The new Audi A5 DTM, which uses the internal project name "R17" at Audi Sport, has been built to conform to the new 2012 Technical Regulations for the German Touring Car Championship.
Visitors to the Frankfurt Auto Show tomorrow will have the opportunity to get a first-hand impression of the new car, which is based on the A5 model. As a result, it appears lower and sturdier than its A4 successful predecessor with which Audi has won four of the last seven DTM titles.
Underneath the carbon body is a new type of hybrid chassis construction. The combination of a carbon fiber monocoque and steel rollcage sets new standards in terms of safety for a touring car. The chassis is one of more than 50 components which are identical for all DTM vehicles, which all share a 108” wheelbase.
"Due to these shared components, it was possible to achieve the cost reduction target of up to 40 percent without compromising safety," explained Dr Wolfgang Ullrich of Audi Motorsport, who was in charge of the Audi A5 DTM development.
Like its predecessor, the A5 DTM is powered by a 460hp V8 engine. The six-speed transmission, now pneumatically operated by paddle shifters on the steering wheel, is new. The shifting is more precise than conventional manual shifts and allow the unit to last four-times longer, up to 15000 miles.
The engine electronics (Bosch MS 5.1) operates without fuses, and the central display is already being used in the Audi R8 LMS. The exclusive tire partner, Hankook, is supplying larger and wider tires to the series.
A safety fuel tank with a capacity of 32 gallons US is integrated with the carbon fiber cell, allowing the current DTM race distance to be completed without a refueling stop. For longer races, a refueling system is under development.