The air of Formula One is already in the air in the splendid Audi Sport Experience headquarters in Neuburg an der Donau, a sort of Fiorano of the third millennium in which the track - far from prying eyes - will allow the development of the 2026 single-seater
. the unpaved areas, the House of the Four Rings presented the unpublished RS Q e-Tron E2 for the first time in Neuburg, the prototype that after the stage successes at the Dakar 2022 and the first overall victory in the rally raid at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge of the first model, evolves to aim even higher.
It does so while maintaining the propulsion scheme with two electric motors and range extender, but is preparing for the next competitive engagements with a new bodywork, with a lighter body and with refined aerodynamics.
Among the other 'weapons' that the Audi RS Q e-Tron E2 will unleash as early as October 1st, at its debut in the Morocco Rally with all the official crews, there are also optimized energy management, more efficient electronics and interventions on the auxiliary services and on the wheel replacement system.
"We won four wins and ten podiums at the Dakar 2022, which was the absolute debut for the Audi RS Q e-Tron - said Rolf Michl, CEO of Audi Sport GmbH and head of the brand's international sporting activities - and immediately then, in March, came the first, historic, success in rally raids, a totally new motorsport discipline for Audi, triumphing at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge ".
Axel Löffler, Head of Design for Audi RS Q e-Tron explains that the new racing prototype "does not share a single body component with the first generation of the car".
While respecting the regulation in terms of internal dimensions, the passenger compartment, which was previously recessed in correspondence with the roof, is now significantly wider.
The front and rear hoods have also been redesigned.
"We have radically reduced the overall dimensions of the lower section of the rear bonnet, to the left and right of the B-pillars - explains Löffler - and this solution, in combination with new composite processing techniques, first and foremost unprecedented layers of carbon sheets and fabrics , allows us to significantly contain the masses ".
This is an upgrade which is accompanied by a lowering of the center of gravity to the benefit of performance and driveability.
The aerodynamics in the Audi RS Q e-Tron E2 are also very accurate, especially in the areas of the front and rear, where it is totally new.
Audi eliminated the section of the wheel arches behind the front wheels, called the 'elephant foot', which served as a connection with the door panels.
An intervention to the advantage of lightness and cleanliness of the flows.
"Aerodynamics should not be underestimated in rally raids - says Löffler - Although the new dimensions of the passenger compartment involve a larger front section, therefore less favorable in terms of fluid dynamics, aerodynamic drag has been reduced by 15%.
"By regulation, the maximum speed remains limited to 170 km / h. What changes is rather the energy requirement, which is lower than in the first step of the electric prototype".
A result that was obtained thanks to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) or to development through computer simulations rather than in the wind tunnel, with consequent advantages in terms of r Audi RS Q e-Tron E2 confirms the technical concept of the first generation.
The car is equipped with three electric powertrains: two MGUs (Motor Generator Units), one at each axle, take care of traction, while a third unit acts as a generator to help recharge the high-voltage battery.
Since it is not possible to draw energy in the desert, Audi has opted for an on-board solution: the
The accumulator is refilled while driving thanks to the action of a range extender.
The latter function is entrusted to the high-performance 4-cylinder TFSI turbo with direct injection derived from the cars of the German Touring Car Championship.
Audi factory crews Mattias Ekström / Emil Bergkvist, Stéphane Peterhansel / Edouard Boulanger and Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz can count on an optimized driving position.
Similar to the first generation of the Audi RS Q e-tron, a display behind the steering wheel rim shows information about tire pressure, direction of travel and speed, as well as a series of warnings that allow the driver to react immediately in the event of a blackout or disconnection of the high voltage battery from the powertrain.
Crews can now respond more quickly in the event of a puncture.
The original spare wheel covers are replaced with easily removable and much less bulky components, while the new ten-spoke rims made by the Rotiform specialist are easier to handle.
"We have received the inputs from the crews in an extraordinarily short time - says Uwe Breuling, Audi Sport iam special interventions manager - and now we are ready for our second Dakar".
