Le Mans concept for Audi heritage

15 September 2003: Audi unveiled its 'Le Mans quattro' concept study at Frankfurt last week to emphasise its sporting heritage as a Le Mans winner.

The Audi Le Mans quattro has a wide stance and a bullish appearance on the road. A wheelbase of 2.65 metres accommodates a surprisingly spacious cockpit and the longitudinally installed V10 'biturbo' engine with FSI direct fuel injection behind it.

To the rear of the doors, between the sill and the roof, there is a large outward-curving intake that supplies the V10 engine, the brakes, the oil cooler and the charge-air intercooler with sufficient air.

LED headlights have clear-glass covers.

An aluminium Audi Space Frame (ASF) forms the central structure of this concept study. The outer skin and add-on parts use a weight-saving mixed aluminium and carbon-fibre concept - thus satisfying the demand for utmost rigidity at a simultaneously low weight of 1530 kg.

The 5-litre V10 'biturbo' engine with FSI direct fuel injection, developing 610 hp and the maximum torque of 750 Nm is available at an engine speed as low as 1,750 rpm and remains constant over a broad engine speed range up to 5,800 rpm. The car has a sequential-shift six-speed sports gearbox .

The quattro permanent four-wheel drive distributes the power variably - based on a 40:60 ratio - to the front and rear axles and the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds and to 200 km/h in 10.8 seconds.

©2003 irishcar.com