Month: January 2017

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Audi presents FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz

Audi will come full circle this year: in 2003, the premium brand accompanied the Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz for the first time as presenting sponsor. Since then, international winter sport has developed into a fixed component of Audi’s sporting commitments. The brand is a partner of 16 national associations and is the title sponsor of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup. In addition, Audi supports cross-country skiing, Nordic disciplines and the Four Hills Tournament.

In St. Moritz, Audi presents itself as a partner of the athletes and as a host for fans and visitors from around the world: The four rings shape the image of the Swiss holiday resort for two weeks with the start house, barriers, finish arch, awards ceremony backdrop, number vests, shuttle cars and exhibition vehicles. Every evening in the Audi Lounge, ex-skier Marco Büchel receives the winners of the day as well as guests and media representatives for interviews. Those who wish to discover the dynamism of the Audi models during the World Championships will have the chance to do so with the Audi driving experience.

The Audi #SuperQ will also take place in St. Moritz – a race that premiered last year at the World Cup in Kitzbühel. Organized by Audi DTM star and Rallycross world champion Mattias Ekström, athletes from different nations compete against each other on snow and ice. Available to use are four Audi TT RS* cars as well as two 560 hp Audi S1 EKS RX quattro cars. The first edition was won by Henrik Kristoffersen against renowned sporting athletes like Felix Neureuther and Marcel Hirscher.

The Alpine World Ski Championship will be held in St. Moritz for the fifth time – more than any other place. More than 140,000 fans are expected to be there to watch the eleven different events. Next to the Salastrains finish area at the foot of the Corviglia Mountain, the village center of St. Moritz and Kulm Park make up the center of the World Championships. They will start on Monday, February 6, with the official opening ceremony.

Notice for media representatives:
Current photos, texts and videos/footage of the World Championships can be found in our Audi MediaCenter (www.audi-mediacenter.com), which is constantly updated during the competitions. We also report on Twitter (@Audi_Sportnews) from St. Moritz and link from there to all news stories. The Audi Lounge (directly at the Kulm Park) is open for all accredited journalists from February 7 to 18 from 5.30 pm to 10 pm, with the exception of training and rest days as well as the last day of the competition.

Fuel consumption of the models named above:

Audi TT RS:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.4–8.2**
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 192–187**

**Figures depend on the tire/wheel sets used

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Season opener for title defender Audi in Australia

Five teams with drivers from Australia and New Zealand complete the lineup of the four rings. They include Greg Taylor and Nathan Antunes from Team GT Motorsport. Last year, the two Australians together with another contender clinched victory in the amateur class at Bathurst when the new Audi R8 LMS debuted in Australia.

For the first time, the regular qualifying session will be followed by a shootout for the top ten grid positions. This competition, as well as the full race on Sunday, will be broadcast live by the local television channel 7mate. Around the globe, viewers can watch live streaming of the race provided by the organizer at www.bathurst12hour.com.au. Following the opener in Australia, there are three other rounds scheduled on the Intercontinental GT Challenge calendar, at Spa/Belgium (July 29–30), Laguna Seca/USA (October 14–15) and Sepang/Malaysia (December 9–10).

Audi teams at Bathurst

#2 Audi R8 LMS ultra (DJS Racing), GT3 AM

James Bergmüller/Samuel Fillmore/Daniel Stutterd (AUS/NZ/AUS)

#3 Audi R8 LMS (Team ASR), GT3 Pro-AM

Daniel Gaunt/Matt Halliday/Ash Samadi (NZ/NZ/AUS)

#5 Audi R8 LMS (GT Motorsport), GT3 AM

Nathan Antunes/Elliot Barbour/Greg Taylor (AUS/AUS/AUS)

#9 Audi R8 LMS (Hallmarc), GT3 Pro-AM

Marc Cini/Dean Fiore/Lee Holdsworth (AUS/AUS/AUS)

#45 Audi R8 LMS (Supabarn), GT3 AM

Simon Evans/James Koundouris/Theo Koundouris/Marcus Marshall (NZ/AUS/AUS/AUS)

#74 Audi R8 LMS (Jamec Pem Racing), GT3 Pro

Christopher Haase/Christopher Mies/Garth Tander (D/D/AUS)

#75 Audi R8 LMS (Jamec Pem Racing), GT3 Pro

Robin Frijns/Frank Stippler/Markus Winkelhock (NL/D/D)

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Two wins for Audi in “Best Cars 2017”

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG: “The double victory in the ‘Best Cars 2017’ gives us momentum for the new year. This success shows that the enthusiasm for our cars continues to hold true. This gives us confidence on our way to the future.” Dietmar Voggenreiter, Board Member for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG, added: “The A1 and A3 offer all of the virtues of an Audi in a compact format. With this recipe for success, both models consistently drive home strong sales figures. And we expect the demand for premium mobility in the city to continue to grow.”

The “auto motor und sport” award ceremony was held for the 41st time this year. Readers of the renowned trade journal selected their favorites from 378 models in eleven categories. The publication selected an overall winner and a top import in each category. In the “Small Car” category, 20.7 percent of the readers selected the Audi A1, and 17.1 percent chose the Audi A3 as the top of the “Compact Car” class. In addition, the Audi Q7* took second place in the “Large SUV/Offroad Vehicle” category with 10.4 percent of the vote. Third place finishes went to the Audi A4* in the “Midsize” category, to the Audi A6* in the “Upper Midsize” class, to the Audi R8 Spyder* in the “Convertibles” class and to the Audi Q2* in the “Compact SUV/Offroad Vehicle” category.

Fuel consumption of the models named above:

Audi A1:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.2 – 3.6 ** (32.7 – 65.3 US mpg)
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 168 – 94 ** (270.4 – 151.3 g/mi)

Audi A3:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.1 – 3.7 ** (33.1 – 63.6 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 163 – 98 ** (262.3 – 157.7 g/mi)

Audi Q7:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.6 – 5.5 ** (30.9 – 42.8 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 199 – 144 ** (320.3 – 231.7)

Audi A4:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.6 – 3.7 ** (30.9 – 63.6 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 175 – 95 ** (281.6 – 152.9)

Audi A6:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.6 – 4.2 ** (24.5 – 56.0 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 224 – 109 ** (360.5 – 175.4 mpg)

Audi R8 Spyder:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 11.7 (20.1 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 277 (445.8 g/mi)

Audi Q2:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 5.8 – 4.1 ** (40.6 – 57.4 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 134 – 109 ** (215.7 – 175.4 g/mi)

** Figures depend on the tire/wheel sets used.

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Audi etches symbols into car paint

The process developed by Audi experts makes each Audi unique. As the desired symbols are applied to components after being painted, the process can easily be integrated into normal series production. “The method of partial matting is an excellent example of the flexibility of our production. Being able to implement individualization in normal series production is one of the aims of our smart factory,” stated Prof. Dr. Hubert Waltl, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG.

Painting an automobile consists of – in addition to the cathodic dip coating to protect against corrosion – at least three further coats: filler, base coat and the transparent lacquer as the top protective coat. With the newly developed process, a template of the desired pattern is first placed on the component. A blasting system then sprays a special powder onto the surface, which roughens the clear lacquer to a depth of just a few thousandths of a millimeter – less than a tenth of the thickness of a human hair. This creates the effect of a matt and homogeneous pattern.

“With this process, we modify the brilliance of the paintwork and the intensity of its sheen. Light hitting the surface is then reflected diffusely by the individualized surface areas. This makes it appear matt,” explained project manager Dr. Erhard Brandl. Production section head Mirko Endres added: “This form of individualization is weather resistant, unlike conventional lettering and stickers, and it has a much more high-quality appearance.”

The Audi paint shop can apply almost any pattern that a customer might desire and which does not affect any third-party rights. At present, components with a size up to a meter by a meter can be processed in this way. The super sports car Audi R8 is the first model for which this technology is offered through the Audi exclusive individualization program. If desired, R8 customers can have their individual lettering and graphics applied to the side blades of the Coupe and the open Spyder version. It is planned to extend the offer to other models in the future.

Fuel consumption of the models named above:

Audi R8 Coupe:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 12.3-11.4
CO2 emissions combined in g/km: 287-272

Audi R8 Spyder:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 11.7
CO2 emissions combined in g/km: 277

**The ranges of quoted figures for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions depend on the tires and wheels fitted as well as the engine/transmission versions.

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An Audi success story – 8 million cars with quattro drive

quattro technology made its debut in 1980, and today it is available in more than 100 model versions. The quattro all-wheel drive system is standard in the Audi Q7, the Audi A4 allroad quattro*, the Audi A6 allroad quattro*, the Audi A8, the Audi R8 and all S models and RS models, and it is available as an option in all other model series. In 2015, 44 percent of all Audi customers worldwide chose models equipped with quattro drive. The Audi Q5 topped the list with about 262,000 units. The quattro models generated particularly strong sales in the United States, Canada, Russia and in the markets of the Middle East. In Germany quattro sales totaled 122,048 cars.

Audi offers the quattro drive in different versions tailored to each model. For the compact model series with transverse-mounted engines, an electronically controlled hydraulic multi-plate clutch is mounted at the rear axle. On the R8 mid-engine sports car, the multi-plate clutch is at the front axle. According to the driving situation encountered, these active systems distribute drive torque variably to both axles.

The self-locking center differential used in many Audi models, with a longitudinally mounted front engine, is a purely mechanical planetary gear. Normally it splits the drive torque sent to the front and rear wheels with a 40:60 distribution.

Sport differential is available on the rear axle with some of the top-of-the-range engines. It actively distributes the torque between the rear wheels by means of two superposition units, each with an electrohydraulic multi-plate clutch. In extreme cases, almost all of the torque is sent to one wheel – the system actually pushes the car into the curve, eliminating any chance of understeer. 

Latest development: quattro with ultra technology
The latest phase of development from Audi is the quattro drive with ultra technology. It is likewise designed for models with a longitudinally positioned engine. Here, an actively controlled multi-plate clutch at the end of the transmission distributes the torque variably between the drive axles in all-wheel drive operation. A decoupler in the rear axle differential can additionally open the connection to the rear wheels. Both clutches are opened in driving situations where the all-wheel drive doesn’t offer any advantage. This way, the parts of the rear drivetrain responsible for drag are not engaged. The system’s control unit uses a multitude of data to produce a model of the vehicle’s status projecting about half a second into the future. If the system detects, for instance, that the inside wheel is about to lose grip, it switches predictively to all-wheel drive. As a result, the all-wheel drive is always ready when it is needed. The new concept considerably boosts efficiency without diminishing traction or driving dynamics.

Success story: the history of quattro
Audi achieved a milestone in automotive history with the quattro permanent all-wheel drive – in 1980, no other manufacturer offered a fast-running and light all-wheel drive for high-volume production. The technology premiered in 1980 in the Ur-quattro at the Geneva International Motor Show. In 1986 Audi replaced the first generation’s manually locking center differential with the Torsen differential, which could variably distribute drive torque. The planetary drive followed in 2005, with its asymmetrical, dynamic distribution of power and torque. The self-locking center differential is continuously being further developed by Audi and is considered the benchmark for traction and driving dynamics combined with very light weight.

Audi has also celebrated many triumphs in motorsport with quattro technology. The list so far includes four World Rally Championship titles, six victories in the famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb race in the United States, a title win in the TransAm series in the U.S., two DTM titles, 11 national Super Touring Car Championships, and a Touring Car World Cup. The latest victory for quattro technology: In late November, Mattias Ekström and his private rallycross team EKS captured the Driver World Champion and Team World Champion titles with the Audi S1 EKS RX quattro in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Fuel consumption of the models named above:

Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic (185 kW):
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.1 – 6.8** (33.1 – 34.6 US mpg)
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 162 – 154** (260.7 – 247.8 g/mi)

Audi A4 allroad quattro:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 6.7 – 4.9** (35.1 – 48.0 US mpg)
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 154 – 127** (247.8 – 204.4 g/mi)

Audi A6 allroad quattro:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 6.5 – 5.6** (36.2 – 42.0 US mpg)
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 172 – 149** (276.8 – 239.8 g/mi)

** Figures depend on the tire/wheel sets used.