Engine
Unlike most racing cars competing in the LMP1 series, the R10 is powered by a diesel engine, with two turbochargers and utilizes the Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) technology. The engine itself is a 5.5L V12 made of aluminium, employing common rail direct fuel injection technology. The turbochargers are supplied by Garrett AiResearch, with 39.9 mm (1.57 in) restrictor plates mounted in front of the intake.
The engine's weight was problematic. The latest Audi 3.0 L V6 TDI (183 ci) weighs 220 kg (485 lb), and the 4.2 L V8 TDI 255 kg (562 lb) (256.2 ci) but their blocks are made of compacted graphite iron (CGI). The V12 is rumored to weigh more than 200 kg (441 lb); Audi engineers say that the weight per cylinder is the same as the preceding 3.6-litre FSI V8 of the Audi R8. The wheelbase has been increased over the R8 to 2,980 mm (117.3 in) to account for it. This is inferior to the 130 kg (287 lb) of a concurrent Judd V10, and even the 180 kg (397 lb) of the Ricardo turbodiesel prototype based on it.
Even with a larger-than-necessary restrictor plate, the car is rumoured to produce 700 hp (522 kW; 710 PS) in qualification, limited by the fuel combustion quality. This output cannot be maintained in races because it may cause a clogged particulate filter. The peak pressure in the cylinder is probably around 200 bar, compared with 85 bar for an atmospheric petrol engine.
Read more about this topic: Audi R10 TDI
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