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2018 Audi RS5 Could Get 48-Volt Electric System To Supply Electric Turbo

Audi’s upcoming RS5 might be the first gasoline-powered model from the four-ringed brand that receives a 48-Volt electric system.
2014 Audi RS5 TDI Concept with 48V electric system and electric turbo 1 photo
Photo: Audi
The technical solution we are referencing debuted on the SQ7, which is the most powerful diesel SUV in the world. Bentley’s first diesel model, the Bentayga, also received the same solution to bring an oil burner under the hood of an automobile from Crewe.

As you already know, the Audi RS5 will ditch the naturally aspirated V8 unit for a 2.9-liter V6 engine. The downsizing comes with the aid of Porsche, which has developed a twin-turbo V6 unit that is applied in the Panamera 4S.

In the case of the four-door coupe from Porsche, it produces 440 HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft). While torque is improved from what you find in a stock RS5 of the current generation, the horsepower level is slightly smaller.

While there is no official word on this, Audi might fit the electric turbocharger solution for the next RS5 to surpass the power standards of the outgoing model.

The 48V electric supercharger was first showcased by Audi on a concept named RS5 TDI. Just like the SQ7, it had a 48V electrical system that supplied an electric turbocharger. The latter had the role of providing assistance before the pair of conventional turbochargers managed to spool up to the lever where they deliver optimal boost, and this resulted in an elimination of turbo lag.

Unlike a hybrid solution that is used to encourage acceleration when desired, the 48V electrical system is lighter and does not require a big battery. It has been two years since Audi first showcased this idea on a concept vehicle and implemented it on a production car.

The RS5 would be a perfect match for the electric turbo solution because lag would be eliminated while the engine would bring more performance than the V8 it replaces. Audi already plans to fit the 48V system, complete with the electric turbo, in the next SQ5, so packaging should not be a problem in the RS5.
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About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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