2014 Audi R18 E-tron Quattro Revealed

Audi released photos and technical details of their 2014 WEC entry on Thursday.

A flat black primary adorned with red trim and white sponsorship trademarks make for one the most sinister looking cars in the history of endurance racing.

Beneath the skin you’ll find a turbo-diesel V-6 and two hybrid systems.

As in the past, a flywheel type system feeds power to the front axle. Weight has been reduced, and energy storage has been improved for the unit in the 2014 car.

The second unit is more complex. At the back will be a thermal energy recovery unit. The V-6’s turbo-chargers will be able to use the heat they generate to create electrical energy which is sent to flywheel storage system.

The car can also send electrical energy to the turbo itself. When a driver is accelerating, the electrical energy can be sent to the turbo in order to help it spool faster and in turn reach its ideal level of boost faster than it would under normal circumstances.

The car has been said by Audi to have dropped 30 pounds, and increase efficiency by 30 percent.

Two hybrid systems are allowed on entries next season, and Audi is the only manufacturer to take advantage of the new LMP1 regulation. Porsche plan to run a 4 cylinder single unit hybrid, and Toyota will use a naturally aspirated V-8 hybrid unit.