The engine puts out a very respectable 650-hp and has more than 1,100 Newton metres (811 lb-ft) of torque. This is far superior
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| The engine puts out a very respectable 650-hp and has more than 1,100 Newton metres (811 lb-ft) of torque. (Photo: Audi Canada) |
to the previous R8, which as you know is already the dominant force at Le Mans.
"With the A8 4.2 TDI quattro, Audi already builds one of the most powerful diesel cars in the world," explained Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, during the R10 presentation in Paris. "The Le Mans project will help our technicians to extract even more from TDI technology. Nowadays, every second Audi is delivered with a TDI engine. We expect that
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| The engine could provide a new experience for the drivers, as max power is from 3,000 to 5000 rpm, a vast difference to the 19,000 rpm screamers of Formula 1. (Photo: Audi Canada) |
the percentage of diesel engines will be even larger in the future."
The engine could provide a new experience for the drivers, as max power is from 3,000 to 5000 rpm, a vast difference to the 19,000 rpm screamers of Formula 1. The other difference is the massive amount of torque available, and if there is one downfall that could hit the R10 at Le Mans, this would be it. Torque takes its toll on transmissions, driveshafts, and wheel bearings, amongst other things. Keeping the R10's substantial torque under control for 24 hours could be a problem.
