What is the electric Audi created by an Argentinian with whom Carlos Sainz won the Dakar Rally?

The triumph of the Spanish Carlos Sainz in the 2024 edition of the Dakar Rally represents a historic event in world motorsport. On the one hand, it is the first time that Audi It reaches first place in the toughest competition in the world and also for the first time an electrified model triumphs.

Rosario has a lot to do with this story Juan Manuel Díaz, one of the most renowned Argentine designers in the world industry. He started at Alfa Romeo, followed by Seat and then entered the four rings brand, where he spent more than 8 years, before taking on a new super luxury project.

After creating several Audi street models, Díaz led one of the competition design teams. In that context he created the beast with which Sainz won.

This is the RS Q E-tron, the new version of the same vehicle that Díaz himself had worked on for the 2022 edition of the most extreme competition on the planet. In that year, the first year that the Audi model participated, it was far from the lead, but was able to take victory in a timed stage, anticipating the model’s potential.

In the 2023 race Audi started with everything, winning stages and leading the competition at times. But two accidents by Sainz and Peterhansel, both in the sixth stage, left the German brand without a chance.

Now, with the triumph of El Matador, the fourth of his career and all with different manufacturers (he had previously triumphed with Volkswagen, Peugeot and MINI), it is confirmed that this idea, the brand with the four rings, was on the right path.

For the 2023 edition, Sainz and the other Audi drivers, Stephane Peterhansel and Mattias Ekström, had counted on the evolution of the RS Q E-tron hybrid vehicle. The body was completely redesigned, the aerodynamics were improved and the center of gravity was lowered, with the strategy of optimizing the efficiency of the powertrain.

According to Audi engineers, The evolution of the model does not retain a single piece of its predecessor. The passenger compartment, which was previously located in a very high position in relation to the height of the ceiling, is now much wider, complying with the interior dimensions required by current regulations.

They eliminated the lower part of the rear hood to the left and right of the B pillars, as a solution that, together with the optimization of the fabric layers of the composite materials, allowed them to reduce weight.

The area that includes the lower part of the hood is new, within an innovative aerodynamic concept. The sector is similar to the shape of the hull of a boat: its widest point is at the height of the passenger compartment, while the body narrows considerably in the front and rear areas.

In addition, they dispensed with the part of the fenders that were behind the front wheels and formed the transition to the tailgate, a structure that was internally known as the “elephant foot.”

This way, the designers led by Juan Manuel Díaz saved weight and optimized airflow. They managed to reduce the total aerodynamic drag by 15%. This does not modify the maximum speed of the prototype, which is limited to 170 km/h.

During the first two editions in which it participated, Audi detected situations with short-term excess power when the wheels had less contact with the ground, such as when jumping or rolling on uneven terrain.

The stewards of the World Automobile Federation (FIA) impose sporting sanctions when certain excess energy thresholds are exceeded.

To comply with the regulations and, at the same time, not lose performance, they modified the software that now recalculates two individual limits in milliseconds, one for each engine. As a result, the system operates accurately within the permissible limits.

He not only worked on optimizing the power but also on the energy saving. The air conditioning system, for example, now works intermittently. In this way, energy is saved and the temperature in the cabin is better controlled.

The operation of the fans and the servo pump were also optimized. These systems can now be regulated independently for lower loads in the link stages compared to the special ones.

The screens of the spectacular Audi prototype are located within the driver’s field of vision, on the center console, following the usual configuration. However, now, for the first time, the driver and co-driver can choose between four menus via a rotary control knob.

Among the improvements also The tire change operation in case of a puncture was streamlined. The new, easily removable body components replace the cumbersome sidewall spare wheel covers used until now.

The mechanical base is practically the same. The RSQ only drives the wheels with electricity but it is produced by a combustion engine. There are two electric motors from Formula E, one on each axle, which give it 383 horsepower (limited by regulations) and four-wheel drive.

It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, accelerating on land and the maximum speed is limited to 170 km/h.

The electricity generator is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine from the brand’s experience in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM).

For this 2024 edition there were also improvements. The combustion engine operates at a particularly efficient speed, between 4,500 and 6,000 revolutions per minute. As a result, its specific consumption is well below 200 grams per kWh.

Audi has been using reFuel to power the energy converter since the 2023 Dakar Rally. This waste-based product does not compete with food. Helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 60%.

To improve the safety of the driver and co-pilot in the event of harsh landings or accidents, engineers have focused on the chassis and cabin. Optimized springs, dampers and bump stops in the chassis help better distribute some of the loads over time. The improved foam in the seats does the rest.

Technicians reworked parts of the chassis. Time and time again, sharp stones became trapped between the tire base, brake disc and steering knuckle. This caused considerable damage. New wheel support fixing points now offer more clearance so stones can be ejected more easily

Juan Manuel Díaz put his imprint and seal on great, easily recognizable cars. From Rosario he made the leap to Italy when he was barely 24 years old. He emerged from the European Institute of Design. He did an internship at Renaultthen he went to the prestigious coachbuilder Pininfarina and when it seemed that his career was going away because he had no stable job, he joined Alfa Romeo.

In the Italian brand he was part of the team that designed the MiTo, which in 2009 was chosen as Car of the Year in Europe. There he was also part of a work that was done in secret and is today part of the Alfa Romeo Museum: the Diva, a one-off that is among the developments that he remembers most fondly, due to the artisanal methods they applied.

At Seat he made the jump to the Volkswagen Group, where he quickly moved to Audi. As Manager Team Leader of Audi Motorsport he pushed his most important creations: the R8 Spyder (street), GT2 and GT3 (competition), the Q2 e-tronthe first electric car he designed, and the A1, the brand’s entry model that has a restyling that was supervised by the man from Rosario.

His final stage at Audi found him in charge of developments for the Dakar. Therefore, this triumph achieved by the German brand is also part of Díaz from Rosario.