Audi have showcased the RS5 TDI Concept which makes use of their electric turbocharger.
In development for some time now, the electric turbocharger eliminates any lag which has for long been associated with turbochargers. This has been made possible by the turbine and the compressor being separated and connected with an electric setup and a battery pack which allows the compressor to run independent of the turbine driven by exhaust gases. The turbine’s energy is stored in the battery and utilised to run the compressor, which can be spun up to 70,000 RPM in a few hundredths of a second.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Technical Development said, “25 years ago, Audi launched the first TDI on the market, writing the first chapter of an enduring success story. Our latest innovation is the electric turbocharger, which further improves not just sprint times and pulling power, but also efficiency. This technology illustrates the possibilities harboured by 48-volt electrical systems, which we are currently developing for use in production vehicles.”
In the RS5 TDI Concept, the 3.0-litre V6 BiTurbo TDI diesel motor develops a whopping 385 PS, and an equally gargantuan 750 Nm of torque from 1,250-2,500 RPM. The red-line, for a diesel, is a heady 5,500 RPM! With those figures, come even more impressive figures: 0-100 km/h takes 4 seconds! 0-200 km/h takes less than 16 seconds, and like the RS5 V8 petrol, the top speed is 280 km/h. Furthermore, the fuel consumption is rated at 5.3 litres/100 km, or 18.86 km/l! The CO2 emissions are also a more than respectable 140 g/km.
This BiTurbo TDI V6 is the third most powerful diesel in the range, after the 6.0-litre V12 and the 4.2-litre V8, the former which was even seen in the R8 V12 TDI Le Mans development model. The future of clean and powerful diesel is looking extremely oil-burning bright.
Story: Jim Gorde
Images: Audi Press
