Month: December 2019

* Fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and efficiency classes given in ranges depend on the tire/wheel sets used

Fuel consumption of the models named above

(Fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and efficiency classes given in ranges depend on the tire/wheel sets used)

R8 Spyder V10 performance quattro (456 kW)
Combined fuel consumption l/100 km: 13.3; combined CO₂ emissions g/km: 301

The specified fuel consumption and emission data have been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law. Since 1st September 2017, certain new vehicles are already being type-approved according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), a more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. Starting on September 1st 2018, the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) will be replaced by the WLTP in stages. Owing to the more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions measured according to the WLTP will, in many cases, be higher than those measured according to the NEDC. Therefore, the usage of CO₂ emission values measured according to WLTP for vehicle taxation from 1st September 2018 on can cause changes in this regards as well. For further information on the differences between the WLTP and NEDC, please visit www.audi.de/wltp. 

We are currently still required by law to state the NEDC figures. In the case of new vehicles which have been type-approved according to the WLTP, the NEDC figures are derived from the WLTP data. It is possible to specify the WLTP figures voluntarily in addition until such time as this is required by law. In cases where the NEDC figures are specified as value ranges, these do not refer to a particular individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the sales offering. They are intended exclusively as a means of comparison between different vehicle types. Additional equipment and accessories (e.g. add-on parts, different tire formats, etc.) may change the relevant vehicle parameters, such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, and, in conjunction with weather and traffic conditions and individual driving style, may affect fuel consumption, electrical power consumption, CO₂ emissions and the performance figures for the vehicle.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO₂ emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the “Guide on the fuel economy, CO₂ emissions and power consumption of all new passenger car models,” which is available free of charge at all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern, Germany, or under www.dat.de.

In endurance racing, the new evolution of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 in its maiden season won the Dubai 24 Hours with Car Collection Motorsport, the Nürburgring 24 Hours with Audi Sport Team Phoenix, the Suzuka 10 Hours with Audi Sport Team WRT and the Gulf 12 Hours with Attempto Racing. A total of five drivers’ titles in Germany, in the Central European FIA CEZ, in Thailand and Australia round out the tally of the most recent evolution, plus eight titles won by older ones. All versions included, the Audi R8 LMS has won 75 overall drivers’ titles between 2009 and today. Having clinched championship titles again in the United States and France, the GT4 version of the sports car continued its string of success as well. The production-based model decided an amazing number of seven drivers’ championships and eleven other classifications in its favor after just two years in the field. In November, Audi unveiled the new GT4 evolution for the coming season. Finally, the Audi RS 3 LMS touring car has won five drivers’ titles in a once more fiercely competitive environment, including first title wins in Japan and Italy, plus seven other class titles. In the 2019 season, a fourth model range contributed its share to the tally, too: the Audi R8 LMS GT2 on making its racing debut at Barcelona instantly claimed a trophy in third position and will enter its first full season in 2020.

The 2019 Audi Sport customer racing yearbook provides an overview of the entire world of customer racing and the past season. The bi-lingual volume published in collaboration with Audi Sport customer racing can be obtained from Adrenalin Verlag at the price of 39.90 euros. 

The new season will kick off with the 24-hour race in Dubai in the second week of January. A fresh and broad model range, worldwide parts supply and support close to customers by regional service and sales structures, plus a customer base in North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and in the Australia-New Zealand Pacific region make Audi Sport customer racing a powerful global player. 

Additional information
All 2019 titles at a glance

For this closed-loop pilot project, Umicore will receive cell modules from the Audi e-tron model, which will initially be taken from development vehicles. From those cells, the materials technology expert will recover cobalt and nickel, and process them into precursor and cathode materials. From this, new battery cells containing recycled cobalt and nickel can be produced. Since the beginning of development of its first fully electric cars, Audi has worked on the recycling of the vehicle. The company aims to apply resources efficiently and purposely pursues this idea in all directions. In the future, further recycling skills are to be developed.

“A closed loop for battery raw materials is a big leap technologically. We save precious resources and reduce CO₂ emissions. In this way we come significantly closer to our goal of a sustainable supply chain and reach a milestone on the road to achieving an overall carbon-neutral balance by 2050,” says Dr. Bernd Martens, member of the board of management for Procurement and IT at Audi. “It is our aim to think sustainability holistically. This includes dealing with the remaining ‘end of life’ as well as resource-saving development of our products.” Furthermore, Marc Grynberg, CEO of Umicore added: “Umicore is committed to enabling the transition to electrified mobility. Innovative technologies, responsible sourcing and closing the materials loop will lead the drive towards clean mobility. This project with Audi is at the forefront of the development of a sustainable value chain for electrified transport.”

Fuel consumption of the models named
Audi e-tron: Combined electric energy consumption in kWh/100 km: 24.3 – 20.6; CO₂ emissions combined in g/km (g/mi): 0
(Information on fuel/electricity consumption and CO₂ emissions in ranges depending on the equipment and accessories of the car.)

The Audi Brand Experience Center has been added to the extensive Audi Campus on the premises of Munich airport as the fourth training center for international trade. “With our clear focus on sustainability, we are stating very clearly that we are approaching this topic holistically and far beyond the electrification of the vehicle fleet,” says Horst Hanschur, head of Retail Business Development and Customer Services. For example, the company intends to make all Audi production locations worldwide CO₂-neutral by 2025. Audi intends to achieve CO₂-neutrality company-wide by no later than 2050. “We are also working together closely with our trade partners on this journey. The Audi Brand Experience Center serves as a field for experimentation and inspiration at the same time.”

For example, the entire air-conditioning technology in the new training and event center is based on the use of geothermal energy: Pipes that can be used for both heating and cooling are installed in the slabs between the floors of the building. The triple solar protection glazing on the entire facade deflects beams of sunlight, which reduces the cooling load in summer in particular, while ensuring a high level of light transmission at the same time.

The new building is the first sustainably built property at Munich airport. The glass facades of the futuristic-looking center consist of just under 450 square meters of transparent photovoltaic elements with more than 1,650 solar cells that deliver roughly 42,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. This corresponds to the annual power consumption of 10 four-person-households. This electricity generated with solar power can be stored temporarily via two battery storage devices that Audi made from second-life batteries. The self-generated electricity is used for the building itself and for charging electric cars. There are a total of six charging points in front of the building, including two 150 kilowatt fast charging points. These charging terminals have been added to the 78 charging points of AUDI AG’s electric charging park at Munich airport, making it one of the largest contiguous charging parks in all of Europe.

As a special eye-catcher, Audi installed the walk-on meteorite at the charging terminals in front of the Brand Experience Center, which had “landed” on the airport grounds for the market launch of the Audi e-tron. Here, Audi is experimenting with facade material that binds carbon dioxide permanently and is being tested for use in dealerships.

As an electric filling station, the meteorite is also an important element of the “Charge and Fly” campaign. Until December 20, 2019, people who own an electric car or plug-in hybrid can park their car of any brand free of charge here and have it fully charged while they are traveling by airplane. The Audi e-tron meteorite will remain available as a public charging station even after the end of the promotion period.

The brand with the four rings has been expanding the Audi Campus at Munich airport continuously since 1998: Aside from the Audi Brand Experience Center, the company is represented with the myAudi sphere, the Audi Conference Center, and three other Audi training centers. 

“At the close of the season, we’d have wished for a better result, which definitely would have been possible,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “However, a whole range of factors caused each of our cars to lose ground during the course of the weekend. Our four drivers, Niels Langeveld, Gordon Shedden, Jean-Karl Vernay and Frédéric Vervisch, showed a strong fighting spirit up until the end – many thanks to them for that.” Frédéric Vervisch was the driver with both the best chances and the greatest misfortune. Having entered the first race from fifth on the grid, the Belgian from Comtoyou Team Audi Sport retired when a slow puncture forced him to pit. He was looking forward to the second race with eager anticipation after having clinched third on the grid as the best qualifying result of all Audi Sport drivers. However, on the way to the grid, he noticed a defective drive shaft which the team was no longer able to replace in time. Consequently, he subsequently started from the pit lane, was handed a drive-through penalty for exceeding the duration of the repair during the starting formation and in the end finished only in position 25. In the third race, Vervisch showed what was possible: from eighth on the grid he attacked on a wet track and finished in fourth, directly in front of Norbert Michelisz, the new World Cup winner. Niels Langeveld from Comtoyou Team Audi Sport achieved 15th position in the second race as his best result of the weekend.