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NEWS
Audi R18 road car not signed off – yet
Diesel-electric Le Mans racer for the road could appear in just two weeksAudi could reveal a concept version of its ambitious R18 e-tron quattro racecar-inspired hypercar (pictured) as soon as this year’s Le Mans 24-hour race in two weeks.
The German brand has already indicated its strong desire to produce a limited-edition road-going version of its 2012 Le Mans-winning diesel-electric R18 racer to compete with the likes of the LaFerrari and McLaren P1.
It also has a history of using the French endurance classic to reveal ground-breaking new models, unveiling the twin-turbo diesel SQ5 super-SUV at last year’s Le Mans spectacular.
“There are always thoughts about new cars but be sure we will announce it properly with a big bang as you do it with new cars and you don’t go in between with new projects like that,” said Audi board member for finance Axel Strotbek when motoring.com.au asked him about the project at this week’s ‘future lab’ technology workshop in Berlin.
Audi R&D chief Dr Wolfgang Durheimer said at this year’s Geneva motor show that the German brand’s advanced diesel-electric Le Mans winner could form the basis of an ultra-exclusive showroom model that would also compete with the million-dollar Porsche 918 Spyder, which he was instrumental in developing during his time at Porsche.
“I think if we do an ‘R’ e-tron quattro from the Le Mans car we could compete with these cars,” he said at the time.
“If the Le Mans car for street-legal use comes it would not be an R8 or R9. R8 is a platform in the mode line and the racecar doesn’t have anything to do with it. It would be derived from the racecar.”
Audi is the reigning FIA world endurance champion and will be aiming for its fourth straight Le Mans race win – and its 12th since 1999 – at the 81st running of the day-long French race over June 22-23.
However, despite three factory entries and a star-studded driver list, it faces strong competition from a host of formidable works teams, including Toyota and its 2013-spec TS030 Hybrid Le Mans prototype.
Audi’s trio of R18 racers will be among 61 invited cars to line-up in an official one-day test at Le Mans this Sunday, in the only opportunity to run on the famous French circuit before the race.
Le Mans is the third round of the 2013 WEC and the German car-maker has won the first two rounds of this year’s title chase.
“Le Mans is an important part of Audi history and we think we should celebrate that,” said Audi’s Head of Technology and Innovation Communications, Michael Baumann.
“There’s definitely work being done on it – especially design work – but it’s not signed off yet.
“I think we have to sell what’s happening in that area.”
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Written byMarton Pettendy
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