The Audi Avus quattro was a concept sports car made by the German car manufacturer Audi. It was first introduced at the 1991 Tokyo Motor Show. The Avus quattro had an aluminium space frame, which helped reduce weight. This second showing of the new aluminium architecture (after the quattro Spyder a month before) paved the way for the mass-produced aluminium A8 in 1994.
| Audi Avus quattro | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Audi AG |
| Also called | Audi Avus |
| Production | 1991 (Concept car) |
| Designer | J Mays, Martin Smith |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Concept car |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | Mid engine, quattro permanent four-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 6.0 L Audi W12 (wooden mock up) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 4,470 mm (176.0 in) |
| Width | 2,006 mm (79.0 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,250 kg (2,755 lbs) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Audi 100S Coupe Speciale |
| Successor | Audi Rosemeyer |
Design
editThe bodywork on the Avus was designed by J Mays and inspired by Auto Union race cars of the 1930s, which featured unpainted aluminum bodies. The panels are made from polished 1.5 mm thick aluminum that was hand-beaten.[1]
Specifications
editThe Avus quattro's engine was supposed to be a 6.0 L 60-valve W12 engine producing 509 PS (374 kW; 502 hp). The car shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, however, was fitted with a precision painted dummy, crafted from wood and plastic. Reason being, that at the time, its intended powertrain was still in development;[2] Audi-made W12 engines were not available to buyers until 2001, on the 2001 Audi A8 6.0 W12 quattro. The Avus also features three lockable differentials, rear-wheel steering and a NACA-style duct mounted on the roof.
The Avus quattro is now on display at Audi's headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany.
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Back view -
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Front view
References
edit- ^ "Concept We Forgot: 1991 Audi Avus Quattro". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
- ^ "TG's guide to concepts: the stunning Audi Avus quattro W12". www.topgear.com. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
External links
edit
- Audi Corporate website
- museum mobile, Ingolstadt Archived 2011-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
- Audi Avus Quattro Info Page By 21st Century Archived 2012-07-30 at archive.today
- Audi Avus quattro page on Audi Corporate Website Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine