Nissan develops ‘engine in a suitcase’

The prospect of an ‘engine in a suitcase’ has become a reality with the latest 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine from Nissan that develops 400bhp.

The engine weighs only 40kg (88lb) and is only 500mm tall x 400mm long x 200mm wide (19.68” x 15.74” x 7.78”).

Audi wins Le Mans for the twelfth time

For the second time in succession, Audi has won the Le Mans 24 Hours with a hybrid race car and quattro drive, thus continuing its unique success story at the world's most important endurance race. Victory was clinched by Loïc Duval (F), Tom Kristensen (DK) and Allan McNish (GB).

The twelfth triumph for Audi at Le Mans was one of the most difficult and hardest-fought ones. Following a change in the regulations that was made at short notice, the three Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars on average were able to do two laps less on one tank filling than their main rival Toyota.

The Audi drivers had to compensate for the additional pit stops by faster lap times on track - and did so in weather conditions that at times were extremely difficult.

Audi aims for twelfth Le Mans victory

One week before the Le Mans 24 Hours race in France celebrates its 90th anniversary, it is worth noting that some 15 years of engine development have been shaping Audi's prototype racing commitment. Through intensive development work the engineers have repeatedly compensated for the restrictions imposed by the regulations while consistently enhancing efficiency of the engines fielded.

Two major eras have shaped Audi's commitment at Le Mans from the perspective of Ulrich Baretzky, head of engine development at Audi Sport: Until 2005, gasoline engines powered Audi's LMP race cars, since 2006 the engines have been diesel units. For Audi, this is linked to numerous innovations.

The Le Mans project began with a 3.6-litre gasoline engine that delivered around 400 kW (544 bhp), but growing to over 449 kW (610 bhp) only a year later.