2014 Audi S4 and S5 to get turbo'd four-pots, massive weight reduction
Audi Sportback Concept - Click above for a high-res gallery
Car and Driver sat down with Audi's global head of product engineering, Michael Dick, to discuss the future of the automaker's offerings and how it plans to tackle the ongoing issue of weight. While all automakers cite consumer demand and government regulation as one of the major reasons overall vehicle weight has skyrocketed in the last 20 years, Audi is actively pursuing its "smaller-is-better credo." To that end, the automaker currently has a next-generation A5 prototype running around that's 880 pounds lighter than the current car. Dick told C&D that the mule is using an increased amount of aluminum, magnesium and high-strength steel to reduce mass, and says while the current TT is 69% aluminum, the next A6 (due in 2011 or 2012) will have even more, and the next A4/A5/S4/S5 will feature more still when they arrive in 2014.
Dick went on to say that the down-sizing of the current S4 and S5's engine from a V8 to a supercharged V6 is the first step, and its possible that the next generation Ss will be 20% lighter, pack 30% less displacement and will likely come with turbocharged four-cylinder engines (think TT, TT S and TT RS mills).
On the topic of styling, expect the next generation of Audis to take cues from the Sportback concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show. The Audi A7 will arrive in production form later this year, and while the overall shape won't disseminate throughout the Audi line-up, the headlamps, tail-lights and refined single-frame grille will carry over to the rest of the range. Dick claims that the A7 is already eight seconds faster than the current S5 around the Nurburgring, thanks primarily to its curb weight, which is expected to come in at around 3,000 pounds. We won't believe that until we see it on an official spec sheet, but it's comforting to know that at least one luxury automaker gets "it" and there's no doubt it will pay dividends in the marketplace if all these initiatives come to fruition.
Gallery: Audi Sportback Concept
[Source: Car and Driver]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
2004m3driver 2:06PM (3/13/2009)
Why are they coming out with this concept so early? Guess I'll skip on this generation for sure now. I was so tempted too, now It seems like it would be better to wait!
Reply
Mazda FTW! 2:10PM (3/13/2009)
"Dick went on to say that the down-sizing"
LMAO
Ok seriously though, sounds great Audi!!!
Reply
JustB 2:11PM (3/13/2009)
Dude, what's with them ripping off Mitsubishi's name? They've been using 'Sportback' in Japan for years, and the US since at least 2004.
Reply
chconline 2:15PM (3/13/2009)
I'm all for making cars lighter, but a large naturally aspirated engine definitely has its own characteristics over a turbo'ed motor with a couple less cylinders.
Reply
Randy915 3:34PM (3/13/2009)
I wouldn't worry too much if I were you, I bet once we start driving these we won't even look back on the V8 days.
JZeke 2:16PM (3/13/2009)
Thats actually amazing news. 880lbs lighter? Thats unreal in the realm of luxury cars.
Reply
AC0 2:41PM (3/13/2009)
...or it just shows how lazy they've been up until now.
why not the LS2LS7? 2:47PM (3/13/2009)
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true...
M 11:52PM (3/13/2009)
I'm going with LS2LS7 on this one, 880 is a stretch
JZeke 5:22PM (3/14/2009)
What if its true... and possible for an actual reasonable price?
Cats and dogs, living together... Mass hysteria!
artandcolour 2:17PM (3/13/2009)
score one for intelligent design from an automaker. it's about time that weight is considered the enemy, instead of 'more power' being the answer to everything. i can't wait for Audi to show the way. i say by 2020 the average car weighs 2200lbs, with economy/sport models in the mid teens, with high revving 3s and 4s putting out 200-250 hp max for today's speeds and tomorrow's mpgs.
Reply
Viktor 2:32PM (3/13/2009)
Perhaps it's time to ditch the obligatory quattro on high performance models for rwd if weight matters so much.
StanleyVanBuren 2:29PM (3/13/2009)
Yep. Sounds good to me.
Point Audi.
zamafir 2:38PM (3/13/2009)
Yup, there's a reason audi posted record profits in '08 (up 1.7%) when BMW posted record declines in profit (down 89%) and gave bonuses while bimmer laid people off. If I sound bitter its because BMW should be leading the way towards lithe cars not audi.
BosGav 2:58PM (3/13/2009)
Sheer genius.
Weight reduction should be one of the top two or three engineering goals for every transportation builder.
The future is lighter cars, electrically driven with massive torque from the get-go, and totally adjustable sensations-- ride, steering, acceleration curves, as well as sound. If big V8s get you off, that's what your call will feel like. And when you pick your mom up from the airport, it can be silent like a Lexus.
The golden age of the automobile is coming.
Reply
Henry 2:31PM (3/13/2009)
Anyone seeing the Lambo Estoque concept at the back? Obviously toned down but it looks like there's some design influence trickling down from Lambo as well as the tech.
Reply
PumaGTO 2:34PM (3/13/2009)
all of that just strenghts my idea that we have just lived a second Muscle Car Era. It all began with everyone increasing the size of the cars themselves, then the displacement and number of cilinders on engines... Then they ressurected the Dinossaurs of old (Challenger, Charger, Camaro, decent Mustang...) and now it´s ending just the same way, being replaced by lighter smaller cars with smaller engines. Well History DOES repeat itself, I guess.
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 2:37PM (3/13/2009)
Most muscle cars were not particularly heavy. Remember, a muscle car came to be by taking a large engine from a large car and dropping it into a smaller car (considered compact at the time).
The real feature of muscle cars was the amount of HP. And we're blown way past those figures now. A V6 Camry has 270HP. As of now, there's no sign of a reversal of the power war in the US, even during the fuel crunch.
Serge 3:41PM (3/13/2009)
@zamafir
Actually the reason a car cannot be made out of magnesium is because it cracks instead of bending... not good for safety.
why not the LS2LS7? 2:34PM (3/13/2009)
No way this car is going to drop 880 lbs in equivalent configurations.
Maybe they'll have that much less weight by redefining the base spec.
For anyone who is entranced by the aluminum, note that the Audi A8 is less than 5% lighter than the Mercedes S class, despite the A8 being the poster boy for aluminum.
Even a small change is a change in the right direction, but that's what you can count on, a small change.
Reply