The Audi R18 is the Audi that answered a simple question — how much car can this badge carry? — with 514 + with MGU push-to-pass boost from diesel engine. It was built in small numbers. Its designer of record is Christopher Reinke (Technical Project Leader) / Wolfgang Appel (Head of Vehicle Development) / Martin Mühlmeier (Head of Technology) / Ulrich Baretzky (Head of Engine Development).
How it came about
The Audi R18 is series of Le Mans Prototype (LMP) racing cars constructed by the German car manufacturer Audi AG. It is the successor to the Audi R15 TDI. Like its predecessor, the R18 uses a TDI turbocharged diesel engine but with a reduced capacity of 3.7 litres and in a V6 configuration.
For the first time since the 1999 R8C, the Audi Le Mans prototype used a closed cockpit design. The R18 is also the first racing car from Audi to feature hybrid power. Although Audi have previously given each new developed model of endurance racing car a distinct model number, the head of Audi Sport, Wolfgang Ullrich, suggested the R18 designation for Audi endurance racing cars could be used for the foreseeable future. There were five further evolutions of R18 until Audi exited the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2016.
The hardware
Under the skin sits diesel engine; it is rated at 514 + with MGU push-to-pass boost. Kerb weight is 900 kg. Power-to-weight lands near 571 horsepower per tonne, which is hypercar territory, where the limiting factor is the tyre, not the engine. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Family and rivals
Where it sits in Audi's history is not in doubt: the Audi R15 TDI came before it. Its Audi stablemates include the Audi 200 and the Audi 225.