Audi is presenting a revolution in the top class at the Detroit Auto Show 2008 – the first 12-cylinder diesel engine in a high-performance roadgoing sports car. The V12 TDI with a displacement of six liters powers a concept car based on the Audi R8. This unit generates a huge 500 hp and 1,000 Newton¬meters of torque.Exterior: Powerful and elegant
The R8 V12 TDI concept with matt “Grace Silver” bodywork looks even wider and more resolute than the core model. It shows its potential through its muscular proportions, accentuated wheel arches and even larger air apertures.
The aerodynamics experts at Audi have done their work so thoroughly on the study car that, as an added benefit of its elegant shape, the body actually generates downforce – unlike many other sports cars. This aids directional stability at high speeds. It is achieved partly by means of an extending rear spoiler that is much larger than on the production version, and also thanks to the fully clad diffuser underbody. Two large-format diffuser apertures in the rear bumper demonstrate just how much aerodynamics dictate the shape of the study vehicle.
Large glass roof
One new aspect is the glass roof of the passenger compartment with two large transparent sections. These, together with the glazed engine compartment behind, create a radically new formal element. The unmistakable NACA duct in the middle of the roof is a functional detail that is normally reserved for racing cars. Its ingenious shape accelerates the air drawn in here for the two cylinder banks of the V12 TDI engine.
A “showroom” for the engine
The V12 TDI is displayed as the beating heart of this sports car, like a work of art inside a large showcase. Its look, underscored by the air deflectors located beneath the restyled rear glass lid, differs clearly from its production counterpart. The engine can even be seen after dark, when white light-emitting diodes illuminate the engine compartment – as on the production R8 version.
Innovative LED technology
The LED taillights of the Audi R8 V12 TDI concept have a three-dimensional look that can’t be missed. But the absolute highlight is the all-LED headlights of the study vehicle. With their lenses and reflectors, not only do these innovative light sources have a ground-breaking appearance, they also have an enormous functional advantage: LED light, with its color temperature of 6,000 Kelvin, resembles daylight much more closely than xenon or even halogen light.
Interior: Ergonomic and elegant
The interior’s design is as sporty and exclusive as the exterior: the characteristic element here is the monoposto – an expansive arc running around the steering wheel and instruments, connecting the driver to the car. The interior consequently picks up on the dynamism of the R8 V12 TDI concept and gives it tactile expression in a form that is accessible the moment you climb in.
The focal point of the car’s controls
The three-spoke sport steering wheel of course remains the focal point of the car’s controls. With a diameter of 365 mm, it is both sportily compact and ergonomic in shape. The steering wheel rim has a flat lower edge. The start/stop button for the engine and the Drive Select switch with the Dynamic/ Sport/Race settings are arranged on the steering wheel. The latter controls the engine and transmission electronics as well as the magnetic ride dampeners in each of three different modes.
Top sports in Race Mode
In Race mode, the instrument lighting changes from white to red. The navigation system shows a combined display with lap timer and navigation information for the racetrack being driven. Or supplementary information such as centrifugal force and boost pressure can be called up.
Exceptional everyday practicality
The R8’s exceptional everyday practicality for a sports car is maintained in the study vehicle’s spaciousness, even though the longer engine takes up more room. The two occupants have the generous wheelbase of 2.65 meters (8.69 ft.) to thank for the interior comfort. This means the driver and passenger will always be able to find their perfect seated position, whatever their build.
A decidedly sporty feel
Compared with the production version, the R8 V12 TDI concept’s interior has much larger aluminum applications, especially around the center console. The many carbon fiber elements give the interior a decidedly sporty feel.
Drive Train: Superb performance
The roadgoing version of the new V12 TDI is built at the Györ plant, in Hungary. And the R8 V12 TDI still has a massive 500 hp on tap. The 83.0 mm bore and 91.4 mm stroke produce a total displacement of 5,934 cc. At only 684 mm long, this large diesel engine is very compact and just 166 mm longer than the V8 TDI. This compact length is key to accommodating the V12 in the mid-engined Audi R8.
Innovative injection technology
The two new dual-piston high-pressure pumps build up a pressure of up to 2,000 bar in the rails. The high pressure distributes the mixture optimally throughout the combustion chamber. The result is that the ignition process is faster, more homogeneous and more acoustically refined. The more efficient combustion process also increases power output, cuts consumption and reduces pollutant emissions.
Two turbochargers
The two turbochargers are located on the outside of the engine’s V and generate up to 2.6 bar of boost pressure. They play a crucial role in producing the huge torque of 1,000 Nm that the V12 TDI maintains from 1,750 rpm to 3,000 rpm. In developing 368 kW (500 hp), the diesel achieves a specific output of 62.0 kW (84.3 hp) per liter displacement.
Clean top athlete
The Audi R8 V12 TDI concept already fulfills the Euro 6 emissions standard. The heart of the system is a special catalytic converter downstream of the oxidizing catalyst and the particulate filter. The second component in the system is an additional tank containing an aqueous urea solution. Small quantities of the solution, known as “AdBlue,” are injected into the exhaust system. The hot exhaust gases break the solution down to form ammonia that splits the nitric oxides into nitrogen and water.
Source: www.audi.com
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