2008 Audi A6

THE NEW AUDI RS 6 AVANT: HIGH PERFORMANCE AT A NEW LEVEL

Outstanding top performance and maximum dynamism combined with excellent suitability for everyday use are the impressive features of the new Audi RS 6 Avant, which will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the IAA 2007 in Frankfurt. A newly developed V10 engine with FSI direct injection and twin turbochargers, permanent quattro four-wheel drive and sports suspension with Dynamic Ride Control DRC set the standard for high-performance vehicles in the luxury class. 580 hp and a maximum torque of 479 ft.-lbs. add up to an unforgettable performance experience. At the same time, the new Audi RS 6 Avant offers a high standard of travel comfort – on long journeys, too.

The Audi RS models from quattro GmbH are the ultimate in sportiness, complemented by powerful and elegant design, exclusive equipment and perfect quality. It has also meanwhile become a good tradition that their sports performance is combined with the high utility value of an Avant: the very first Audi RS2, which appeared in 1993, was only built as an Avant model. Although the unique Audi RS driving sensation can now be experienced in saloon, Avant and Cabriolet models – as is the case with the current RS 4 – customers especially appreciate the combination of dynamism and versatility that an Avant offers.

The new Audi RS 6 will therefore only be available as an Avant to start with, with the unrivalled combination of 580 bhp and a maximum 1,660 litres of luggage space.

The new leader in the performance category

The Audi RS 6 redefines the term 'high performance' in the business class. With its 580 hp, it is the most powerful model in the current Audi range and – with the exception of pure racing cars like the Le Mans-winning Audi R10 TDI – the most potent Audi of all time. But not only that: it is also clearly superior to all competitors in the top performance category.

The ten-cylinder V-configuration engine in the RS 6 is based on the V10 powerplants of the Audi S6 and Audi S8, but has been redeveloped in practically every respect to attain the significantly higher level of performance. The twin turbochargers ensure an impressively constant stream of power over the entire engine speed range: the mighty peak torque of 479 ft.-lbs. is available across the entire range from 1,500 to 6,250 rpm; maximum output is available between 6,250 and 6,700 rpm.

The road performance of a super sports car


The ten-cylinder concept provides the ideal basis for a high-performance unit of this caliber. The V10 is unusually compact with an overall length of 26 inches and is very light with a total weight of 613 pounds. TFSI technology from Audi, the combination of direct injection and turbocharging, ensures efficient power output, based on extensive experience in the field of motor sport: the R8 racing car, a pioneer of TFSI technology, captured a series of victories for the brand with the four rings at Le Mans.

Racing technology for high efficiency


FSI direct injection delivers precisely metered amounts of fuel into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 120 bar. This permits a compression ratio of 10.5:1, which is very high for a turbo engine. Remarkably efficient combustion is the result. The engine is thus content with a standard consumption of 13.9 litres – a very good figure in view of the potential offered.

A further feature adopted from racing technology is the dry-sump lubrication system used on the V10. By virtue of the elaborate design of the oil pump module and oil tank, reliable lubrication of all engine components and both turbochargers is guaranteed, even with constant lateral acceleration of 1.2 g.

Thanks to FSI technology and the optimised design of the turbocharger and air ducts, the ten-cylinder unit is extremely responsive and converts minimum movements of the throttle into dynamic acceleration. Yet the twin turbo is by no means a rough-and-ready sports engine: it runs smoothly and with refinement, as is typical of a ten-cylinder unit. When accelerating, of course, its dual-branch exhaust system with two oval tailpipes produces that sonorous sporty, throaty sound – an essential feature of a high-performance automobile. Those who wish to enhance this daily delight for the ears even further may opt for the alternative sports exhaust system.

Tiptronic with exceptionally short shift times


The six-speed tiptronic is the perfect complement to the self-confident, powerful character of the RS 6. Its hydraulics and control system have been optimised to achieve exceptionally short shift times; the ratios have been adapted accordingly. It goes without saying that the new RS 6 transmits its tremendous power to the road via quattro permanent four-wheel drive. The latest generation not only provides substantially more driving safety and stability than a vehicle with rear-wheel drive, it also underscores the distinctly dynamic character of the RS 6.

In its basic setting, the centre differential distributes 40 percent of the power to the front and 60 percent to the rear wheels – this slightly rear-biased setup produces particularly dynamic handling characteristics.

Suspension for performance and comfort

All in all, in terms of driving feel the RS 6 combines the precision and cornering ability of a sports car with the relaxed straight-line stability of a comfortable cruiser. The standard Dynamic Ride Control DRC, familiar from the current RS 4 and consistently enhanced, plays a major role here. This system reduces pitching and rolling movements about the longitudinal and transverse axis of the vehicle in a particularly ingenious way – entirely without the aid of electronics and solely according to the laws of fluid dynamics.

An individual driving feel

With Dynamic Ride Control the shock absorbers are connected diagonally with each other via two oil lines and two control valves. Body movement – e.g. rolling when cornering at high speed on an uneven road surface – produces flows of oil, which generate additional damping force. As a result, the RS 6 boasts even more directional control through bends and reacts with substantially more precision to the steering inputs of the driver.

Dynamic Ride Control on the new RS 6 can be supplemented if desired with optional three-stage damping. This allows the driver to select the handling characteristics according to his/her personal preferences or chosen route. In the comfort setting, the sports suspension plus provides remarkable ride comfort, in the dynamic program it adjusts superbly to an enthusiastic driving style and in the sport mode it delivers maximum driving precision.

The sporty setting of the electronic stabilisation program ESP is an ideal match here: the point of intervention is very late, permitting a high degree of driving enjoyment whilst fully maintaining driving safety. Alternatively, the ESP may be completely deactivated.

Ceramic brakes for the exceptional athlete

An athlete of such exceptional calibre as the Audi RS 6 naturally requires an outstanding brake system. The standard 19-inch steel discs have been designed for maximum load. They consist of an aluminium brake-disc chamber and a cast friction ring, both connected with each other in a floating arrangement via metal pins. This design increases thermal stability and reduces weight.

Optionally, in conjunction with 20-inch wheels, a ceramic brake system is available: it boasts discs with an impressive diameter of 16.5 inches at the front and 14.0 inches at the rear, which endure the most extreme thermal loads with ease and have a very long operating life. Equally impressive are the tire sizes: the standard 19-inch wheels with the new 10-spoke design are shod with size 255/40 R 19 tires; the optional 20-inch wheels are fitted with 275/35 R 20 tires.

Self-assured appearance with functional features

Its independent design lends the Audi RS 6 a striking and self-assured look – without any hint of aggression. In fact, the clear front-end design with the remodelled bumper and accentuated apertures evidently follows function: the high-performance powerplant requires a considerable amount of air to breathe as well as for cooling. The fact that it belongs to the RS family is emphasised by the matt aluminium-look single-frame grille featuring a highly polished black guard in a diamond design.

The headlights on the Audi RS 6 are miniature works of art in high-tech terms: to create space in the front apron for additional air flow, the halogen fog lights have been integrated alongside the bi-xenon headlights, optionally with adaptive light, the cornering light function. The LED daytime running lights strip adds a distinctive touch: ten LEDs at the lower edge of each headlight unit lend the Audi RS 6 a striking appearance, by day or night. A flat cover at the top of the headlights sharpens the 'look' of the business/sports car. The taillights, too, largely employ LED technology.

Striking design derived from the 'Úr-quattro'

The rear of the Audi RS 6 is characterised by the oval exhaust tailpipes and the diffuser-look apron. A roof spoiler completes the aerodynamic fine-tuning of this high-performance vehicle. The side outline is distinguished by wide, flared wheel arches. Like the engine compartment lid, the front wings are made of aluminium in order to reduce weight. They accommodate the mighty wheels of the new Audi RS 6, yet are also reminiscent of a milestone in automotive history: the flat tops of the wheel arches with their clear edges were counted among the design elements of the Audi quattro – the pioneer of permanent four-wheel drive from the year 1980. A metallic/pearl effect paint finish is standard; new colors Sepang Blue, Monza Silver and Monterrey Green are exclusively reserved for the RS 6.

Elegant and exclusive interior

The interior of the new RS 6 offers an impressive synthesis of sporty elegance and exclusiveness. The extremely high standard of craftsmanship typical for Audi is complemented by an equally sporty and elegant combination of top-class materials. Carbon fibre, aluminium, leather and Alcantara create an ambience that is unique even in the world of high-performance cars.

The main control element is and remains the steering wheel: on the RS 6 the customer can choose between the multifunction sports steering wheel with a 3-spoke design and the particularly distinctive flat-bottomed RS sports steering wheel, likewise with multifunction controls and shift paddles for the transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) The cockpit in the typical RS design additionally features a boost pressure gauge. Displays for boost pressure, oil temperature and lap timer can be called up via the driver information system.

The inlays are made of carbon fibre and edged in aluminium, the cockpit trim gleams with its piano black finish. Additional highlights in the interior are provided by the aluminium-colored keys of the MMI terminal on the centre console, the milled-finish door handles and the aluminium-look sports pedals. The highly contoured sports seats are covered in a combination of leather and Alcantara with an embossed RS 6 emblem or optionally wrapped completely in Silk Nappa or Valcona leather.

Extensive equipment, individual options

This high-performance vehicle naturally deserves an appropriate level of standard equipment. In addition to design and technical elements specific to the RS 6, this includes the audio system with powerful Bose Surround Sound, heated seats at the front and rear, a tire pressure monitoring system and Audi parking system plus. Together with the wide range of high-tech options for the Audi A6 series, every RS 6 can be perfectly matched to the driver's individual wishes. The Audi RS 6 is consequently a sporty business car with great versatility, making it suitable for a variety of leisure activities, too.

Source - Audi

AUDI TO LAUNCH THE CLEANEST DIESEL IN THE WORLD

From mid-2008 Audi will be putting the cleanest diesel technology in the world into series production. The new TDI engines with their ultra-low emission system combine the spontaneous performance and superior pulling power of today's TDI power units with outstanding fuel consumption figures and incomparably low emissions. Indeed, they will already undercut the most stringent emissions limits that are to be applied in the future in Europe as soon as production starts. Just as the entire Audi range complied with the Euro 4 standard and the forthcoming Euro 5 emissions limits years in advance, the Ingolstadt brand is once again set to assume its role as the pioneer of groundbreaking technology.

For Audi, the trendsetting TDI engine is a core element of its integrated technology strategy. 'We intend to consolidate the status of the TDI as a highly efficient form of propulsion on a sustained basis. And in future we will be launching ‘e' model variants designed for optimised fuel consumption in the high-volume model series – either in TDI guise or as petrol models with state-of-the-art TFSI technology,' says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the AÚDI AG Board of Management.

Maximum efficiency is the recipe for success
'Audi is a trailblazer when it comes to diesel power. Since 1989, over 4.5 millions cars have rolled off the production line with the highly efficient TDI technology under the bonnet. By equipping the R10 TDI sports prototype with this technology, we have just won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel-powered car for the second time. The Audi R8 racing cars with TFSI petrol direct injection took victory on five occasions at Le Mans. We have been incorporating the key findings from the world of motorsport directly into series-production development,' emphasises Michael Dick, Board Member for Technical Development at AÚDI AG. 'By so doing, we are demonstrating how TDI and TFSI represent the ultimate in efficiency, driving pleasure and economy both on the road and on the racetrack.'

The latest TDI generation sees Audi reaffirm its leadership claim in the field of ultra-sophisticated diesel technology. When Audi started up series production of the first passenger-car TDI engine in 1989, it marked a key milestone in the advancement of automotive technology. Audi TDI soon became a byword for supreme pulling power plus maximum efficiency and, what's more, the pacemaker for the automotive industry as a whole. Even today, the spontaneous performance combined with extremely low fuel consumption achieved by the turbocharged direct-injection diesel engine remains unsurpassed by any other drive system under realistic conditions.

Consistent strategy throughout all model series


Audi is kicking off its consistent TDI strategy for 2008 with the three-litre V6 units in the Audi A4 and Audi Q7. Developing 240 bhp and a supreme peak torque of 369 ft.-lbs. in the Audi A4 (not available in ÚS) and 406 ft.-lbs. in the Audi Q7, they boast the sublime dynamism combined with relatively low fuel consumption that is the hallmark of any Audi. Additional models will follow in rapid succession, with Audi seeking to extend the new technology to other vehicle classes and power categories by 2010.

Innovative technology for minimised emissions


This new technology from Audi takes the TDI principle of diesel direct injection with turbocharging that has been proven a million times over and launches it into a whole new dimension. To do this, the diesel-engine development engineers at Audi have incorporated a whole raft of innovative measures into the latest TDI generation: the new piezoelectric common-rail system with an injection pressure of 29,000 psi, the extremely efficient exhaust gas recirculation and optimised turbocharging bring about a dramatic cut in untreated engine emissions. One of the highlights are the combustion chamber sensors that enable even more precise regulation of the combustion processes in the engine – this is the first time that such sensors have been fitted on any engine in the world, marking yet another Audi innovation.

The status of the new-generation TDI as the definitive clean-running, high-tech diesel is sealed by the downstream ultra-low emission system which reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90 percent. The ultra-low emission system runs on a biodegradable additive in the form of a solution called AdBlue. Tiny doses of this solution are injected upstream from the DeNOx catalytic converter. The ultra-low emission system as a whole comprises the catalytic converter, the metering module, the AdBlue tank and heated lines, as well as an extensive system of sensors. The comprehensive emission control system is rounded off by the separate two-way catalytic converter and the highly efficient, electronically controlled diesel particulate filter.

Great potential for reducing fuel consumption all around the world


Thanks to their extremely low emission levels, these cutting-edge direct-injection diesel engines can be put into service anywhere in the world, even in the ÚS state of California where the most stringent emissions limits are enforced. Compared to the average fleet consumption of petrol engines typically fitted in the ÚSA, the TDI offers a fuel saving of as much as 35 percent. As a consequence, diesel technology can make a greater contribution to reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and emissions of environmentally harmful greenhouse gases than any other form of propulsion currently available. Audi will be marketing these new models in the ÚSA and in Europe from the second half of 2008.

Extensive package for cutting CO2 emissions

As a result of this strategy, many Audi TDI and TFSI models will in future deploy an innovative power management system which capitalises on coasting and braking phases by recuperating and storing electrical power. Furthermore, a next-generation start-stop system is currently being developed which lives up to Audi's standards of comfort.

High-volume model series to include ‘e' models

Meticulous refinement throughout the entire vehicle also helps to significantly reduce fuel consumption. Optimised rolling resistance, a further reduction in air drag, specially tuned gear ratios, reduced friction and redeveloped ancillary units are just a few of the devices used by Audi to continuously enhance the efficiency of its entire model fleet. With their high torque at low rev speeds, the turbocharged, direct-injection petrol and diesel engines from Audi come with the ideal credentials for an optimised gearbox set-up that enables the vehicle to be driven with the engine running at its most efficient.

The success of this strategy is exemplified by the ‘e' models which are already in series production. Take the current Audi A3 1.9 TDI e (not available in the ÚS), for instance, with its exemplary standardised fuel consumption of just 4.5 litres/100 km (overall) and CO2 emissions of 119 grams per kilometre. In future, Audi will be enlarging its range of extra-efficient models considerably and offering both TDI and TFSI versions of ‘e' models in the high-volume model series.

Hybrid systems for a number of models

Nevertheless, there may also be a call for a hybrid system designed for individual markets and to meet specific requirements. Audi is developing hybrid systems for a number of model series and will put them into series production wherever it sees this as producing significant benefits for customers. Audi unveiled the Audi Q7 hybrid study with an electric motor integrated into the driveline between engine and gearbox back in 2005. Designed as a 'full' hybrid, as it is known, the Audi Q7 can run on either the petrol engine or the electric motor alone or be powered by both in unison. During phases when the vehicle is coasting or braking, kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy, fed to the battery and then transformed into propulsive power as and when required.

Integrated approach for better fuels

Fuels have a decisive role to play with regard to future reductions in CO2. Apart from ethanol or natural gas, the primary energy sources in question here are the next-generation fuels extracted synthetically from biomass or natural gas. These customised fuels improve the combustion processes inside the engine, resulting in a far healthier emissions balance sheet.

Of particular interest in this respect is SunFuel which is made from biomass. When this fuel combusts, it releases no more carbon dioxide than the plants which went into making it would have extracted from the atmosphere beforehand. The first facilities for industrial-scale production of these fuels are currently being built. Audi is giving its full backing to this integrated approach for better fuels under the umbrella of the Volkswagen Group.

Alternative fuels

Alternative fuel types are gaining in importance around the world. Natural gas, for example, is being used increasingly in a number of countries as a more cost-effective energy source with a lower CO2 content. Here, Audi has devised a concept for using CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). It is based on the TFSI engine and retains such strengths as its mighty pulling power even when running in natural-gas mode. The reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 20 percent in CNG mode can therefore be enjoyed without having to compromise on driving pleasure in any way. Moreover, the ingenious packaging still allows full use to be made of the luggage compartment and the vehicle's versatility despite the addition of the natural gas tank.

The same applies to the ethanol drive system from Audi. It is designed to run on fuel consisting of up to 85 percent ethanol – again without any loss of dynamism or sportiness. And yet, the CO2 output of such a drive system is around 75 percent lower when running on second-generation bioethanol than when it is burning conventional petroleum-based fuel. (concept carz)

The driver's crucial influence

Audi will continue to demonstrate its renowned 'Vorsprung durch Technik' to the customer with all manner of technical solutions. It goes without saying, however, that it is the drivers themselves who bear a large part of the responsibility for driving in a manner that burns less fuel. (concept carz) The individual driving style can influence fuel consumption and, as a result, emissions by as much as 30 percent – without any great difference in speed or dynamism. Driver awareness and attentiveness are the decisive factors here. Audi will additionally provide support systems that help drivers modify their driving style for optimum fuel consumption. One example of such a driver aid is the gearshift indicator that is already included as standard on the e models and the new A5 and displays the optimum gear for the current driving situation.

Extra efficiency at the push of a button

Audi has already unveiled a vehicle that gives drivers the option of selecting an especially fuel-efficient mode for certain situations at the push of a button with its Cross Coupé quattro study. In the 'efficiency' mode, the engine and the gearbox mapping are switched over to a more economical operating programme, the power draw of the main consumers and comfort modules is restricted, and the cruise control system is programmed to give priority to low fuel consumption. This mode is selected intentionally by the customer and is accompanied by a slight reduction in both power and comfort. Apart from this, as the navigation system's road data becomes even more precise in future it will be used for particularly economical routing and vehicle guidance.

Source - Audi