• Secondary development of Rally Champion, first race in October
• New body optimized for weight and airflow
• Improved operating strategy and optimized control concept

Newberg A. ie. Danube, September 1, 2022 – In March 2022, the Audi RS Q e-tron won the first Desert Rally in Abu Dhabi, now the next evolution is ready. innovative prototype Demonstrated significant improvement in the 2022 Morocco Rally and the 2023 Dakar Rally. The bodywork is completely new and has significantly improved aerodynamics. it helps reduce Prototype weight and center of gravity. New business strategy to further improve Efficiency of electric drivetrains. In the car and when changing wheels, the driver can Passengers benefit from easier handling. With these developments, the RS Q is now equipped with the e-tron Abbreviation E2. In its finale, it is reminiscent of the legendary Audi Sport quattro Stages of development of Group B rally racing in the 1980s.
Second phase of the development program
“We made our Dakar debut with the Audi RS Q e-tron and even completed our first stage Audi Managing Director Rolf Michl said: Sport GmbH, responsible for motorsport at Audi. “The whole team did a great job Work together. As usual, at such an early stage, the driver, co-pilot and technician quickly agree on the next development goals. we concluded The result is a new evolution pack – the RS Q e-tron E2”. This marks The second stage of the development plan. In October, the Audi Sport team is 2023 Dakar Rally with a new prototype in Morocco.
Gentle in the air, light in the sand: the new body
“The Audi RS Q e-tron E2 does not have a single body part from its predecessor,” says Axel Löffler, chief designer of the RS Q e-tron. In order to comply with the specified interior space Dimensions are now cockpit, used to be close to the roof Noticeably wider. The front and rear hoods have also been redesigned. “We do it now Keep away from the underflow of the rear hood to the left and right of the B-pillar. in connection By modifying the layup, i.e. optimizing the fabric layer of the composite, the solution Weight reduction,” says Löffler. The T1U prototype had to weigh 2,100 instead of 2,000 Future kg. Given the excess weight of the first-generation RS Q e-tron, that’s about it Still have to save dozens of kilograms. This is accompanied by a reduction in vehicle center of gravity.
The aerodynamic concept in the body area under the hood is completely new. This part is almost reminiscent of the shape of the hull: its widest point is at the level of the hull. cockpit, while the body is noticeably tapered front and rear. Audi has now dropped it Part of the fender is behind the front wheel and forms a transition to Door. Internally, this structure is called “elephant foot”. As a result, the designer saves Greater weight and optimized airflow. “The aerodynamic aspects should not be underestimated Not even in desert rallies,” says Löffler. True, the new cockpit dimensions ensure The body has a larger and therefore less favorable cross-section. Nonetheless it is possible The overall air resistance is reduced by about 15%, i.e. the CD value is the same as Front area (A). This doesn’t change top speed. It’s still limited to 170 km/h regulations. However, the improved airflow offers a great advantage. “Continue to reduce energy requirements for electric vehicles,” says Löffler. “We implemented Aerodynamic calculations are performed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) only. “These computers Simulation replaces time-consuming work in wind tunnels and still provides high accuracy result.

Even more environmentally friendly: optimized energy management
The electric powertrain of the Audi RS Q e-tron E2 consists of an energy converter consisting of a Internal combustion engines and generators, and high-voltage batteries and both Electric motors on the front and rear axles. Energy management plays a vital role here. That The electronic control of the complex electric drivetrain has proven itself in the first rally event. Challenges only occur in extreme cases. Audi pointed this out at the Dakar Rally, for example Short-term excess power with less wheel contact with the ground When jumping or on uneven terrain. World Automobile Association FIA Official Interventions were initiated from an excess energy threshold of 2 kJ and a motor penalty was imposed. “By way of comparison, more than one hundred times the amount of energy flows to the motors per second within the permissible limits,” says Florian Semlinger, development engineer for embedded software, application and test bench. “We could have made it easy on ourselves and set our threshold several kilowatts lower, but that would have meant performance disadvantages. Instead, we put a lot of fine-tuning into the power controllers.” Two individual limits – one for each motor – are now recalculated by the software within milliseconds. As a result, it operates precisely along the permissible limit.
So-called secondary consumers also benefit from optimal control. Servo pumps, A/C cooling pumps and fans have a measurable impact on the energy balance. in Audi and Q Motorsport Rally Team receive valuable prizes during 2022 season debut Experience that enables better evaluation. Take the air conditioner as an example: Works so aggressively it can cause coolant to freeze if used continuously Maximum performance. In the future, the system will operate in intermittent mode. This saves energy However, even over long periods of time, the internal temperature fluctuated only slightly. operate The strategies for the fan and power steering pump have also been optimized. For example, the system Now, for lower loads on the connection stage, it is regulated differently than on the special stage.

Simplified operation: Ease of use in the cockpit and when changing wheels
Audi drivers Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist, Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger and Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz can look forward to their new work. Display is still In the driver’s field of vision and in the usual way in the center console and in the center switch Panels with 24 fields are also preserved. However, engineers have restructured display and control. “The totality of all the functions quickly creates confusion,” says Florian Semlinger. “That’s why, for the first time, the driver and co-driver can now select from four system areas using a rotary switch.” The “Stage” theme includes all features Important when driving during a race – such as speed limiters on speed-limited sections or Air lift. For example, the “Road” section contains turn signals and rear view cameras, Functions frequently requested during the liaison phase. The “Error” option is used to detect Categorize and catalog errors. The settings section contains the The engineering team details such as during testing or after the car arrives at the campsite temperature of a single system.
Crews can now work more easily after a flat tire. Simple, flat and easily removable body The assembly replaces the bulky cover plate previously used for the flank spare tire. Partner Rotiform’s new ten-spoke rims are easier to handle. Drivers and passengers can catch Lighter and safer to replace.
“We have combined all the important lessons in a very short time. The result of our ideas is the E2 evolution,” says Uwe Breuling, Head of Vehicle Operations Audi Sport. “Our development
team’s determined and cost-efficient work has prepared us perfectly for our second Dakar Rally.”
After initial testing led by Audi Sport Test Engineering Head Arnau Niubó Bosch Presentation of the RS Q e-tron E2 at Neuburg an der Donau on September 1 At Rally Morocco, new technology must prove itself in competition for the first time. All three pairs of Audi drivers will then compete in the Desert Rally, starting and ending in Agadir, in the southwestern part of the North African country.