Today marks the 40th anniversary of Audi Sport GmbH, which evolved from quattro GmbH. In early summer, Audi started the events to celebrate this anniversary in parallel with the Nürburgring 24 Hours and an exhibition at the Neckarsulm facility. Next Saturday (October 14), an exclusive event will be hosted at Audi Forum Neckarsulm with exciting insights into the high-performance subsidiary that has been successful for 40 years.

 

quattro GmbH has existed since 1983, and in 2016, it was renamed as Audi Sport GmbH: Today, the wholly owned subsidiary of AUDI AG is shaping the sporty and exclusive image of the premium brand with the four rings even stronger than ever. “We look back proudly on the past 40 years and want to be even stronger in the future. To this end, we will selectively expand our model portfolio and our other service offerings together with AUDI AG. The sales records of recent years clearly underline our ambitions,” says Rolf Michl, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH.

Strengthening ties with customers and fans through direct contact

On October 14, 2023, the public can enjoy an exclusive event with an informative and entertaining program in and around Audi Forum Neckarsulm. Starting at 11 a.m., Audi Sport GmbH and AUDI AG will be represented openly and personally on the factory grounds of the Neckarsulm facility. The employees of the four rings are using the highlight of this anniversary year to provide customers and fans with comprehensive information, further strengthening the bond with them through direct contact.

Experienced members of the Audi Sport family such as Steffen Bamberger, Head of Technical Development at Audi Sport GmbH, and Wolfgang Schanz, Head of Production at Böllinger Höfe, will provide interesting and exciting insights into the work surrounding model development and vehicle production. The exhibition featuring “40 years of Audi Sport GmbH – Fascination meets performance”, which has been running since mid-June, also provides unique impressions and background information. Those interested will have the opportunity to take exclusive tours through the neighboring Böllinger Höfe production plant, which is part of the Neckarsulm facility. There, Audi Sport GmbH uses a combination of innovative high-tech and proven craftsmanship to manufacture its first all-electric RS model, the Audi RS e-tron GT1, as well as the high-performance sports car, the Audi R8.

A number of historic and current models from the rich portfolio of Audi Sport GmbH will also be on display. A special highlight is the all-wheel-drive Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron prototype that was presented in 2022. The purely electric one-off is a reinterpretation of the original quattro of the early 1980s. In addition, the successful Audi Sport race drivers, Rinaldo “Dindo” Capello and Luca Engstler, will be on hand for talks on stage, as well as for autographs and selfies with fans.

Different celebrations in front of large audiences

The anniversary events, marking the 40th anniversary of Audi Sport GmbH, started in May in front of a large audience. Four Audi R8 LMS cars with legendary designs attracted the attention of around 235,000 fans at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The expressive designs of the GT3 race cars reinterpreted unforgettable historic Audi liveries from circuit racing and rallying. A display of past and present RS models, including the Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron, thrilled the audience.

Six weeks after its Nürburgring appearance, Audi continued the design theme “Past – Present – Future” with new livery designs at the 2023 Spa 24 Hours. The R8 LMS cars also took center stage in Belgium in terms of the results on track: The brand won the prestigious “Coupe du Roi” trophy as the best manufacturer in the race, which is the world’s biggest GT3 race and takes place on the famous Grand Prix circuit at Spa. At the Family Day hosted at Böllinger Höfe on July 8, tens of thousands of people experienced Audi Sport GmbH as a particularly dynamic part of the four rings, which included, for example, taking rides in the Audi R8 LMS race car and the RS Q e-tron prototype for the Dakar Rally.

Sales records with future-focused model strategy

The Audi RS e-tron GT ice race edition, which was presented in September 2023, is currently the creative highlight of the model program. Limited to 99 units, the special edition of the first all-electric RS model embodies a new innovative expression of individualized design. Together with the 15 other high-performance models, the RS e-tron GT represents a broad range of offerings. It is the result of Audi Sport GmbH’s largest model initiative to date, which was launched in 2019.

The sales successes of recent years confirm Audi Sport GmbH’s strategy. After 2021, the company again achieved a sales record in 2022 with 45,515 vehicles sold. This represents an increase of 15.6 percent over the previous year. In addition to the development and production of high-performance models, Audi Sport GmbH is active in three other business areas: Vehicle customization (Audi exclusive, Audi Sport equipment), Audi collection (high-quality lifestyle collections, Audi stores) and motorsport (factory and customer racing).

From the naming of the company and its beginnings as quattro GmbH, to pioneering model ranges like the Audi RS 6 Avant and interesting highlights like an Audi convertible for kids, to the highly flexible Böllinger Höfe production facility and the largest model portfolio in the history of the Audi subsidiary to date – these and other facets and milestones are highlighted in the collection of 40 facts about the 40 years of Audi Sport GmbH.

 
Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

The Audi plant in Ingolstadt will begin net carbon-neutral production on January 1, 2024. The main plant will commence building the new Audi Q6 e-tron series next year. After Brussels (Belgium, 2018) and Győr (Hungary, 2020), it will be the third Audi plant to operate with net zero emissions. In addition are the Audi R8 and e-tron GT quattro1 models, which have been built at Böllinger Höfe with net zero emissions since 2020. As part of its Mission:Zero environmental program, Audi has set itself the goal of achieving net carbon neutrality at all its sites worldwide by 2025. By then, the final steps will have been taken in Neckarsulm and San José Chiapa (Mexico).

 

Audi Board Member for Production and Logistics Gerd Walker emphasizes: “Protecting the environment as best as possible is firmly anchored in Audi’s corporate strategy. By transitioning the Ingolstadt site to renewable energies, we are taking a major step toward our goal of net carbon-neutral vehicle production.” To achieve its ambitious goal, the brand with the four rings is implementing a four-pillar concept.

In the first pillar, Audi is improving energy efficiency at its sites, which will already avoid large amounts of carbon emissions. In 2022, for example, these energy management measures allowed the Ingolstadt site to save more than 35,000 megawatt hours of energy and prevent more than 5,000 tons of carbon emissions.

In addition, Audi also generates renewable energy in-house, the second pillar of the concept. To date, photovoltaic modules have been installed on an area of 23,000 square meters at the Ingolstadt plant. In the coming years, Audi will continue to increase the share of energy it generates itself at all its production sites. Various additional measures are currently being planned and implemented at the main plant.

As the third pillar of the concept, Audi is also transitioning its energy procurement to be net carbon neutral. Audi has been producing cars in Ingolstadt exclusively with green electricity since early 2012. This early transition made the brand with the four rings a pioneer of sustainability in the industry at the time.

Sustainable heating

Dr. Rüdiger Recknagel, Head of Environmental Protection for the Audi Group, explains: “A neighboring refinery and the municipal waste recycling plant supply the main plant with net carbon-neutral waste heat. Additionally, we have secured large quantities of biogas to ensure a net carbon-neutral heat supply.”

In this way, the site covers almost all of its energy needs from renewable sources. As the fourth and final pillar, any emissions that Audi cannot yet avoid (a maximum of 10 percent of the original carbon emissions) are offset by purchasing carbon credits that are certified according to the highest quality standards such as Gold Standard. At the Ingolstadt plant, this also includes logistics within the plant.

Mission:Zero: Going beyond decarbonization

The measures of the environmental program Mission:Zero go beyond decarbonization and address the key areas of activity of water use, resource efficiency, and the protection and preservation of biodiversity. Audi’s vision is to create a circular economy where resources such as plastics, water, and other raw materials are used in closed cycles. In Ingolstadt, for example, the company has been operating a process water supply center with a membrane bioreactor since 2019 to use water more efficiently. This year, Audi became the first premium car manufacturer to join the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). Audi plans to halve the ecologically weighted water consumption at its production sites worldwide by 2035. The plant in San José Chiapa, Mexico, which has been building cars without producing any wastewater since 2018, stands as a role model for the responsible use of water resources.

Finally, as a member of the “Biodiversity in Good Company” initiative, the brand with the four rings is also committed to protecting biodiversity at all its sites. The open spaces at the external site in Münchsmünster, which are designed to remain close to their natural form, are among the company’s largest measures in this area. On some 17 hectares of the site, a habitat has been created for numerous animal and plant species.

The 360factory and sustainable land use

Audi is also focusing on sustainability in the further development of its sites: Audi Production is using the transition to e-mobility to comprehensively transform its global production network and has a clear vision for the production of the future with the 360factory. As part of this holistic, sustainable approach, Audi is modernizing, digitalizing, and transforming its existing plants for the future. With the 360factory, Audi can achieve even greater flexibility and efficiency in production without sealing additional areas for new buildings.

When it comes to sustainable land use, Audi is going one step further by revitalizing a former industrial site. The incampus in the south of Ingolstadt is also integrated into the company’s sustainability activities as a branch of the main plant. A joint venture between AUDI AG and the city of Ingolstadt through its holding company IFG AöR, incampus GmbH has redeveloped a 75-hectare industrial wasteland in the east of Ingolstadt. A technology park was built there – without developing any new land. Fifteen hectares of the total area were designated as a compensation area for nature and landscape; a near-natural alluvial forest with nutrient-poor grassland now thrives there.

 

Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

The new Audi Vehicle Safety Center on the incampus premises in Ingolstadt provides significantly improved and state-of-the-art crash test facilities. Around 100 million euros were invested in the facility. Among its features are a 250-meter (820 ft) run-up track, a mobile 100-ton crash block, and the ability to collide two vehicles at a 90-degree angle. As a premium brand, Audi is committed to meeting heightened requirements that go beyond current international standards.

 

The new Audi Vehicle Safety Center (AFZ) in Ingolstadt will officially go into operation as part of the inauguration of the incampus technology park. The facility is Audi’s most important development facility in passive safety: Around 100 employees will work here, covering all test scenarios that are known and relevant today. During the design phase, it was ensured that the facility would be capable of performing tests that go well beyond the current requirements of Audi’s many markets. This means that the facility can be flexibly adapted to future developments.

More tests possible in the future

Audi invested a total of around 100 million euros in the facility, with construction taking three years. The new Vehicle Safety Center can handle a greater number and variety of vehicle crash tests than the crash hall previously used on the Ingolstadt plant site. The facility is also much more extensive, with a core area of 130 by 110 meters (430 by 360 ft) and a height of 20 meters (65 ft). The integrated crash arena consists of a support-free area measuring 50 by 50 meters (165 by 165 ft), while the opposing run-up tracks have a total length of 250 meters (820 ft), enabling tests at speeds exceeding today’s usual requirements. An additional lane also allows right-angle car-to-car crashes involving two vehicles.

“Safety is a top priority at Audi. Our new vehicle safety center is impressive proof of this commitment,” says Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Audi Board of Management for Technical Development. “Today’s Audi models achieve outstanding results in globally valid test procedures. But we’re not resting on our laurels. Instead, we’re continuing to improve our development and testing capabilities.”

A wide range of testing capabilities

A crash block weighing 100 tons is arranged in the crash arena so that it can be moved and rotated, enabling a highly efficient process for the many different types of crash tests. The area is crisscrossed with several crash lanes, enabling research on collisions between two vehicles and integral safety. The so-called “flying floor” also allows vehicles to be driven sideways against obstacles. Each vehicle undergoes a high double-digit number of test scenarios before it is launched.

Belt systems and airbags are being developed even more efficiently thanks to a novel coasting slide with a delay unit. State-of-the-art high-speed cameras and energy-efficient LED lighting systems facilitate the team’s work in the Audi Vehicle Safety Center. A dummy lab, component test stands, workshops, and offices complete the building.

The concept, technology, and adjacent expansion areas were planned to meet the requirements of many years to come. They allow the Audi Vehicle Safety Center to be used flexibly and ensure that it can be equipped to meet new technological requirements, even as standards and regulations in global markets continue to tighten.

Closely coordinated simulations and tests

More than 60 crash test dummies of various types are used in the new crash arena – from an 18-month-old toddler to an adult weighing 102 kg (225 lb). The sophisticated THOR dummies use up to 150 sensors to obtain relevant data during the tests.

High-speed cameras and motion tracking are used to capture the sequence of events during crash tests. A large number of sensors provide physical readings. 3D scans are used to process post-test deformations digitally. All this data is fed into a back-end system. The system also includes data analyzed by experts from other test labs in Europe, Asia, and America.

These days, practically all accidents can be simulated, whether they involve pedestrians or head-on and side-on collisions. Every month, the specialists at Audi perform tens of thousands of crash simulations well before the first prototype is even built. For the crash design of the body of a single current model alone, more than 60,000 calculations are made for up to 100 different load cases. The new Audi IT Center, also located nearby on the incampus site, plays an important role here.

Despite the rapid progress in simulation technology, actual crash and component tests remain essential. This is because the various national authorities in countries where Audi models are marketed have approval procedures that require physical crash tests. In product development, on the other hand, the two methods are highly synergistic, with findings from both simulation and physical testing flowing into the process.

Long tradition of passive safety at Audi

Passive safety, i.e., everything that reduces the consequences of an accident for car occupants and road users, including pedestrians, has a long tradition at Audi. DKW was already working in this field more than 80 years ago when the DKW F7 was put through systematic rollover tests to gain insights into design safety. In fact, those were the first crash tests in automotive history. Later, the specially built facility in Auto Union’s central testing department allowed reproducible collision testing.

Another major step followed in 1970 with the inauguration of the first crash hall in Ingolstadt. After its construction, the building was used for over 50 years, during which time it was repeatedly modified and adapted to meet new requirements.

 

In 1972, crash test dummies were used for the first time and became increasingly sophisticated and versatile over the years. In 1986, Audi introduced a self-patented innovation: the procon-ten (programmed contraction and tension) safety restraint system. In a head-on collision, the steering wheel retracts, and the front belts tighten by moving the engine toward the passenger compartment via steel cables and pulleys. The system significantly reduced the risk of head injuries for the driver in the event of an accident. It was not until the widespread introduction of airbags that this invention was improved on.

Over the past 25 years, testing has progressively focused on digitalization – starting with the 1999 Audi A3. Ongoing work with ever-larger volumes of data laid the foundations for the increasingly intelligent algorithms used today. What’s more, machine learning has played an ever-greater role in recent years. For example, machine learning has been harnessed to improve the software of the airbag control unit.

In recent years, all the Audi models tested, including the fully electric models, have achieved top ratings in both active and passive safety in tests designed by consumer protection organizations worldwide, such as Euro NCAP and China NCAP. Incidentally, electric vehicles are subject to the same stringent requirements as models with conventional drive systems.

Tests in the United States also achieve similar results: So far this year, no fewer than seven Audi models have received an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – five of them TOP SAFETY PICK+ in the highest category. In addition to crashworthiness, other factors, such as crash avoidance and lighting technology, were also evaluated.

The new Audi Vehicle Safety Center represents the next major step in the advancement of passive safety at Audi. The presence of other institutions involved in safety – including Volkswagen’s software subsidiary CARIAD and the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt – on the incampus facilitates interdisciplinary exchange.

 
Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

Audi is systematically continuing its course for growth in fully electric models. More than other e-models, the Audi Q4 e-tron family has contributed to the strong growth in deliveries in the first half of 2023 (+51.2 percent). It is being comprehensively updated in the 2024 model year with a newly tuned suspension, increased efficiency, characteristic sound, and enhanced standard equipment. In addition to an optimized drive concept and higher charging power, Audi is expanding the models’ range of functions in the driver assistance systems. With the optional adaptive cruise assist, both models now also aid lane changes. The updated models will be available to order from September 26, starting at 52,950 euros.

 

All Q4 e-tron models feature a large battery that provides 77 kWh of net energy (82 kWh gross). Optimized cell chemistry has improved the DC charging power so that they charge from 10 to 80 percent in around 28 minutes under ideal conditions. The quattro models now achieve a maximum DC charging power of 175 kW, and the rear-wheel drive models a maximum of 135 kW.

The battery protection function automatically limits the charge level to 80 percent to extend battery life. To ensure intelligent trip and charge planning, the e-tron route planner prioritizes high-performance HPC stations (High-Power Charging facilitates ultrafast charging). If the driver takes the suggested route, the system activates battery preconditioning for the period before the new Audi Q4 e-tron models reach the selected, stored charging station. If the driver selects an HPC station as the destination, the system activates thermal conditioning to ensure the battery charges as quickly as possible at the station. For the first time, the Audi Q4 e-tron model family also features post-conditioning. Here, the vehicle’s thermal management system cools the battery, for example, if it exceeds a fixed temperature threshold after driving or charging.

New drive system with higher efficiency and more power

For both rear-wheel drive and quattro all-wheel drive, all Audi Q4 e-tron models now feature a permanently excited synchronous machine (PSM) on the rear axle. 

The update gives gives the Audi Q4 e-tron model family a completely redeveloped PSM notable for its higher efficiency and greater power. The models benefit from an increased range and superior power delivery. a completely redeveloped PSM notable for its higher efficiency and greater power. The electric SUV benefits from an increased range and superior power delivery. The Audi Q4 Sportback 45 e-tron1, for example, reaches a range of up to 562 kilometers (349 mi) in the WLTP cycle.

The Audi Q4 45 e-tron2 and the Audi Q4 Sportback 45 e-tron1 with rear-wheel drive produce 210 kW (286 PS) and accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.7 seconds. The Audi Q4 45 e-tron quattro3 and the Audi Q4 Sportback 45 e-tron quattro4 with 210 kW (286 PS) take 6.6 seconds. The top-of-the-range models Audi Q4 55 e-tron quattro5 and Audi Q4 Sportback 55 e-tron quattro6 models with 250 kW (340 PS) accelerate from a standstill to highway speed in a mere 5.4 seconds. The top speed for all models is now 180 km/h (112 mph).

The new electric motor uses optimized thermal management for greater efficiency. The system features energy-saving cooling: Due to the geometry and arrangement of the gear wheels in the transmission as well as specially shaped components for transporting and distributing the oil, temperatures in the powertrain hardly rise at all. The cooling circuit, in turn, ensures the oil is temperature-controlled. A related component is the water-cooling jacket on the outside of the stator.

Improved steering response: the suspension with Audi’s DNA

In keeping with Audi’s DNA, the new tuning for the suspension improves the balance for even greater comfort, driving fun, and stability. Whether the model has standard or sport suspension or suspension with damper control, the steering characteristics and the damper tuning have been specially adapted. The result is harmonious damping, improved steering response, and tighter load control.

With the sport suspension, the body is 15 millimeters lower. The new spring/shock absorber tuning and the new steering tuning provide a balanced, solid driving experience and a sporty steering response typical of an Audi. The Audi Q4 e-tron models respond more directly to steering changes for greater sportiness and agility. 

New function: assisted lane changes

As an option, the update enables the Audi Q4 e-tron family to use assisted lane changes in combination with adaptive cruise assist for speeds above 90 km/h (56 mph) on highways for the first time. Part of the assist package pro as well as the assist package pro and assist package, protective and warning systems plus, assisted lane changing can be activated via the MMI.

The new system uses white arrows in the instrument panel and in the augmented reality head-up display to indicate to the driver whether it is safe to change lanes and which lane it is safe to change to. If the driver initiates the lane change by tapping the turn signal, the system actively assists the driver in steering. Once the vehicle is in the new lane, it switches the turn signal off again. During the lane change, the person behind the wheel retains full responsibility. Assisted lane changes are made possible using data from the rear radar.

Among the optional systems, adaptive cruise control specializes in regulating the distance to the vehicle in front by accelerating and decelerating. Adaptive cruise assist expands the functionality of adaptive cruise control by using slight steering corrections to keep the car in the center of the lane. To maintain lateral control, all the driver needs to do is lightly touch the capacitive steering wheel that is part of the system to demonstrate their attention.

Side assist monitors traffic behind and alongside the car and warns the person behind the wheel if they are about to change lanes in a critical situation. This system also uses information from the rear radar sensors.

Critical driver assistance systems are standard, while the optional systems come with the plus, pro, and protection and warning systems plus assistance packages.

Upgraded standard equipment and edition models

Audi MMI navigation plus, Audi connect Navigation & Infotainment, and the fully digital 10.25 inch instrument panel Audi virtual cockpit are now standard equipment. The luggage compartment lid now comes as standard with an electric motor, and, in conjunction with the optional convenience key, it responds to foot gestures. Heated front seats now also come as standard.

With the new Edition S line, Audi is expanding its extensive range of individual equipment. Whether in combination with the Pebble Gray, Glacier White Metallic, or Mythos Black Metallic finishes, the wheel arch trims and door covers in contrasting Mythos Black Metallic, 21-inch wheels in a bronze matte 5-W-spoke star design, darkened Matrix LED headlights and darkened LED rear lights. At the same time, the Audi rings in a bronze finish add sporty accents.

A unique acoustic identity thanks to “character sound”

The Audi Q4 e-tron models are unmistakable – not only visually and in terms of handling but now also acoustically. With the update, Audi is giving the compact SUV series its own acoustic identity as an option. The typical “character sound” distinguishes it from other electric Audi models and those of other manufacturers. Beyond that, it deepens the emotional bond between the Audi driver and their vehicle. 

All models will be audible at and beyond low speeds up to about 25 km/h (15.5 mph) to further enhance road safety.

The digitally generated driving sound, emitted via two exterior speakers at the rear and two interior speakers in the rear doors, is available from the factory as a special feature. This innovative soundscape varies according to load and speed up to the car’s top speed. The unmistakable sound is a clear indicator of Audi’s electric models and emotively expresses the vehicle’s progressive character.

The “character sound” is defined by the exterior sound, not only by the infotainment system or the interior speakers. If necessary, the system can be deactivated at any time in the Audi drive select menu. The Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System or AVAS, which is a legally required warning sound, is part of the “character sound” and is active at all times. This does not affect the way the infotainment system sounds.

Electric pioneer Audi Brussels to produce the Q4 e-tron

From the end of the year, Audi will produce the Audi Q4 e-tron model series at its Brussels site in addition to production in Zwickau. This move, a response to the high demand for the model, allows Audi to increase production capacity. Audi Brussels has been producing the Audi Q8 e-tron and the Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron since December 2022. Prior to that, the Audi e-tron, the first fully electric production model from the brand with the four rings, has been rolling off the production line in Brussels since 2018. The plant in Brussels is the world’s first independently certified carbon-neutral high-volume production facility in the premium segment.

In the long term, Audi plans to convert all its sites to the production of electric models. After Brussels and Böllinger Höfe at the Neckarsulm site for the Audi e-tron GT quattro7, Ingolstadt will begin the ramp-up for the first model on the new Premium Platform Electric (PPE). By the end of the decade, each Audi plant will produce at least one fully electric model. As already achieved in Brussels and Győr, all Audi sites aim to achieve net carbon-neutral production1 by 2025.

1Audi understands net-zero CO2 emissions to mean a situation in which, after other possible reduction measures have been exhausted, the company offsets the carbon emitted by Audi’s products or activities and/or the carbon emissions that currently cannot be avoided in the supply chain, manufacturing, and recycling of Audi vehicles through voluntary offsetting projects carried out worldwide. In this context, carbon emissions generated during a vehicle’s utilization stage, i.e. from the moment it is delivered to the customer, are not taken into account.

 
 
Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

Audi celebrates the 40th anniversary of Audi Sport GmbH, which emerged from quattro GmbH founded in 1983, with the Audi RS e-tron GT (combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km [62.1 mi]: 22.1–19.8, combined CO2 emissions in g/km [g/mi]: 0) as a special edition: The ice race edition embodies a new form of individualization. This edition enriches the emotional portfolio of Audi exclusive – an offering that has delighted the brand’s distinguished clientele for some three decades now.

 

Audi draws its inspiration for this edition from the unique GP Ice Race in Austria. The color tones of the world of snow are reflected on the outer skin of the body and are continued in the interior. With its basic color Florett silver metallic and the black carbon roof in combination with a striking foil warp, the Audi RS e-tron GT ice race edition appears magical at first sight. The colors silver and white symbolize sparkling snow crystals and ice lakes, the purple accents evoke images of shimmering ski goggles. The precise accentuations and transparent patterns harmoniously, yet excitingly, reproduce the style of mountainous winter worlds. This color scheme is continued in the interior: seat center panels, shoulder arches and side bolsters in diamond silver leather emphasize this character. Combined with black leather sections and contrasting purple stitching, the four-door Gran Turismo spoils you with an exclusive ambience. Striking details round off the interior experience. “This new style of the ice race edition underscores the emotional pinnacle of electric mobility at Audi,” says Bernhard Neufeld, Head of Audi exclusive. “Our customization gives this electric Gran Turismo a very special personality.”

The ice race edition is inspired by the design ideas of the Audi RS e-tron GT ice race concept show car and is now available in a special edition of only 99 units for Europe. The basis for the limited edition is the unchanged 440 kW RS e-tron GT. Customers can charge it at more than 500,000 public charging points in Europe with a single card using the Audi charging service. With fast DC charging at a maximum of 270 kW, five minutes of charging time is sufficient for about 100 kilometers of driving under ideal conditions.

Exterior with unique combination of paint and foil wrap

Started in 1952 and revived in 2019, the GP Ice Race event is derived from Scandinavian skijoring, but the race cars pull the skiers and there are show and demo runs. Drifting race cars from the past and present in Zell am See create their own spectacle in a snowy mountain region. The Mankei, an alpine pasture on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, also belongs to this world. Audi Design was inspired by this topography and its colors and created a unique piece – the Audi RS e-tron GT ice race concept. Now the designers transfer the unique associations almost unchanged into a special edition. “Combining the past, the future and mirrored sports sunglasses as a starting point, created a look that makes the Audi RS e-tron GT stand out,” said Christopher Kroener, Color and Trim designer. “I wanted the vehicle to pay homage to the thrilling motorsport atmosphere and the spirit of past racing legends, while looking to the future. The allusions to ice and snow add a special dimension to the design. The color play between white and silver pays homage to the cool atmosphere. It is meant to pick up on the icy glitter and shimmer of the snow and convey the feeling of speed and dynamism experienced at the GP Ice Race during winter in Zell am See.”

Starting from the body color in Florett silver metallic, the RS e-tron GT receives a foil wrap. The foil works with targeted transparencies and does not cover the entire surface. Although all exterior components are foil wrapped, this gives the foil a partial effect. The effect achieved by this type of wrap is that it adds white tones three-dimensionally to the monochrome silver background. Contrasting violet elements set striking accents. The patterns of the foils abstract ice crystals and transfer the hatching symbolism into a new world of color. The designers have taken ideas from the concept – including the brand emblems of the four rings at the front and rear in white instead of the traditional shades of chrome or black. 21-inch rims in black, a black roof made of CFRP and privacy glazing add a note of stability and road-holding to the nuanced lightness of the light-colored body.

Interior combines exclusivity from leather to MMI

A sporty look catches the eye right from the first glance inside: the interior appears to be that of a four-seater due to the division of colors, but is approved for five people. The seat center panels, shoulder arches and side bolsters of the leather seats are presented in diamond silver, contrasted against the black areas. This idea relies on accent colors that are applied in smaller areas, but never over the entire surface. With this, Audi exclusive has individualized the interior in coordination with the exterior and the foil wrap. A new steering wheel, finished in a leather-Alcantara combination, has a color mark in diamond silver in the twelve o’clock position, like in racing cars. Expressive accents in the center console and dashboard, floor mats with modified RS logos and the Audi exclusive badges round off the interior of the ice race edition. The contrasting stitching in purple also subtly picks up on a striking exterior attribute in the interior.

“We have also realized the high level of exclusivity in the digital world,” says Michael Binder, product manager of Audi exclusive. “In the MMI display, we offer a bespoke MMI background image for the special edition. In parallel, the familiar selection options continue in the theme worlds section.” With the changed background image in the MMI, the RS e-tron GT ice race edition lettering is displayed in the lower left of the screen. At the bottom right, customers can see the unique serial number of their exclusive edition. This means that this feature, which has always been identifiable by badges in the analog world, has now arrived in the digital world for the first time. The ambient lighting switches to purple when the mountain motif is selected. However, all the familiar MMI features remain unchanged in parallel with the new features of the ice race edition. They can also still be freely selected on demand.

Customization with around 30 years of tradition

The ice race edition is the latest offering from a creative think tank. When Audi began its customization program in 1995, the company achieved milestones early on in the premium sector. Office packages for the first generation of the Audi A8 with a fridge box, bar compartment, VHS player coupled with a monitor, folding table and electrically operated curtains testified to the pioneering spirit of quattro GmbH at the time. With an awareness of high individuality, the department even set trends against prevailing standards: black-painted Audi rings were not yet a practice at the time, but have become established as an option thanks to the daring creativity of the subsidiary. Today, they are an integral part of sought-after styling packages. Audi has also made great progress in production: Whereas in the past, refinements often required manual reworking in the workshop, the brand has now succeeded in incorporating highly sought-after individualizations directly on the production line.

The variety of body colors in the Audi Sport GmbH range is particularly attractive. While the standard range of most models includes ten to eleven options, several dozen individual paint finishes clearly complement this offer. If desired, tones from an even wider spectrum from the automotive sector can be selected. The special experience gained from almost 30 years of customization includes the specific requirements of individual markets in terms of color schemes and other equipment features: In Asia, for example, other attractive color combinations are more popular than in Europe. There are also general trends: For example, some customers currently prefer matte silver or nardo gray as paint colors. The Audi exclusive customizer, a configurator introduced in 2022, allows a much more detailed 3D visualization of thousands of design combinations than before.

The sporty Audi subsidiary also demonstrated its pioneering spirit from 2005 with the Audi exclusive studios at Audi Forum Neckarsulm and Audi Forum Ingolstadt. They enable comprehensive personal customer consultations. In addition to the highly customizable Audi exclusive offerings, the exclusive concept editions introduced in 2009 offer exquisite but preconfigured equipment combinations. The Audi Q7 coastline exclusive concept, for example, had a parquet floor from boat building. A few years later, the Audi R8 GT borrowed closely from racing with bucket seats, a fire extinguisher, four-point seat belts and a roll bar. Special production runs of two- to three-digit numbers, often for local or regional markets, continue to keep Audi exclusive orders flowing today. The 25th anniversary package available for several models, the Nogaro edition of the Audi RS 6 Avant performance in memory of the Audi RS 2 Avant or the TT RS iconic edition are examples of editions in demand.

Even in the future, the creative minds at Audi will not run out of ideas. With new selections such as edition-specific MMI background images, individualization also extends to the virtual world. Image motifs for the MMI display, the expansion of theme worlds, new atmospheres through ambient lighting, and an expansion of Audi exclusive into digital areas represent completely new elements. New editions, expanded color options and materials, such as Dinamica in new design packages, further deepen the offering. They point the way to a future in which the combination of classic equipment features with virtual immersion promises even more intense experiences.

 
 
Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

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