Audi 2008 Annual Report Download - page 121

118
AUDI 100 TDI
Direct-injection diesel en-
gines are among the most
efficient internal combus-
tion engines available. The
company adopted this
technology in volume pro-
duction in 1989, when it
launched the first refined
direct-injection diesel
engine for the Audi 100.
The 2,460 cc turbocharged
straight-five had an output
of 120 hp, propelling the
car up to a top speed of
200 km/h. The average
standard fuel consumption
was an impressive 5.7 liters
of diesel fuel per 100 kilo-
meters. With its direct-
injection concept and an
outstanding drag coeffi-
cient, Audi had yet again
supplied impressive proof
of its slogan “Vorsprung
durch Technik.”
AUDI A8
Scarcely any other car-maker
has made as many advances
in the areas of image, ac-
ceptance and technology
leadership as Audi has over
the past two decades. It
therefore came as no sur-
prise when, in 1994, the
company also decided to
equip its first luxury sedan
with progressive technology.
Not only did it include a
4.2 liter V8/300 hp engine
and quattro drive as stan-
dard, it also made the
widest possible use of alu-
minum. The body structure
consisted of a positive-
locking, high-strength alu-
minum frame structure
that supported aluminum
panels: the patented Audi
Space Frame. The chassis
was also made of aluminum,
producing a substantial
weight saving compared to
a conventional vehicle.
AUDI TT
The Audi TT Coupé study car
was first shown at the In-
ternational Motor Show in
Frankfurt (IAA) in Septem-
ber 1995, and the TT Road-
ster study captivated the
public at the Tokyo Motor
Show a month later. Jour-
nalists and customers alike
unanimously insisted that
the Coupé and Roadster –
names reminiscent of the
memorable sporty NSU TT
models of the 1960s – go
into production. Volume
production started in 1998.
Customers were especially
attracted by the study
car’s original shape, which
was retained for the pro-
duction model.
AUDI A2
In hindsight, the A2 and its
radical approach to econo-
my and ecology probably
arrived on the market too
early. In building the A2,
Audi demonstrated its
expertise by building a
compact car – of just 3.76
meters long – with superb
technology and high stan-
dards of active and passive
safety. It also had the same
type of aluminum body
featured on the A8 and a
drag coefficient of just
0.28. With its 1.2 liter TDI
engine, a further reduced
drag coefficient of 0.25 and
other measures to optimize
fuel efficiency, the A2
earned a place in history as
one of the first genuine
“three-liter” (referring to
fuel consumption per 100
kilometers) cars. But there
was a price to pay for all
this technology, and it was
ahead of its time. When
the last A2 rolled off the
production line in June 2005,
a total of 170,000 units
had been built.
19 9 8
1989
1994
19 9 8
19 9 9