The new Plasma Red concept – Audi Sport Quattro – powered by a powerful plug-in hybrid drive will makes its global debut in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show 2014. The concept is a throw back at the classic Sport quattro of 1983 while showcasing future techonologies such as plug-in hybrid drives, user control and display interfaces and lighting technology.
It is 4,602 mm in length, 1,964 mm in width and 1,386 mm tall in height. It will also have a relatively large wheelbase of 2,784 mm.
In the dual headlights, a typical quattro feature, Audi combines MatrixBeam LED diodes which generates low beam and even smaller laser light diodes on the inside will generate high beam. The latter is claimed to illuminate the road for a distance of nearly 500 metres, twice the lighting range and three times the luminosity of LED high beam lights. This lighting system will be used on the race track in the 2014 R18 e-tron quattro.
Speaking from a design point of view, the lower section of the hexagonal single-frame grille is nearly vertical, while the upper follows the contour of the bonnet. Two large, vertical blades divide each of the large air inlets and that theme is replicated in the creases of the bonnet. The carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) splitter is fixed to the further away from the front apron, as on a race car.
The swept-back glass cabin, broad haunches and a upward-extending CFRP diffuser define the rear. Its upper section is honeycombed, while its lower section houses two large, oval tailpipes. The rectangular tail lights – also quattro inspired – are backed by a black CFRP panel. The 300-litre luggage space, which is reinforced by a large cross bar stiffener.
The sill extensions are also made of CFRP, the door handles electrically extend from the door when they detect the approach of a hand. (I’m guessing James Bond will be driving this in his new movie)
The centre-locking wheels have a 5 twin-spoke design with ultra-low profile tyres with a 285/30 R 21 specification.
The interiors are coloured in dark grey colours and the carbon shell supporting structure of the interior also serves as a storage compartment in the doors. The folding race car shell seats provide high lateral support and have integrated head restraints, together with the two rear seats, provide seating for four. The climate controls are integrated in the air nozzles; a single element is used to control the intensity, temperature and volume of the air stream. The multifunction sport steering has two buttons to control the hybrid drive, a red start-stop button, a button for the Audi drive select vehicle handling system and a “View” button to control the Audi virtual cockpit.
All key information is shown on the large Audi TFT display in high-resolution, three-dimensional graphics; an Nvidia sourced Tegra 30 processor.
The plug-in hybrid drive puts out 700 PS and 800 Nm (590.05 lb-ft). Power is transferred via an 8-speed tiptronic to the quattro drivetrain, which features a sport differential at the rear axle. The show car’s claimed combined fuel consumption 113 mpg and CO2 emissions are ultra-low at 59 g/km.
The combustion engine is a bi-turbo 4.0-litre V8 making 560 PS of power and 700 Nm of torque that features both Cylinder-on-Demand (CoD)system and a start-stop system Located between the 4.0 TFSI and the transmission is a disc-shaped electric motor that produces 110 kW and 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft). It draws its drive energy from a lithium-ion battery at the rear, which stores 14.1 kWh of energy – enough for up to 31 miles of all-electric driving. An Audi wallbox that is used for charging provides for optimal energy transfer.
The driver can switch between three different modes – EV mode for just operating the electric motor; Hybrid mode for optimal fuel-savings in the interplay between the TFSI and the electric motor; environmental and route data are utilized here and the Audi drive select dynamic vehicle handling system offers different levels of regenerative braking and finally Sport mode, in which the V8 and electric motor are boosting, allowing it to accelerate from a standstill to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds and top 190 mph or 306 km/h.
A combination of ultra-high-strength steel sheet and cast aluminium structural elements has been used. The doors and wings are made of aluminium, and the roof, engine hood and rear hatch are made of CFRP; resulting in an unladen weight of just 1,850 kilograms, including the large battery pack.
The front suspension is comprised of five links per wheel, while the rear suspension is based on the self-tracking trapezoidal link The dynamic steering system varies the steering ratio as a function of driving speed. The brake calipers grip large, carbon fibre-ceramic brake discs, and the tyre size is .
FUN FACT: Audi plans to invest €11 billion in product development, between now and 2015 and that it’s current portfolio has 47 models
