Audi 2012 Annual Report Download - page 155

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Audi ultra
Reversing the weight spiral
Lightweight construction has been one of our core areas of expertise for many years. Audi already
blazed the trail in 1994 by adopting the use of aluminum for vehicle bodies. Even then, the A8
was the first production sedan to feature an all-aluminum body in Audi Space Frame (ASF) tech-
nology.
Today, the Audi brand places emphasis on using an intelligent mix of materials to achieve maxi-
mum performance at every point in the car, through use of the optimum material. In addition to
aluminum and high-strength steels, we are increasingly turning to carbon fiber-reinforced poly-
mers (CFRP) and magnesium. The aim is to make every new model lighter than its predecessor.
The Audi ultra lightweight construction principle is not simply limited to the body or to individual
assembly units and components. It considers the vehicle as a whole and seeks to avoid superfluous
weight at every point. The unladen weight of the new three-door A3 has been reduced by up to
80 kilograms compared with the previous model, and the saving on the new A3 Sportback is up
to 90 kilograms.
Audi provides one possible take on the future shape of lightweight construction in the multi-
material Audi Space Frame of the Audi crosslane coupé concept car. The innovative material
concept combines the best properties of various different materials – such as aluminum, carbon
fiber-reinforced and glass fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP and GFRP) – and represents a new
evolutionary stage of the Audi ultra lightweight construction principle in terms of weight and
energy usage over its life cycle.
Our two Italian brands Lamborghini and Ducati also possess many years of experience and exper-
tise in working with lightweight technologies. Lamborghini already started to use carbon materials
in automotive manufacturing around 30 years ago. Today, the Italian sports car manufacturer
holds a large number of patents in the field of carbon technology. The Aventador LP 700-4 is the
first Lamborghini to have a cabin made entirely from carbon fiber. For its production, a special
assembly hall dedicated to the machining of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) was set up at
the headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese. To build on its expertise in lightweight construction,
the Lamborghini brand is working with renowned partners from the worlds of aerospace and
science, and has operated its own research lab for approximately four years.
Ducati, too, has supplied fresh evidence of its expertise in the area of lightweight construction
technology in launching the new 1199 Panigale. An entirely new design based on an aluminum
monocoque instead of a conventional frame gives the Superbike model a revolutionary dry weight
of around only 164 kilograms.
Audi connect
The world is becoming increasingly interconnected – and so is the Audi brand. Audi connect
denotes the technology that connects the driver with the car, the Internet, the infrastructure
and other vehicles. In this area, the new models Audi A3 and Audi A3 Sportback offer attractive
solutions that redefine the benchmark especially in the premium compact segment. The pivotal