The Audi Vision Gran Turismo, developed by Audi Design exclusively for the "Vision Gran Turismo" competition and launched on the 15th anniversary of the series, came in both hybrid and fully-electric versions. Launched on the 15th anniversary of Gran Turismo, these exciting race machines offer a look into the future of motorsports.
The hybrid Audi Vision Gran Turismo is equipped with e-tron quattro, making it all-wheel-drive. It borrows the same technology as the 2012 Le Mans-winning race car, which featured motor-driven front wheels and a conventional rear-wheel setup. The front wheels of the Audi Vision Gran Turismo is powered by a 400 kW (536.5 HP) motor (MGU-K) that recovers energy when braking. The rear tires are powered by a turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 that produces 550 kW (737.7 HP), making total output an impressive 950 kW (1274.2 HP), which is more than many of today's LMP1 hybrid racers. It comes mated to a sequential 7-speed gearbox actuated by paddles on the steering wheel. The weight-to-power ratio for the Audi Vision Gran Turismo is less than one kilogram per horsepower.
The new race car is reminiscent of the Audi 90 IMSA GTO, which thrilled fans in the North American IMSA GTO racing series in 1989 with drivers such as Hans-Joachim Stuck, Walter Röhrl, Hurley Haywood and Scott Goodyear. The car was far ahead of its time, thanks to its combination of lightweight construction, a powerful turbocharged inline-5 engine, and quattro all-wheel-drive.
You can tell the all-electric version from the hybrid by the wheels: the former comes with 18-inchers all around, while the hybrid race car has 20-inch wheels in front with 21-inch examples at the rear.
Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo
Audi has jumped into the EV fray with a purely electric-powered race car for the future. Called the Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo, this awesome machine was initially developed to be a virtual model in the "Vision Gran Turismo" lineup; however, Audi felt it was just too good to keep it exclusively digitized, so it built a running prototype that was used as a race taxi in the Formula E racing series. This makes the e-tron Vision Gran Turismo the first virtual concept car in the Vision Gran Turismo series that became a real-life fully functioning car.
The new race car is reminiscent of the Audi 90 IMSA GTO, which thrilled fans in the North American IMSA GTO racing series in 1989 with drivers such as Hans-Joachim Stuck, Walter Röhrl, Hurley Haywood and Scott Goodyear. The car was far ahead of its time, thanks to its combination of lightweight construction, a powerful turbocharged inline-5 engine, and quattro all-wheel-drive.
The Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo, which fans will be able to experience virtually starting April 2018, is powered by three 200 kW (268.2 HP) electric motors: two motors for the rear axle and one at the front. Total output is a whopping 600 kW (803.7 HP), and when combined with its lean curb weight of 3197 lbs, the result is a weight-to-power ratio of 4 lbs per horsepower. The Audi is also corners with the best of them, thanks in part to a 50/50 front/rear weight distribution and all-wheel-drive with variable power distribution. And just like the company's Formula E race cars, the Audi e-tron Vision Gran Turismo has only one forward gear.
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