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Audi to build a supercar.

Discussion in 'Other German' started by Fan512bbi, Nov 10, 2004.

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  1. Fan512bbi

    Fan512bbi Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #1 Fan512bbi, Nov 10, 2004
    It might look like a Lamborghini Gallardo, but beneath the bodywork of this prototype sit the components for Audi’s upcoming Le Mans supercar. Codenamed AU714, the new two-seater should arrive in September 2006, prior to going on sale in the UK early in 2007. The price is tipped to start at around £68,000, and eventually extend to £85,000 for a Porsche 911 Turbo-chasing 5.2-litre V10 model due in 2008.

    As these exclusive photographs taken at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany reveal, the Le Mans is based heavily on the Gallardo. Among the key components shared by both cars are the aluminium spaceframe, high-tensile steel floorpan, lightweight wiring loom, brake system and intricate double wishbone suspension. However, Audi sources say
    a series of changes, including unique engines and electromagnetic dampers, will provide the Le Mans with a ‘vastly different character’ to the Gallardo’s.

    The production version of Ingolstadt’s new performance flagship will ditch the aggressive look of Sant’Agata’s entry-level model for a more harmoniously styled
    aluminium bodyshell similar to that seen on the Le Mans concept car from last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

    Audi is working on two naturally aspirated powerplants to replace the show car’s 610bhp twin-turbocharged 5.0-litre V10. Early models are likely to receive an updated version
    of the German car maker’s 4.2-litre V8. With direct injection and a raft of internal tweaks aimed at lowering reciprocating masses, the new engine is said to push out a gutsy 425bhp (up from 339bhp in the S4).

    Also under development at the company’s Quattro GmbH facilities is a brand-new
    40-valve 5.2-litre V10 engine. Unrelated to the 5.0-litre V10 in the Gallardo, it uses the same 88mm cylinder spacing and compact chain-drive system as Audi’s existing 90-degree V8.

    The target output for the new engine is 520bhp – a solid 100bhp more than today’s Porsche 911 Turbo. Power will be sent to all four wheels via a second-generation DSG (dual-clutch) gearbox, re-engineered to handle the Le Mans’ high torque loads and provide even faster shifts. But although the new gearbox is virtually complete, Autocar’s sources say Audi board members are undecided over whether to go with a six-speed arrangement or an even more complex seven-speeder in a bid to match BMW’s new seven-speed SMG (Sequential Manual Transmission), as fitted to the new M5.

    Along with new driveline, Audi is also preparing a new active-damping system for
    the Le Mans. Dubbed Magnesport, it uses electromagnetic impulses to continuously alter the viscosity of the oil in the dampers, allowing for both Sporting and Comfort modes.
     
  2. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 amenasce, Nov 10, 2004
    Woot ?
     
  3. ForzaFerrari

    ForzaFerrari F1 Veteran

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    #3 ForzaFerrari, Nov 10, 2004
    don't get it...why would anybody wants an AUDI supercar? Don't get me wrong, an audi business car is probably fine, but a supercar?? ...I just don't 'see' it...

    well whatever. Can't afford one anyway :) LOL



    ForzaRossa.com
     
  4. Mike360

    Mike360 F1 Rookie

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    #4 Mike360, Nov 10, 2004
    Agree....

    Audi should stick to what it does best. Making crazy sportwagons (Ala My old Rs4) :)
     
  5. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

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    #5 PSk, Nov 10, 2004
    Old news, infact they already have built and run the prototype at the Goodwood feastival of speed (this year or last year).

    Too many supercars ...

    Pete
     
  6. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 ryalex, Nov 10, 2004
    "Harmoniously styled" sounds like bubbly and lumpy.
     
  7. Ryan S.

    Ryan S. Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 Ryan S., Nov 10, 2004
    me likes it. and over the last few years, audi has put pretty much every car maker to shame at lemans. sooo, i think their completely qualified to make such a car.
     
  8. Ryan S.

    Ryan S. Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 Ryan S., Nov 10, 2004
  9. Ryan S.

    Ryan S. Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 Ryan S., Nov 10, 2004
  10. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

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    #10 PSk, Nov 10, 2004
    Has another car maker entered?

    While that comment was intended to be humourous, to be serious the problem with Le Mans is that only one major manufacturer has a go at it at a time. It is like they wait until there is a lull and then jump in and dominate and then pull out, satisfied that they can beat NOBODY.

    What is required for Le Mans to be taken seriously is a rule change that gets more manufacturer involvement and less 'race teams'. Personally I would like to see a return to very much road based cars, like the 430 Ferrari and 997 Porsche, etc.

    Pete
     
  11. Viper 10

    Viper 10 Formula Junior

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    #11 Viper 10, Nov 10, 2004
    You mean like dominating every class of racing that they enter from Le Mans to IMSA? IMO, no one can touch the impact that Audi has had on sports car racing in the 20 years. They develop phenomenal technology that works and can be delivered to the market. I say bring it on! They will raise the bar for everyone.

    Brad
     
  12. Mike360

    Mike360 F1 Rookie

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    #12 Mike360, Nov 10, 2004
    Still dosnt have my 100% respect till they hit F1....
    But that's just me.
     
  13. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #13 ryalex, Nov 10, 2004
    Awesome looking interior though -too bad they went bland on the Italian and now wild for the German car... :(?
     
  14. Viper 10

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    #14 Viper 10, Nov 10, 2004
    So what has Ferrari done in the sports car classes in the last couple of decades? The only way that they got to the podium was because Vipers were regulated out of Le Mans and ALMS.

    The one thing that Ferrari has proven is that they have very deep pockets for F1. They also proved that they needed EFI Technologies' (illegal) traction control to get Michael S. back into a dominant position in F1. Sorry, but my friend worked for EFI and was the primary engineering support to their F1 customers... like Ferrari. In Michael's rough beginings with Ferrari, they had issues with the Ferrari designed engine management system. He protested and threatened to leave if they didn't bring in EFI. The rest is history.

    Shumacher is a great driver, but he does have lots of help that only money can buy.

    All of the F1 podium winners were using EFI because you could program it from trackside and actively download it to the cars in the middle of the race. My friend left EFI at the begining of the 2003 season.

    I would place my respect in a series that bans almost all technology and makes every driver drive the same cars... that isn't F1.

    Brad
     
  15. kito

    kito Karting

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    #15 kito, Nov 10, 2004
    It looks like a scaled-down Bugatti and I think that's what they were going for. Since VW owns Bugatti, Audi and Lambo and they haven't had much success launching the Bugatti, they might be turning to Audi for some name recognition with a similar looking car. Just my .02

    -Keith-
     
  16. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

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    #16 PSk, Nov 10, 2004
    Er, traction control is not illegal in F1 ... ?. Hasn't been for ages.

    Also Ferrari does not race sportscars anymore (sadly), they are private entries so if they got somebody banned ... er, not Ferraris fault.

    Pete
     
  17. steve2814

    steve2814 Formula Junior

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    #17 steve2814, Nov 10, 2004
    I can't think of any manufacturer who offers CHOICES on which engine you want in your "supercar". And also, platform-sharing on a supercar is stupidity, a supercar supposedly showcases your marques knowledge/heritage/whatever...but sharing platforms? Dumb...
     
  18. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

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    #18 PSk, Nov 10, 2004
    Enzo versus Maserati thingy ...

    Pete
     
  19. Viper 10

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    #19 Viper 10, Nov 10, 2004
    It is most definitely illegal...Not if you aren't caught. The code is downloaded after the race starts and is off-loaded before the end. If a car hits the wall, the software diappears. The only indicator that would cause suspision is if their skid plate is over-worn. It's funny how the F1 officals never look that carefully at these techniques... sort of like body building and hGH.
     
  20. Z0RR0

    Z0RR0 F1 Rookie

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    #20 Z0RR0, Nov 10, 2004
    They won't make it anyways. 2007? Yeah, sure! By then, the supercar market will be uber saturated and auto makers will realize there aren't all that many actual potential buyers for a 150k+ car. Especially an Audi.
     
  21. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

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    #21 PSk, Nov 10, 2004
    No it is not, only launch control ... different thing.

    They decided that it was too hard to control, and thus reached this compromise ... I'll double check but I am reasonably sure I am right.

    Pete

    EDIT: Okay I have checked and you and your mate are 100% wrong. Thus your knock of MS and the Ferrari team completely discredited ... how somebody who obviously knows so little about F1 could make such bold claims is beyond me. I think your mate was talking about Benetton where the team and MS did get into trouble with illegal launch control (or something).

    Anyway here are the details:
     
  22. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

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    #22 PSk, Nov 10, 2004
    And further FIA rules for electronics ...
    And FIA Regulations in detail:

    As you can see traction control is not banned and thus still legal, just launch control, as in the automatic detection of the start, is banned.

    Pete
     
  23. Viper 10

    Viper 10 Formula Junior

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    #23 Viper 10, Nov 10, 2004
    Programmable traction control is not legal... the closed systems are okay.
     
  24. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

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    #24 PSk, Nov 10, 2004
    Viper 10,

    Are you saying that changes to systems between the car and pits is illegal by the term 'programmable'?

    As yes you no longer are allowed to dynamically change systems from the pits during a race ... but that has nothing (er, little as this is a blanket rule to changing any program) to do with traction control.

    Traction control is 100% legal, and I quote from my reply above:

    Thus you can race with a traction control program all race long. And as you correctly pointed out you cannot alter the program during the race from the pits, just as you cannot alter any other program during a race from the pits. BUT that does not stop MS turning a knob on his steering wheel to change the traction control settings.

    Maybe your mate got his years wrong?, and he was refering to 2000/1 where there was suspicion that Ferrari were using their engines ECUs as traction control ... especially as everybody could hear the Saubers missing out of corners because their traction was so poor ;) ... Again this was just Ferrari using their brains and pushing the rules boundary.

    And getting back on topic. Somebody please tell me of a major manufacturer that Audi is beating at Le Mans ... cause I do not know of any, just small time race car makers.

    Pete
     
  25. Viper 10

    Viper 10 Formula Junior

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    #25 Viper 10, Nov 11, 2004
    Audi has been beating teams like these for many years:
    - Chrysler
    - Mercedes
    - Jaguar
    - Cadillac
    - Bentley
    - BMW
     
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