Tag Archives: Audi

Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro and Ultra Testing at Sebring by Drive

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This is an absolutely fascinating video posted by Drive on YouTube. They got an exclusive inside look at the Audi Le Mans racing program as they tested their new 2012 cars at Sebring. Audi will be fielding two cars this year, the R18 E-Tron Quattro and the R18 Ultra. Both cars use a V6 direct injection diesel engine to drive the rear axle. The only difference is that the E-Tron Quattro also has an electric motor that drives the front axle. For energy storage, the E-Tron is using the magnetic flywheel system that Porsche has been developing with the Williams F1 team in their 911 GT3 RS Hybrid endurance racer. Drive does an amazing job providing footage of the car as well as interviews with the drivers about how the cars have changed throughout the years and interviews with the team leaders about development of the cars as well as Audi’s Le Mans program.


Source: Drive

Mercedes Benz and Audi Reinvent the Turn Signal

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You wouldn’t think designers could make something as simple as the turn signal cool, but you’d be wrong. Mercedes Benz introduced these “kinetic signal lights” on their new Concept Style Coupe. They use a rippling shutter effect instead of a blinking light. It looks pretty awesome.

Source: NotCot

Audi has taken a different route with this concept demonstration of what they are able to do with Organic LED technology. YouTube user TheBoxophist remixed the original soundless video with Daft Punk’s song Derezzed from the Tron soundtrack. I thought it was a great match and made the video much more enjoyable.

Audi R8 LMS Testing

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This is the Audi R8 LMS race car doing some on-track testing in the rain. It uses the same V10 engine that’s found in the Lamborghini Gallardo. All wheel drive is prohibited in GT3 racing, so this car is only rear wheel drive which explains the slight squirreliness through the chicane.


Source: YouTube User NM2255 via Jalopnik

Audi R18 E-Tron Hybrid Testing

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This is a “pure sounds” video of the new Audi R18 E-Tron Hybrid LMP1 Race Car doing some testing. This car is the same as their diesel race cars but with the addition of an electric motor that drives the front axle making this a “through the road hybrid.” What that means is the electric drive train is not directly connected to the diesel engine. The electric motor provides regenerative braking and then uses that energy to drive the front wheels on acceleration. Energy storage is handled by a carbon fiber 30cm diameter, 20cm tall flywheel that spins up to 45,000 rpm in a vacuum. Batteries are too heavy and don’t charge/discharge quickly enough for road racing regenerative braking duties. The alternatives for energy storage are flywheels like on this car and the Porsche 911 GT3 RS Hybrid and Ultra-Capacitors like the ones found on Toyota’s new Le Mans car.


Source: YouTube User: NM2255

Audi E-Tron Soundcrafting

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DesignBoom.com followed Audi sound engineers as they created a unique voice for the upcoming Audi E-Tron electric vehicle. The challenge was to create a unique sound for the car so that pedestrians could hear it coming. The electric motor that drives the car is almost silent at low speeds. The sound had to be unmistakable as an electric vehicle and change pitch with the motor rpm’s to give the impression of acceleration.


Source: DesignBoom.com

On a similar note, the sound given to The Batpod in The Dark Knight Rises is based off of a Tesla Roadster on a dyno. Director Christopher Nolan wanted the pod to sound like it was always surging and unstoppable.


Source: YouTube