lightweight Audi A5

[rs-6]

surprised nobody posted this yet:

Is this the best handling Audi yet?

by Hilton Holloway

This morning I’m at a small test track around 50km outside Stuttgart for an Audi technical presentation on the advances the company is making in lightweight design.

Unexpectedly, one of the test cars is the technology mule for the Quattro concept that Audi unveiled last year.
It may look like an ordinary A5 coupe, but it’s actually built around a bespoke aluminium spaceframe chassis, with an aluminium skin and carbon reinforced plastic bonnet and bootlid.



It uses a 400hp version of the TTRS’s five-pot engine, driving a 60/40 rear-biased quattro drivetrain through a six-speed manual ‘box. With the stock A5 coupe interior, this prototype weighs in at an impressive 1400kg.
With a planned lightweight interior and the 150mm reduction in wheelbase used for the Quattro concept, that all-up weight could drop to just 1300kg.

This development car is part of the process of proving the Quattro concept ahead of it being given the green light by the Audi board and I’ve just stepped out of it after three quick and punchy laps of this small circuit.

This prototype is fast, fluid and extremely well-balanced. The performance, as you might expect, is vivid.
The car did not betray the fact it has a longitudinal engine hanging out ahead of the front wheels, instead it felt utterly neutral and utterly unstickable.
It is also glorious light, agile and enthusiastic.



Given a boot full out of bends, this mule had impressive lag-free pace, with a crisp and quick shift-action.
Pushed around bends, the steering weight remained consistent and there wasn’t a hint of understeer.
Overall, it flattered the driver and instilled confidence.

As it stands, this prototype is probably one of the best-handling Audis yet - at least on the basis of this short test drive.
In production form, as the Quattro Concept, with a shorter wheelbase and another 100kgs shaved off the weight, it could well be the best handling Audi ever.

I’m sure of one thing, as soon as the Audi board members try this prototype, the Quattro concept will be heading for the showroom.



source: autocar

[HKS786]

This is what the RS5 should have been especially with the M3 as the benchmark. I know the M3/RS5 have a different setup and should drive differently but what is coming from reviews (mostly) that the M3 is the one to buy. RS5 is too heavy.

[The Pretender]

I would say 2.5TFSI in the S5 and 4.0TFSI in the RS5 and a lot less weight.

[Joker]

I would say 2.5TFSI in the S5 and 4.0TFSI in the RS5 and a lot less weight.

Would it not be better to offer both the S and RS with the 2.5TFSI, only in different stages of tune because your suggest would make to RS more nose heavy and dull it's handling. Also the R5 will have by far the more intoxicating note.

[The Pretender]

I have no idea how heavy the 4.0TFSI will be but it's shorter then the inline 5.
The inline 5 is hanging further over the front axle.
I would choose the inline 5 over every other engine though.

[darkop]

I have no idea how heavy the 4.0TFSI will be but it's shorter then the inline 5.
The inline 5 is hanging further over the front axle.
I would choose the inline 5 over every other engine though.

4.0t with around 450ps would be very ''ordinary'' engine for a RS model! You have to remember that's not n/a engine and as such it should have much higher cc/ps rate to be RS worth. So around 560ps which is not meant for B segment!
So obvious choice for RS5 would be 2.5t or more even so a 3.0t (but turbo!!) with around 420-450ps, which will happen in next gen B9 RS5 actually!

[Joker]

I agree darkop, the B9 RS5 will not receive an engine capacity greater than 3.0L and it's output will be pegged by the competition which will be out before it. Though lessons need to be learned from the current RS5 failings, this car was too heavy to truly shine so its weight need also be pegged by it's competitors.