Audi 2010 Annual Report Download - page 148

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Audi A1 successful in Euro NCAP crash test
The Euro NCAP consortium, which tests the crash properties of new vehicles, confirmed the
outstanding crash safety of the Audi A1 in 2010 and gave the model its top rating of five stars
(November 24, 2010). The vehicle impressed the testers with its standard of safety for the driver
and front passenger in frontal, rear and side impact tests, as well as in the child protection
category. The Audi A1’s road safety is further boosted by the inclusion of the ESP electronic
stabilization program with electronic differential lock as standard.
Electric mobility
Electric mobility at Audi
The Audi Group expects to see electric mobility play a decisive role in the future, alongside efficient
combustion engines and hybrid concepts (cf. “Product-based environmental aspects,” p. 167 ff.).
The Company continues to pursue the broad-based policy of coordinating all systems and com-
ponents in order to exploit the full potential of electric drive.
To achieve the goal of making the Audi brand the leading premium manufacturer of electric
vehicles in the long term, the Audi Group again put considerable effort into developing electric
drive in the past fiscal year. In Ingolstadt the Company opened a new development and test
center for electrified drivetrains in 2010, having already invested some EUR 65 million in it over
the past two years; this center will now facilitate the optimization of drivetrains, batteries and
power electronics. With all activities housed under one roof, a highly integrated approach to
working should keep communication channels short and pave the way for efficient solutions.
Audi e-tron
After the unveiling of the Audi brand’s first showcar with electric drive in 2009, the Audi e-tron,
three further electric studies followed in 2010. The name e-tron is to become the brand name
for all electrically powered Audi models, in the same way that the term quattro denotes all-
wheel-drive Audi vehicles.
The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron, powered by two electric motors mounted on the rear axle, was
unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show at the very start of the year. The A1 e-tron intended predomi-
nantly for city driving was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring. The showcar can
travel exclusively electrically, but as well as an electric motor it has a Wankel engine on board to
charge up the battery if necessary in order to extend the car’s range. Most recently, the Company
exhibited the Audi e-tron Spyder at the Paris Motor Show, an open-top sports car with plug-in
hybrid drive with both a 3.0 TDI engine and two electric motors.
AUDI E-TRON STUDIES
Audi e-tron Spyder
Paris Motor Show
9/2010
9/2009
Audi e-tron
IAA Frankfurt
3/2010
Audi A1 e-tron
Geneva Motor Show
1/2010
Detroit showcar Audi e-tron
Detroit Auto Show