Audi 2011 Annual Report Download - page 58

Innovation _ 55
scheduled to take to the streets in
late 2012, will be the limited-
production R8 e-tron sports car.
The fi rst technology platforms
have already been built based on the
series production of the successful
Audi R8 mid-engine sports car.
“With the R8 e-tron, we are showing
the emotional appeal that electric
mobility can have. Every system in this
car has been tuned for performance
and range,” says Franciscus van Meel.
Systematic lightweight construction
is also one of the most important
prerequisites for this in the case of
the R8 e-tron. The body is aluminum;
thanks to Audi Space Frame (ASF)
technology, it weighs barely more than
200 kg. The lightweight body is an
important reason why the R8 e-tron
weighs just 1,600 kg. “We will
also be taking driving dynamics to
new heights with the R8 e-tron,” says
Dr. Horst Glaser.
The broad approach that Audi is
also pursuing with the R8 e-tron covers
all practical aspects of electrifi ed
driving. It extends from charging via
thermal and energy management of
the battery and mechanical units
to the operating strategy, including
the areas of torque vectoring, brakes
and energy recovery.
“The R8 e-tron is a very important
project for Audi,” explains Franciscus
van Meel, “because the competence
and experience we gain from it will
fl ow into the volume production of
electric automobiles.”
The A2 concept presented at the
International Motor Show (IAA)
in Frankfurt in September 2011
embodies the link between the Audi
fi elds of the future – ultra, connect
and e-tron – in fascinating style. Audi
is off ering a peek at electrifi ed driving
in the megacities of the future with
the all-electric vehicle. That starts
with the design of the 3.80 meter
show car. One look is all it takes
to recognize that the A2 concept
is an Audi, and not just because of
the single-frame grille that typifi es
the brand. It has a typically Audi
road stance – elegant, powerful and
dynamic. “An Audi has to delight
people,” says Markus Auerbach, who
is responsible for the exterior of
concept vehicles, “and the show car
radiates dynamics, speed and motion
even while standing still.”
The clear design language continues
with the matrix beam LED headlights.
An entire bundle of small light-
emitting diodes arranged one above
the other produces the low beam
and high beam light. Microrefl ectors
enable the precise positioning of the
light. The LEDs can be switched on
and off independently to illuminate
the road in virtually any situation.
Additional mini-LEDs are used for the
daytime running lights.
Another highlight of the concept
car is by-wire technology better
known from aviation, with which the
steering, transmission and brakes
operate purely electrically. These new
technologies will open up entirely
new dimensions of driving dynamics
and safety in the future. The A2
concept weighs less than 1,150 kg,
despite having an energy storage
system that is inherently relatively
heavy – the batteries. The low weight
is due primarily to its body, which
features the most advanced state of
Audi’s lightweight construction. The
show car combines the Audi Space
Frame (ASF) with multimaterial
construction, in which a wide range
of diff erent materials are joined with
one another.
The responsible developers at
Audi are certain that the future of
mobility will be diverse. It will be
characterized for many years by a
blend of diff erent technologies and
energy sources. Audi customers
will be able to choose from a wide
range of drive technologies. High-
effi ciency combustion engines and
hybrid drives will also have a great
future in the broad-based concept.
The development spectrum at Audi
refl ects the full extent of the new
technologies. As Heinz Hollerweger
explains, “What it ultimately
comes down to is off ering the best
solution for each market and for
each customer.” The Audi developers’
objective is to reduce total emissions
over the entire lifecycle of the
vehicle, including production, use
and recycling.
With their ideas and innovations,
the Audi engineers of today are
establishing the foundation for the
mobility of tomorrow. Michael Dick
closed the meeting by telling the
leading developers, “With our
unmistakable design, ultra, connect
and e-tron, we have strong fi elds for
the future that will shape our brand
and enable us to create an emotional
and impressive product: the Audi of the
future.” And to further reinforce the
brand’s “Vorsprung durch Technik.”
O
Inventive spirit: Audi has been
delighting customers with “Vorsprung
durch Technik” for more than 40 years.
The future of mobility
will be characterized by
a variety of technologies
existing side by side.
The Audi of the future
will also be an emotional
and impressive product.
“With our
unmistakable
design, ultra,
connect and e-tron,
we have strong
fi elds for the
future that will
shape our brand.”
Michael Dick
Member of the Board of Management
for Technical Development at AUDI AG
A peek at the future (left): testing a
prototype of the Audi connect system
at the Pre-Series Center in Ingolstadt.
PHOTOS | THOMAS DASHUBER/MUNICH; ENNO KAPITZA