The Audi Avus quattro from 1991
Mere weeks after the quattro Spyder, Audi launched a second rocket: the Avus quattro high-performance sports car captivated onlookers at the Tokyo Motor Show in the fall of 1991. The Avus quattro also boasted a lightweight aluminum body: the frame weighed a mere 52 kilograms (114.64 lb), the unpainted and polished surface 100 kilograms (220.46 lb).
This show car’s second technological sensation was its engine. Positioned longitudinally ahead of the front suspension, the six-liter unit’s three cylinder banks were in a ‘W’ configuration: the precursor to today’s A8 W12. Thanks to a powerful 374 kW (509 hp) and a weight of only 1,250 kilograms (2,755.78 lb), the Audi Avus quattro topped out at 340 km/h (211.27 mph)! A sophisticated
quattro drive train conveyed the power to the road. To optimize the distribution of weight, the six-speed manual transmission was fitted between the front wheels. All wheels were attached to double triangular wishbones; the electronically controlled rear wheels enhanced the cornering dynamics.
At 4.42 meters in length (14.50 ft), this show car’s design remains irresistibly stunning to this day. The flat driver’s cockpit was remarkably close to the vehicle’s front end. The long wheelbase of 2.80 meters (9.19 ft) created a large gap between the powerful 20-inch wheels. In addition, the fenders, the sides and the curved roof – which bore the exterior mirrors – collectively formed a single
glistening wave.
“The Avus quattro is one of Audi’s major icons,” proclaims Stefan Sielaff. “Its sculpture with the pronounced cab-forward design pays homage to bygone designs; it echoes the streamlined racing cars of the 1930s. Yet the Avus quattro also proved to be forward-looking: the Audi R8 TDI Le Mans, a current concept vehicle, also has a NACA duct in its roof – as did the Avus quattro.”
The Audi A2 from 1999
A
verage consumption of just 2.99 liters of diesel per 100 km (78.67 mpg): this extremely ambitious target had already been specified when Audi began developing the A2 in the mid-1990s. Three factors would prove to be indispensable in achieving this: highly efficient engines, low weight and an
excellent drag coefficient.
Firstly, Audi engineers turned to cutting-edge three-cylinder and four-cylinder engines. Among them was the 1.2 TDI, which was to break the three-liter barrier. Audi was able to meet weight requirements thanks to the ASF (Aluminum Space Frame) construction principle. The basic version of the A2 weighed just 895 kilograms (1,973.14 lb).
The requirements of aerodynamics led to an undeniably unique two-box design. The body of the A2 tapered considerably toward the rear and the coupe-like roof line sloped markedly toward the ground. No windshield wiper was needed for the decidedly curved rear window: a long spoiler protected it against rain and dirt. The A2 1.2 TDI had a sensational drag coefficient of just 0.25 – an
accomplishment which remains unbeaten up to the present day.
For the passengers, this concept entailed no sacrifices whatsoever. On the contrary: as many as five people and their belongings had plenty of room thanks to the upright seat positions on board the A2. This facilitated comfortable and, if necessary, extremely quick travel.
“The A2 epitomizes Audi design of the late nineties,” points out Stefan Sielaff. “It was puristic and plain, and practically dogmatic in design. It was not an emotional vehicle – sensible more than anything. But it embodied that timelessness which designers always aspire to. Even today, the A2 strikes a bold pose. It is one of the cars which has been most significant for Audi.”
Every Audi’s body comprises about two thirds of the vehicle’s height; the
greenhouse the remaining third. Its curved roof is a “classic curve,” explains
Egger: “It is an assured stroke – a flourish which simply flows out of the hand.”
Be it the R8 or the Audi Q7: on every model, the roof line looks light and coupelike
– near the front, it begins to gently slope by means of long, smooth columns
toward the tail end. This arch gives birth to the characteristic Audi layout of the
window strip, with a rear window which tapers to a point and is split on most
models by an additional strip.
Audi design symbolizes acceleration and is free of elements which could imply
the opposite. It also makes function visible, managing just fine without artificial
décor. Audi design is authentic. And it is the sum of attention to detail and
technical precision. This is every bit as evident in the delicate interplay between
vigor and its echoes as it is in the uncompromisingly exact gap widths between an
Audi’s metal panels – in the seemingly invisible laser-welded roof seams on the
latest models. This philosophy makes it possible for Audi design to perfectly
express the brand’s character.
spanTimesNewRoman,Bold";"Horizontal lines accentuate the width
At a vehicle’s tail end, Audi designers underscore the width of its body by
emphasizing the horizontal lines. This is true not only of the fundamental shape of
the taillights, but also the concave surface underneath them which houses the
license plate on most models. The taillights themselves constitute an additional
canvas for creative designers: with the help of LED technology, they can conjure
up distinctive lighting frames. On the TT, reflectors create an amazing optical
illusion of three-dimensionality.
The Audi Q5 and the Q7 have a very special feature – the wraparound tailgate,
which makes the tail end appear even wider and concludes in an S-shaped line at
the D-posts. Large and prominent exhaust pipes hint at the power of any Audi’s
engine; diffuser inserts on sporty models emphasize the dynamic character.
Every Audi is a unified work of art – and the interior design is no exception. Audi
interiors echo the lines of the exterior; the cockpit accentuates the horizontal lines
and is low-slung. The interior architecture orients itself to the driver; in most
models, when seen from above, it is reminiscent of a cascading wave. “We
transform function into an elegant experience,” says Wolfgang Egger. “Every
Audi is a mobile sculpture.”