The countdown has started: Today, Audi unveils the eagerly awaited successor of the ultra-successful Audi R8 in Paris. The new R10 is one of the most ambitious projects which Audi Sport has ever undertaken. Experience the world premiere today, 12 a.m. (CET), live: Watch the video broadcast of the press conference on this page. Audi R10

 

Is this the one that is supposed to be diesel powered?

 

They have announced that it is a diesel! This will be very interesting, can't wait.
Boyd

 

I just posted in the OT forum but you beat me to it here

I find it really impressive with over 100 hp/liter in a diesel engine!

http://www.audi.com/r10

12-cylinder 5.5 liter turbodiesel
about 650bhp and 1100 nm of torque
900 kg...

 

Will Champion get one for 2006?

 

Yes, I hate to say it, but I'm excited for this car. I wonder if Porsche went the wrong direction developing hybrids. It seems to me that Audi has a potentially awesome "race on Sunday, sell on Monday" car here. "Race proven diesel technology..." is a fun selling point. Porsche won't get that anytime soon out of a hybrid (due to weight, primarily).

 

I needed to do the conversion to think about it in terms of ft-lbs.....

1100 nm torque = 811 ft-lbs....oh my... Any idea what the R8 put out?

 

No, but probably 1/2 that? (Oh, and note Audi's website as saying "over 1100 nm"...)

 

I wonder if they are going to burn discarded cooking oil? I can see it now...

"(Sniff, sniff) I just got passed by a french fry!"

 

They have said the biggest development challenge is getting the gearbox to hold together for 24 hours with that powerplant driving it.

 

http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publi...cle_1851.shtml

http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publi...cle_1852.shtml

http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publi...cle_1853.shtml

 

They can change gearboxes in 6-8 minutes, right ? Any bets on # of box changes at LeMans ?

I wonder how long the 'time on tank' will be for this car...the lower R's that it turns and efficiency of a direct injection diesel should really screw with everyone's heads.

Har. It'll smell funny, but it'll be pretty cool.

 

That has not been announced yet. Joest will run the Le Mans program. Given that Champion has been the Audi R8's standard bearer for the past couple seasons, it would be a crime if they *didn't* get one for '06. Assuming they do, I suspect the program will be tightly managed by Audi Sport (i.e. the team might be named "Champion", but much of what happens behind the scenes will be "Audi".)

 

Beautiful car/engine/marketing/execution!

We now know why Porsche is not in LMP1.

 

I don't think they can actually change the gearbox anymore. I believe the rule was changed to where the gear box has to be rebuilt, this is what caught Alex Job out at Sebring last year.