Audi RS Q e-tron E2, the new electric prototype to aim for the Dakar 2023

Audi the 2023 edition of the Dakar will also run. After participating in the 2022 edition of this grueling competition, the house of the 4 rings has decided to exploit what it has learned to evolve its RS Q e-tron and create an even more effective car with which to attempt the assault on the next edition of the Dakar.

The German manufacturer therefore announced the new Audi RS Q e-tron E2evolution of the electric prototype equipped with range extender. Car which, according to what has been declared, is lighter, more aerodynamic and more efficient. With this new car, the second phase of the Audi sports program in raids begins.

Audi will experience the performance of the new RS Q e-tron E2 very soon as the Rally of Morocco will be at the start of the Rally of Morocco with all the official crews from 1 to 6 October.

Axel LöfflerHead of Design of Audi RS Q e-tron, says that the new Audi RS Q e-tron E2 does not share a single body component with the first generation of the car.

We are radically reducing the overall dimensions of the lower section of the rear bonnet, to the left and right of the B-pillars. the masses.

Audi has could have reduced the weight a bit of the new car even if the T1U category prototypes will have to weigh 2,100 kilograms against the previous 2,000 kg. However, this was possible as the first generation of Audi RS Q e-tron was characterized by a weight higher than the regulatory minimum.

The German manufacturer worked a lot also on the aerodynamics front coming to improve the efficiency of the car (the overall aerodynamic drag has been reduced by 15%).

Aerodynamics should not be underestimated in rally raids. By regulation, the maximum speed is limited to 170 km / h. What changes is rather the energy requirement, which is lower than in the first step of the electrical prototype. We have obtained this result thanks to computational fluid dynamics (CFD, Computational Fluid Dynamics in English), or to the development through computer simulations rather than in the wind tunnel, with consequent advantages in terms of speed and precision of analysis.

From a technical point of view we find always three electrical units: 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. As a range extender, we always find the four-cylinder TFSI – direct injection turbo – di DTM derivation.

Audi then focused on optimizing the car’s electronics to better manage the power delivered by the engines even in the most extreme conditions. Optimization which also involved auxiliary services. For example, the cabin air conditioning was all too effective. Therefore, the operation has been modified which also allowed to save energy.

And speaking of the cockpit, Audi has revised it to offer more comfort to the drivers. In addition, crews can now intervene more quickly in the event of a puncture.