Not much is known about this all-electric Audi concept called the R-Zero except that it's the brain child of three design student: Pierre-olivier
Wagner, Franck Levivier and Remi Marchand. What we can gather from the vehicle's website, which displays all non-essential information in English and the important stuff in French, is that the R-Zero has its battery packs mounted amidship and that energy is sent to electric motors contained within the wheels. Perhaps the most unique element of the R-Zero is a central tunnel that spans the length of the vehicle from the now familiar gaping Audi grille to a large vent in the center of the rear fascia. The tunnel is meant to cool the batter packs as well as contribute to the vehicle's aerodynamics.
The vehicle's styling is attractive and reminds us of a cross between a TT up front and a Mitsubishi Eclipse out back. The R-Zero, however, has no official ties with Audi, and appears to be a portfolio project for these three designers.
Check out a bunch of additional R-Zero pics after the jump...
Thanks Kevin for the tip!
[Source: audirzero.free.fr]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Paul @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:07PM
thats the car from I-Robot
Fabulo @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:19PM
So... how long before Audi sends them a cease and desist?
That's a cool 3d project, I would not call it automotive engineering though.
I don't know where you got all that information from their web site though. All I could find was one page describing the idea behind the project (yes, in french, yes, I speak french)
Tim @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:19PM
I can't pinpoint exactly why, but it reminds me of the cylon Raiders in Battlestar Galactica.
Paul @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:24PM
well the body is doable:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a62/likeapig/an01-audi_irobot1.jpg
V @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:29PM
This one's a lot better looking than the iRobot car. By far. Wish it were real...
kevin @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:45PM
People, the i-robot car drove on 4 orbs, and had a traditional interior cabin. this one is an electric car concept design with a very unique architecture.
LOOK:
http://www.seriouswheels.com/2006/2006-Audi-R-Zero-Concept-Internal-View-1280x960.htm
Jay Miller @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:56PM
I wonder what kind of batter they use in the batter packs?
If they're French, maybe crepe batter?
Lee Gibson @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:09PM
Yeah, if I had a tunnel through my car directing air ingested at the front, I'd definitely want to put a bunch of louvers pointing DOWN at the back end of the car.
Because I'm a smart car designer.
Right.
Bogey @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:18PM
Poster #1... IIRC, the "I, Robot" car was a Lexus.
Flo @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:26PM
#8.. Bzzzt. That was Minority Report. #1 is right, I Robot had the Audi RSQ and it is quite similar.
Jon @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:27PM
Reminds me of Zorg from Toy Story 2....
Chimay @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:27PM
No, it was an Audi in the film.
MikeInNC @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:36PM
Those fenders are the things lust are made of. Finally, an Audi that has real sex appeal. I give my left um...'attachment' for one of these.
SOhp101 @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:37PM
Poster 9, you're talking about minority report.
hmmm @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:38PM
BIG DEAL As a former design student, and current designer, I have seen this concept about 1000 TIMES at SEVERAL Design schools. I've done it about 5 times myself alone. YAWN
jp @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:52PM
Bet you $100 it was a LEXUS!!!
Fredi Vallina @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:55PM
HOLD ON GUYS!!
THIS CAR IS A COPY, it´s a copy from an original design from another Student, that made it first.
I probe it here:
http://www.forocoches.com/foro/showthread.php?t=433592
For those who don´t understand Spanish, here I show some Sketches of the author Frank Leviver, extracted from his portfolio on cardesignnews, with the scale model of the Audi of my friend, done almost a year before.
I also have a mail in my inbox, from Frank Levivier himself admitting it.
This is the worst thing to do about being a designer, and before the ball rolls too much, It must be stoped.
Sorry about my english
Wanax @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:21PM
@Tim,
It does look like a Cyclon. I thought the same thing.
@jp
I'll take that bet. It was an Audi. Read the link -
http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-2004-Audi-RSQ-Concept.htm
Jay @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:41PM
Um, doesn't the Eclipse look like a TT from behind?
Alonzo @ Jun 23rd 2006 4:53PM
I'll take that bet. $100. You're on. You can pay me via PayPal.
It was an Audi. The Lexus was in Minority report.