Riyadh, December 21, 2021 – The futuristic exterior of the Audi RS Q e-tron perfectly reflects its advanced concept with electric all-wheel drive and an energy converter. In order to perfectly temper the complex, and in some cases, highly stressed systems, Audi has implemented an elaborate cooling system.
“Audi has never contested the Dakar Rally before. The first question we asked ourselves was: How do we get the heat out of the car?”, says Sebastian Fröber, the engineer responsible for the cooling systems, summarising the central question regarding cooling. “We started with CFD simulations for the aerodynamics of the overall vehicle. Then we designed the individual cooling systems.” Audi’s experience with complex cooling requirements, such as in the three-time Le Mans winner R18 e-tron quattro with hybrid drive or in Formula E, helped in this process.
However, the objectives are clearly different: whereas maximum aerodynamic efficiency was the priority in the Le Mans sports car, the desert prototype is about the best possible heat dissipation. Several cooling circuits ensure the right temperature.