Audi 2013 Annual Report Download - page 25

Another element to enjoying driving, however, is being able to
do so with a clear conscience. Power and the number of cylinders
are no longer the only topics of discussion for today’s car
enthusiasts. With the automobile on the brink of the greatest
upheaval in its more than 100-year history, enthusiasts are at
least as concerned with such topics as reducing emissions,
environmentally compatible technologies and with whether a
manufacturer’s sense of ecological responsibility also extends
to raw materials extraction and the production process.
The goal is modern, sustainable mobility. The formula for
achieving this : intelligence rather than sacrifice. Lightweight
construction is one such intelligent step. Each kilogram of
weight saved not only makes driving more fun, it also reduces
fuel consumption and thus emissions. A modern car should
be light, but without sacrificing comfort or safety. That sounds
so simple, yet it is a Herculean task.
Audi also reduced the weight of the Audi R18 ultra
Le Mans race car in 2012. Even the transmission
case and accelerator pedal were made of carbon
fiber. But why go to all that trouble when the
rules mandate that a Le Mans race car has to weigh
at least 900 kilograms ? Because the much
lighter R18 ultra enabled the engineers to use extra
weights to fine-tune the sports car’s balance
perfectly for the track. Lightness thus outweighed
other considerations.
LEAN ATHLETES
>>> www.audi-motorsport.com
THINK LIGHT
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