Following the world premiere of the Audi RS 3 LMS on February 5, Audi Sport’s new TCR model is undergoing an intensive testing program. A wind tunnel test at Ingolstadt was followed by the first runs on race tracks at Castellolí in Catalonia, Vallelunga near Rome and Aragon in northern Spain. The other stages have also already been scheduled until the car’s racing debut in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup in the summer.

 

Around its premiere, the compact sedan was in the wind tunnel of AUDI AG in Ingolstadt for the first time. The entire aerodynamic concept had previously been created purely numerically in the computer. “Our calculations using Computational Fluid Dynamics were fully confirmed in the wind tunnel,” says Detlef Schmidt, Technical Project Manager Audi RS 3 LMS. “The predicted values for downforce and drag match up well.” 

At Castellolí, the second generation of Audi Sport’s entry-level model completed its first laps on a race track on February 23 and 24. Frédéric Vervisch reeled off around 500 kilometers on the circuit 60 kilometers northwest of Barcelona. The developers focused on general component testing, initial set-up work on the powertrain and chassis, and the aerodynamic balance. The engineers also checked the functionality of the mandatory standardized TCR engine control unit, which was preceded by intensive software development. Audi Sport continued its work at Vallelunga from March 8 to 10, then at Aragon on March 17 and 18. The initial rain in Italy gave the engineers the chance to work through air pressures and suspension set-ups for wet track conditions before trying out further options on a dry track. The changeable weather otherwise feared in racing proved to be an advantage during the tests to cover a wide range of conditions for future racing activities. In addition to Audi Sport driver Frédéric Vervisch, new signing Nathanaël Berthon had the opportunity to contribute his feedback for the first time. In Spain, set-up work on the differential, dampers and the aerodynamic balance were on the agenda. The development team also focused on the optimum configuration for qualifying, but also examined the behavior of the new car over complete race distances.

Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

Following last year’s first event at the Lausitzring and a date at Portimão, Audi Sport customer racing organized a joint test with customer teams for the third time. On the Vallelunga circuit north of Rome, up to 13 race cars with the four rings were on the road for three days. The test days served to prepare for the European season after teams in America, Asia and Australia have already clinched their first trophies since January.

 

“The positive response from teams from five countries is pleasing and confirms the concept of a joint test that we intend to offer in the future as well,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. In changeable weather on a wet but also completely dry track, the drivers of the customer teams as well as of Audi Sport customer racing sat behind the steering wheel. Christopher Haase, Patric Niederhauser and Nico Müller drove the two GT3 race cars from Audi Sport. Mattia Drudi was at Vallelunga as driver coach for Audi Sport Italia. Kelvin van der Linde and Mike Rockenfeller worked with ABT Sportsline for the 2021 DTM season, Markus Winkelhock with Saintéloc Racing for the GT World Challenge Europe. The French team, as defending champions in the FFSA GT4 France, also had two Audi R8 LMS GT4 cars in Italy. The Swiss team Capricorn had come to Vallelunga with a first-generation Audi R8 LMS. PK Carsport from Belgium was also the first customer team on site to enter the new GT2 European Series with an Audi R8 LMS GT2. Finally, new signing Nathanaël Berthon and Frédéric Vervisch continued Audi Sport’s test program with the second-generation Audi RS 3 LMS.

“While the customer teams completed their own programs and achieved productive results, our program included set-up runs with the GT3 sports cars. In the process, we completed a total of 1,250 test kilometers and gained interesting insights in changing weather conditions,” said Stefan Gugger, Project Manager Audi R8 LMS GT3. On April 3–5, Saintéloc Racing will start into the FFSA GT4 France season at Nogaro. Two weeks later, the GT World Challenge Europe and the GT2 European Series will start at Monza. From April 30 to May 2, Audi Sport Italia will contest the season opener in the Italian GT Championship and two weeks later the ADAC GT Masters will begin at Oschersleben. A season highlight for Audi Sport is the Nürburgring 24 Hours from June 3 to 6. The brand is aiming for its sixth overall victory there while the new Audi RS 3 LMS will make its race debut in the FIA WTCR at the same event. The new DTM season starts for the Audi teams ABT Sportsline and Rosberg at Monza from June 18 to 20. In addition, numerous Audi Sport customers contest various other series in Europe and all over the world.
 
Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

A personalized website, improved myAudi app features and additional consulting options: AUGI AG is making significant progress in the digitization of its sales. Audi wants to enable interested parties and customers to have a seamless, emotional, and simple brand experience – both online and offline, and across all points of contact.

 

“Up-close, emotional brand experiences. We enable our customers to experience why Audi stands for the highest quality – in our products and services, in our appearance, and in the way that people are able to interact with our brand,” says Sven Schuwirth, Head of Digital Experience and Business at AUDI AG. “For us, a central component of this involves the interplay of physical trade, which will continue to form the backbone of our sales, complemented by simple and intuitive online services.”

The brand has further developed its online experience for the launch of its new Audi e-tron GT*. In addition to a central login feature, the company’s website now offers personalized information on models and services to interested parties and customers. The new website has a streamlined design that can be rapidly navigated and improves the car configuration and the connection to other online services. It is already available in many European markets and will also be introduced in other countries.

The myAudi app remains the key to the company’s digitally connected world. Via the app, customers can access important vehicle data and digital services. Following a relaunch of the app, users now have new features to choose from: the parking and backing out process (available with select models) can be operated via a mobile device with the Remote Parking Assistant plus feature – without anyone being seated in the car. Anyone who no longer wishes to manually update their logbook can do it in compliance with tax regulations via the Online Logbook. Audi developed the app update based on customer feedback so that it is now more intuitive.

Digital consulting in retail trade is also being further developed. In the future, interested parties will be able to request a live consultation on the configuration of their dream vehicle and have a 3D rendering of it created.

Already last year, the brand had utilized Audi Live Consulting to provide individuals with the option of taking a tour of showrooms and cars without having to be on-site. Through the use of smart glasses, the application connects card dealership employees with online users. It is now available at all Audi partners throughout Germany. NOW Audi Live Consulting is new as of this year. With this feature, interested parties can request to receive immediate live consulting regarding their dream car.

New business models and technologies

In the months and years to come, Audi will further develop its digital sales along with its retail trade. Our goal is the creation of a central e-commerce platform on which customers can find all the services that they are looking for built-in – from purchasing new and used vehicles, to maintenance packages, and leasing and financing.

There are already different e-commerce offers available for customers. The online reservation tool for new and used vehicles is available in markets such as France, Italy, Australia, Japan, Canada, and Spain. For a deposit of 100 euros, customers can immediately reserve dealers’ new and used vehicles via the Audi website and with this secure their dream car. Furthermore, Audi customers can already purchase new cars and in-stock vehicles online in Germany. The project was launched last year with a pilot dealer and will be rolled out at other domestic and foreign trading partners. Audi Germany already launched its online sale of used vehicles in fall 2017.

With the new processes, business models, and technologies, Audi is continuing with digitization. Furthermore, Audi has switched its work model for Digital Business to SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), allowing agile collaboration with its partners. The company has been expanding the virtual customer experience with Audi Business Innovation GmbH and the digital agency SinnerSchrader for several years. 

Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

Audi goes “back to its roots”: In Zwickau in Saxony, the birthplace of this long-standing German company, production of the Audi Q4 e-tron has finally started. The fully electric compact model is the first electric SUV to be produced by Audi in Germany. The Q4 e-tron features a Volkswagen-made modular electric drive matrix (MEB), a highly versatile and variable platform that is suitable for numerous fully electric models and offers considerable scope for leveraging synergies.

 

At the multi-brand plant in Zwickau, the Audi Q4 e-tron will be rolling off the same production line as the Volkswagen ID.4 and, in the future, another Volkswagen model. Here, 1,400 assembly line employees of Volkswagen Saxony are also producing the compact electric SUV, which, thanks to the MEB interior architecture, offers spaciousness on a par with the full-size class. Working alongside their colleagues from Volkswagen, more than one hundred Audi employees prepared for the start of production – from production planning and technical development through to quality assurance. The press tools for producing the body parts all come from Audi’s very own toolmaking shop. With its expressive design, the Audi Q4 e-tron poses enormous challenges when it comes to precision and surface perfection. Audi toolmakers from Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm were involved right from the initial development stages. The process of trying out the press tools, which weigh many tons, also took place in Audi plants.

Peter Kössler, AUDI AG board member for Production and Logistics: “The cross-brand collaboration in Zwickau demonstrates once again the enormous synergy potential that we enjoy with the Volkswagen Group. The on-schedule start of production of the Audi Q4 e-tron is testament to the outstanding teamwork – among the Volkswagen and Audi colleagues alike. Our compact electric SUV is unmistakably a true Audi that will wow our customers with its outstanding quality and everyday usability.”

Dr. Stefan Loth, Chairman of the executive management of Volkswagen Saxony: “With the start of production of the Audi Q4 e-tron, the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau is now a multi-brand plant. As a result, we are writing yet another chapter in the long history of the automotive industry here in Saxony. I’d like to thank all the Audi employees who are currently manufacturing the vehicles to the very highest quality, in the agreed-upon volume, and on schedule.”

Zwickau and the Audi brand enjoy a long tradition: The Audi car plants were established here in 1909. The Volkswagen plant there has been converted to an all-electric plant and is now an integral part of the Group’s electric offensive. Back in November 2020, more than 200 Audi employees – mainly junior employees who have successfully completed their vocational training – were temporarily deployed to Volkswagen Saxony in Zwickau for a twelve-month stint. As part of a “human resources hub,” they will be given the opportunity to boost their skills and expertise in the pioneering field of electric mobility.

The Audi Q4 e-tron will be unveiled to a global audience in the middle of April and launched on the European markets in the summer of 2021. As a result, the Audi brand’s electric offensive continues to pick up steam. By 2025, Audi plans to launch more than 20 fully electric models and expand its PHEV offering. The two main Audi plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm are also set to manufacture fully electric vehicles: So beginning in 2022, the first electric model based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) – developed jointly with Porsche – will roll off the Ingolstadt assembly line.

The Audi Q4 e-tron is being launched in the highly attractive and growing market segment of compact SUVs. For Audi customers, it offers an entry into the world of electric premium mobility at an attractive price. Not only does the compact model offer almost as much space in its interior as a full-size SUV, but the display concept featuring an optional augmented-reality head-up display is also pioneering in its class.

Production of the Q4 e-tron will be carbon-neutral right from the start. The Zwickau plant covers its entire energy needs using renewables and has a highly efficient combined heat-and-power plant.Audi is also working to further minimize CO2 emissions in the value chain. When the Audi Q4 e-tron reaches the end of its life cycle, its battery is to be used in second-life concepts or recycled as a source of raw materials.

Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

Welcome aboard: The driver and passengers experience entirely new dimensions in the new Audi Q4 e-tron. The spaciousness of the electric compact SUV far exceeds the current class boundaries, and offers an amount of space comparable to that offered in the full-size class. The display concept has also reached a new dimension: The augmented reality head-up display brings the real and virtual worlds together, and the MMI display has a diagonal of up to 11.6 inches (option will be available around the end of the year). The new steering wheel generation with touch operation represents the new electric model’s course for the future. In terms of stowage compartments, the Audi Q4 e-tron scores high with a total volume of around 25 liters (0.9 cu ft), and the bottle holders in the top section of the doors are a further highlight. The airy and progressive interior design allows customers to experience the new technology era. 

New and cleverly solved: the packaging

With the Q4 e-tron, Audi is presenting a true all-rounder – it is a confident companion for everyday life and leisure, and is suitable in every way as a household’s main car. At 4,590 millimeters (15.1 ft) long, 1,865 millimeters (6.1 ft) wide, and 1,613 millimeters (5.3 ft) high, the exterior dimensions of the Q4 e-tron place it in the larger compact SUV segment. The architecture of the modular electric drive system (MEB) on which the compact electric SUV from Audi is based enables a completely new division of space. While the front overhang measures just 86 centimeters (33.9 in), the wheelbase measures a generous 2.76 meters (9.1 ft) – even more than in the medium-sized SUV segment. The resulting interior measures 1.83 meters (6.0 ft) in length, which is similar to a large full-size class SUV.

Welcome aboard: comfortable entry, generously spacious

Even getting into the Audi Q4 e-tron is a comfortable experience: The doors open wide, and the seats are in a comfortably high position. The driver and up to four passengers enjoy a generously spacious interior, made possible in part by the fact that there is only a flat step instead of a center tunnel. The seat position in the second row is almost seven centimeters (2.8 in) higher than at the front, while still offering plenty of headroom – and the knee room is positively luxurious. When it comes to spaciousness, the compact electric SUV from Audi surpasses its direct competitors in the premium segment.

A wealth of storage compartments: 24.8-liter (0.9 cu ft) volume and ergonomic bottle storage

As a true all-around vehicle and family car, the Audi Q4 e-tron comes with a generous amount of storage compartments, which add up to a volume of 24.8 liters (0.9 cu ft) including the glove compartment. The center console integrates two cup holders, a 4.4-liter (0.2 cu ft) stowage compartment with a cover, two (or four as an option) USB type-C sockets, and the Audi phone box for the mobile phone upon request. All four door trims feature holders for bottles holding up to one liter that are located far up in the front section of the armrest and are therefore very easy to reach. The upper bottle holders were developed in close cooperation between designers and engineers; finding a spot for them in the limited door space was a real challenge.

The luggage compartment of the Audi Q4 e-tron provides 520 liters (18.4 cu ft) of space for luggage. Folding down the backrests, which are divided in the ratio 40:20:40, creates a virtually level surface; when loaded to the roof, the luggage compartment provides a volume of 1,490 liters (52.6 cu ft). This corresponds to the level of the next-higher SUV segment. Audi also provides a partition net and luggage compartment package upon request. It includes a loading floor that can be inserted at two height levels, for example.

Fully digital at four levels: the operating concept

Just as in all of its models, Audi is relying on a fully digital operating and display concept with a flat menu structure in the Q4 e-tron as well. It comprises four levels: the digital instrument cluster or Audi virtual cockpit for the driver, the central MMI touch display, the natural-language voice control, and the optional augmented reality head-up display – it is a new pioneering piece of technology.

A new dimension: the augmented reality head-up display

With the optional augmented reality head-up display in the Q4 e-tron, Audi is taking a huge step forward in display technology. It reflects important information via the windshield on two separate levels, the status section and the augmented reality (AR) section. The information provided by some of the assist systems and the turning arrows of the navigation system as well as its starting points and destinations are visually superimposed in the corresponding place on the real-life outside world as content of the AR section and displayed dynamically. They appear to be floating at a physical distance of roughly ten meters (32.8 ft) to the driver. Depending on the situation, they appear considerably further ahead in some cases. The driver can understand the displays very quickly without being confused or distracted by them, and they are extremely helpful in poor visibility conditions.

The field of view for the AR content from the driver’s perspective corresponds to a diagonal of around 70 inches. Below it is a flat near-field area window, known as the status section. It displays the speed driven and the traffic signs as well as the assist system and navigation symbols as static displays that appear to be floating roughly three meters (9.8 ft) ahead of the driver.

The heart of the system: the picture generation unit

The technical heart of the augmented reality head-up display is the picture generation unit (PGU), which is located deep inside the long instrument panel. A particularly bright LCD directs the light beams it generates onto two level mirrors, and special optical components separate the portions for the near-field and distant areas. The level mirrors direct the beams onto a large concave mirror that can be adjusted electrically. From there, they reach the windshield, which reflects them into what is known as the eyebox, and thus onto the driver’s eyes. At an apparent distance of ten meters (32.8 ft), or even further away depending on the situation, the driver sees the symbols just as clearly as their real-life environment.

Predictive picture generator: the AR Creator

What is known as the AR Creator serves as the mastermind and picture generator on the software side. It is a processing unit in the modular infotainment platform (MIB 3) that is comprised of multiple individual modules. The AR Creator renders the display symbols at a rate of 60 frames per second and adapts them to the geometry of the projection optics. At the same time, it calculates their location in relation to the environment, on which it obtains information via the raw data of the front camera, the radar sensor, and the GPS navigation. Its software consists of roughly 600,000 lines of programming code, around 50 percent more than the entire control system of the first version of the Space Shuttle.

While performing its computing work, the AR Creator takes into account that there are always a few fractions of a second between the identification of an object by the sensors and the output of the graphic content. During these brief time windows, the Q4 e-tron can change its position considerably, be it due to braking or a pothole. Multiple computations are performed continuously to ensure that the display in the eyebox does not jump into the wrong position. 
One of them takes place in the camera software. For another, the AR Creator uses the most recent data to make a predictive calculation of the car’s continued forward movement. In a further computation, it estimates the vertical movement on the basis of data supplied by the camera, the radar and the sensors of the stabilization control (ESC). These insights are incorporated into the “shake compensation,” which takes place a few milliseconds before the picture is output and whose task is to prevent any disruptive shaking of the display.

Navigation: the drone flies ahead

The augmented reality head-up display demonstrates its strengths in a particularly impressive way in the context of navigation. On the road, what is known as the drone – a floating arrow – shows the next point of action on the route. It is dynamic: When approaching an intersection, for example, the floating arrow first announces the turning maneuver before an animated arrow steers the driver onto the road with precision. If the route then continues straight ahead, the drone flies ahead and disappears in order to then reappear with sufficient time before the next point of action. The distance to the turning point is displayed in meters in the lower window of the near-field area.

Even if the driver activates the adaptive cruise assist, which keeps the car in the center of the lane, the augmented reality head-up display assists them with visual hints. As soon as the Audi Q4 e-tron approaches a lane marking without the turn signal having been activated, the lane departure warning superimposes a red line on the real-life lane marking. Another example is in relation to a vehicle driving in front: If it is active, the car is marked on the display with a colored stripe – this allows the driver to understand the status of the adaptive cruise assist or adaptive cruise control without being distracted. A red marking and a warning symbol appear if the adaptive cruise assist prompts the driver to verify that they are paying attention.

Three variants: the digital cockpit

The standard digital instrument cluster has a 10.25-inch diagonal and is operated via the multifunction steering wheel. The power meter, which is located next to the speedometer on the display, summarizes all important information on the drive, from the output and the state of charge of the battery in percent, and all the way to recuperation. The Audi virtual cockpit is the first option level. It integrates the navigation map and infotainment control and can be switched between two views. The Audi virtual cockpit plus is the top-of-the-line version. It offers the “classic,” “sport,” and “e-tron” layouts, where the power meter plays the main part. Many displays can be configured freely via the MMI here.

Up to 11.6-inch diagonal: the central MMI touch display

The MMI touch display with acoustic feedback has a 10.1-inch diagonal and a resolution of 1,540 x 720 pixels. It is configured as an MMI radio plus with DAB reception as standard, and is used to control the infotainment system as well as a number of comfort functions. In addition, it allows text input in handwriting. In the optional large version, the display comes with an 11.6-inch diagonal and a resolution of 1,764 x 824 pixels. It is the largest display in the Audi portfolio to date and will be available at the end of the year.

Good understanding: voice control

The natural-language voice control, which is activated with the keywords “Hey Audi,” is the third control level in the Audi Q4 e-tron. It understands many entries and requests in everyday language, for example “Where is the nearest charging station?” If MMI navigation advanced is on board, it performs an online comparison in many cases.

Progressive and airy: the interior design

The new era of technology into which Audi has entered is also reflected in the interior of the Q4 e-tron. The instrument panel presents itself with progressive elegance and underlines the airy feeling of spaciousness. The cockpit features a markedly three-dimensional design, and its geometric volumes are interrelated in an electrifying way.

In the Audi Q4 e-tron, the operating and display units take on the function of design elements more than ever. The digital instrument for the driver is embedded like a diamond between two volumes – a short one on the left-hand side, which incorporates an air vent, and a long one on the right-hand side. It extends all the way to the front passenger door and integrates further air vents. The central MMI touch display, which appears clean and light, occupies the space in front of it. It is tilted toward the driver and well placed for ergonomic accessibility.

A lean inlay, which is known as the tech layer, lies above the display and connects it with the instrument panel. The choice of surface materials for the panel includes open-pore lime wood, aluminum in two different designs, and plastic. A technical hybrid fabric that is made partially from recycled material will be available for the inlay of the interior S line shortly after the market launch.

Depending on the equipment package, the further contours of the instrument panel, which are known as accent surfaces, are designed in various silver and gray tones to match the inlay. 
The most striking of these contours runs across horizontally, dividing the instrument panel into two zones, and is decorated with a distinctive e-tron badge. Immediately below it, also facing the driver, lies the operating unit for climate control. Below it, a large operating panel with a black-panel look extends into the space. It holds the compact shifter for selecting the gears, a capacitive rotary volume control, the start/stop button, the hazard warning light switch, and the Audi drive select button. In addition, there are buttons for further functions that are designed as seamless touch surfaces in a black-panel look and backlit with white light.

The future in our hands: steering wheels with touch operation

The steering wheels in the Audi Q4 e-tron are also setting course for the future of mobility. With their double-spoke design, they belong to a new generation. The Four Rings on the impact absorber feature a flat design, in the S-line, an S emblem adorns the lower spoke. The upper spokes feature touch surfaces in a black-panel look whose functional areas are also backlit to indicate the respective active buttons. Slight protrusions separate them from each other, thereby making them easier to use, and the buttons provide soft haptic feedback when pressed. As on a smartphone, there are not only touch gestures but also swipe gestures, for example for scrolling through lists.

The steering wheels are available in different versions. The top-of-the-range version features paddles affixed to the steering wheel for coasting recuperation and a two-part trim on the spokes. The heated rim is flattened at the top and bottom here – a solution that makes the interior ambiance seem even more futuristic. Be it look, function, or feel – the new steering wheel clearly expresses the progressive character of the Q4 e-tron.

Excellent safety: the front seats

The front seats in the Q4 e-tron represent the state of the art in terms of safety technology. In the event of a side impact, what is known as the center airbag unfolds from the right-hand bolster of the driver’s seat in addition to the side airbags to ensure that the driver and front passenger do not collide with one another. Seat heating, electric adjustment, and electric lumbar support are available as an option. The seats are available in a basic version and a sport version with visually integrated head restraints, and optionally with a rhombus pattern.

When it comes to interior colors, customers can choose between black, steel gray, Santos brown, or pergament beige. The total of nine equipment packages also includes a stitching package. Five packages are available for the basic version, while the other four are available for the interior S line. They differ with regard to the door sill trims, the paint color of the accent surfaces, the material of the armrests, and the headlining. All optional equipment packages for the interior include white LED lighting, or, alternatively, the multicolor ambient lighting package plus. Some features are reserved exclusively for the interior S line: illuminated aluminum door sill trims, pedals with stainless steel supports, a black headlining, S embossing in the seat backrests, a steering wheel rim made of perforated leather with contrasting stitching, and S badges.

Dinamica and Puls: seat upholstery made with recycled polyester

The interior S line also has a great deal to offer in terms of upholstery materials. Customers who prefer traditional materials can choose between a leather/artificial leather mixture and the premium fine Nappa leather. The combination of artificial leather and the microfiber material Dinamica is another novel variant. It looks and feels like suede but is made of 45 percent recycled polyester, which is sourced from textiles and PET bottles, for example.

The Puls upholstery, also in combination with artificial leather, is a further option for the interior S line. Secondary raw materials are used here, too: Up to 50 percent of the textile used consists of recycled PET bottles, which are transformed into yarn in an elaborate procedure. This results in a material that has the same quality standards in terms of look and feel as conventional textile upholstery. In a set of seats for the Q4 e-tron, 26 1.5-liter plastic bottles are given a new purpose.

Audi goes electric: the Q4 e-tron is being launched in a dynamic market segment

The electric offensive at Audi continues to pick up steam. The Q4 e-tron follows the large SUV models e-tron and e-tron Sportback, as well as the sporty e-tron GT. The Q4 e-tron plays a key part in the brand’s electrification strategy. It is being launched in a particularly attractive and fast-growing market segment, the class of compact SUVs. For Audi customers, it offers an entry into the world of electric premium mobility at an attractive price.

Article source: www.audi-mediacenter.com

 
 
 

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