Audi Has Built An 85kg, 610bhp Inline-Four
DTM is in for a big change this year. The 4.0-litre, naturally-aspirated V8s have gone, replaced with 2.0-litre inline-four turbos.
But you won’t need to worry about the speed dropping. Quite the opposite: power will actually increase from around 500bhp to 600, while the fuel consumption has reduced to a new mandated maximum of 95kg per hour.
Audi has revealed its own power unit for the new regulations, and it’s a fascinating thing. Despite the addition of the turbocharger and all its related components, Audi’s motorsport bods have come up with something that is half the weight of the old V8.
That means it weighs just 85kg, the minimum weight figure allowed under the ‘Class One’ rules. It’ll be used in eight of Audi’s RS5 silhouette racers, competing against new entrants Aston Martin, and DTM veterans BMW.
All DTM machines this year will have a push to push-to-pass system which briefly raises the power by 30bhp while increasing consumption by 5kg per hour.
Audi Motorsport’s engine development boss Ulrich Baretzky reckons there’s potential for road car relevance here, too. He said:
“In terms of weight and lightweight design – especially in the context of avoiding CO2 emissions – we’re pointing out a few approaches that will hopefully find their way into future road-going vehicles – like in the case of the first TFSI for Le Mans and the TDI.”
The 2019 season begins on 4 May at Hockenheim.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Sounds like a 4B11T on steroids
More like an EAA888 2.0 engine :) ;)
Would be cooler if it was an Inline 5 tho… but holy crap thats a lot of power from a 4 banger
im heavier than that engine
i feel fat
An impressive engine for sure, but why do fuel economy rules exist in motorsport. So incredibly dumb and pointless.
Certain motorsports are all about endurance - going for long periods of time without having to refuel, fuel economy is everything in almost all types of racing, the more times you have to go into pit lane because your car isn’t efficient enough, the lower the chance of possibly winning a race. Plus every time you go into pit you lose positions. So no, these rules are not dumb and pointless.
Meanwhile, American car guys with their 350hp 5.7l engine that weighs more than 180kgs… “Only soda comes in two liters.”
That 5.7L V8 can make 1000hp with less lag, just sayin’
I’m curious if a mechanic gets his hands on that bad boy and makes a engine swap on [insert car here]. What kind of swap will be in the end? Tell me your swap ideas in the comments because I’m curious about what ideas you have…
M I A T A