Alfa Romeo and Seat.
"It is aesthetically striking, but respects Audi's vision of design," he stressed.
Juan Manuel Díaz began work in 2020 on the Audi RS Q e-tron project.
“Play the human factor.
Pilots with great experience were put in that will give their mark on the development of the car.
Now comes their work, which will transfer the necessary changes to the engineers, ”said the Rosario.
“This project started in 2020 and I was there from the beginning.
The mechanics are completely different, from how the riders are seated to the visibility.
There are a lot of things that make it different from a normal race car.
It's that the race is different from any other, ”Díaz explained.
Regarding the design, responsibility of the Argentine Diaz, takes care of the lines that represent Audi.
Its measurements: 4.5 meters long (3.080 meters between axles), 2.30 wide (the maximum according to the new T1E regulation) and 1.95 high.
The generous air intake located on the roof stands out, accompanied by a shark wing that runs through the center of the car to the rear.
"It will not be the most beautiful car I have ever worked on, but it is the most impressive," said Juan Manuel Díaz about the Audi RS Q e-tron.
LED light lines give it a personal look on the front.
The lateral ones hide the two spare wheels (one on each side) favoring aerodynamics and in contrast to the frequent locations in this type of vehicle from the rear.
The Audi RS Q e-tron features an aggressive décor, between grays and dark contrasts with phosphorescent orange lines, which continues on each of the 17-inch wheels.
"It won't be the prettiest car I've ever worked on, but it is the most impressive, with a very large body, very big wheels and very little overhang. It won't be attractive, but it will be one of the most radical Audis ever produced. never ”, Diaz concluded, proud of the work done.
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