Having won its first desert rally in Abu Dhabi last March, the Audi RS Q is ready for the next phase of its e-tron evolution. The innovative prototype model has been extensively developed for the 2022 Morocco and 2023 Dakar rallies.
Considered as one of the most important projects in Audi history and showing itself in the world's toughest rally just one year after its first concept idea, the Audi RS Q e-tron is now preparing for new challenges with a series of improvements.
The first part of the development work is the hull. The completely renewed body is equipped with significantly improved aerodynamics. This reduced the weight and center of gravity of the prototype. The efficiency of electric powertrains is further increased by new starting strategies. More convenience was provided to the pilot and co-pilot both in the interior and possible tire change. Named with the abbreviation E2 after these body innovations, the RS Q e-tron is reminiscent of the legendary Audi Sport quattro, which competed in Group B rallies in the 1980s, in its final development phase.
Audi, which agreed with the pilots, co-pilots and technicians during the development process as well as during the initial implementation of the project, will test the updates on the RS Q e-tron E2 with the tests it will carry out in Morocco in October and will start preparations for the 2023 Dakar Rally.
Gentle in the air, light in the sand: New body
The Audi RS Q e-tron E2 did not inherit a single body part from its predecessor. The cockpit, which was previously recessed at an acute angle towards the ceiling, has been considerably enlarged to comply with the regulations regarding interior dimensions. The front and rear hoods were also redesigned. The underflow on the right and left of the rear hood's B-pillars has been removed. With modified layers, that is, optimized fabric layers made of composite materials, the vehicle's weight is reduced. Considering that the first generation of the RS Q e-tron was extremely heavy, a few dozen kilograms were saved as well as a lowering of the center of gravity.
The aerodynamic concept in the area of the body under the hoods is also completely new. Almost like a boat hull, the widest point of this section is at the top of the cockpit, while the hull tapers significantly forwards and backwards. In this model, Audi does not use the part of the fenders behind the front wheels, which creates a transition to the door and what they call “Elephant Foot” in the company. This saves more weight and optimizes airflow. Total aerodynamic drag has been reduced by about 15 percent. This situation, which is 170 km/h according to the regulations.zamIt doesn't affect the speed. However, the improved airflow offers a significant advantage. The energy requirement of the electric car is further reduced.
Audi noted that there were short-term excesses of power during jumps in the Dakar Rally or when the tires had less contact with the ground on rough terrain. And as it is known, the FIA intervenes at the threshold of 2 kilojoules of excess energy and imposes sportive penalties. By comparison, more than a hundred times a second energy flows into the motors within the permissible limits. Audi, the easy way; it chose to set the threshold a few kilowatts lower and make lots of tweaks to the power controls rather than being at a disadvantage in performance. The software now calculates two separate limits, one for each motor, in milliseconds. Thanks to this, the car works exactly at the permissible limit.
Control optimization also had a positive effect on so-called co-consumers. Servo pump, air conditioner cooling pump and fans have a measurable effect on the energy balance. Audi and the Q Motorsport rally team gained valuable experience during the first season in 2022, which allowed for better evaluations. The air conditioning system is an example of this situation. The air conditioning system works so strongly that it constantlyzamIt can cause the coolant to freeze when operating at i power. The system will operate in intermittent mode in the future. In this way, energy is saved, while the indoor temperature will change little, even over long periods of time. The starting strategy for the fans and servo pump has also been optimized. For example, systems can now be arranged differently from custom stages for lower loads on non-durable stages.
Simplified operation: Ease of use in the cockpit and tire change
The new offices of Audi drivers Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist, Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger and Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz are something to look forward to. The screens are still in the driver's field of vision and zamlocated in the current style center console; The 24-zone central switch panel is also preserved. However, engineers reconfigured the screens and controls. Combined, the functions could cause confusion; A first-time rotary switch allows pilot and co-pilot to choose between four system areas.
The “Stage” theme includes all the functions that are important during competitive driving, such as speed limiter or air jack on speed-limited sections. The “Road” section contains functions that are often requested in non-time stages, such as turn signals and rear view camera. The “Error” option is used to detect, categorize and catalog errors. The “Settings” section contains every element that will be useful to the engineering team, such as detailed temperatures of individual systems during testing or after the vehicle arrives at the campsite.
Crews will now be able to work much more easily after punctures. Simple, flat and easily removable body components replace bulky side covers for spare wheels. The new ten-spoke wheels from partner Rotiform are also much easier to use. Drivers and co-pilots will be able to grip the wheels more easily and complete the change more confidently.
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