Further Peek: Audi A2 Concept

A highly-charged atmosphere is guaranteed on the Audi stand at the 2011 Frankfurt Show as the futuristic A2 concept is confirmed as the third all-electric Audi design study to take the limelight for the Vorsprung durch Technik brand. Although more familiar in form than the two radically styled urban concept electric studies, the four-seat A2 concept is similarly forward-looking. Its exceptionally weight-conscious and space-efficient packaging is achieved using state-of-the-art multi-material hybrid construction, and its space-age specification includes contact-free battery charging, ‘by-wire’ steering and braking, LED matrix lighting technology and a semi-autonomous running mode.

Advanced Audi ultra-lightweight construction techniques limit the weight of this latest technology study to just 1,150kg. For the first time it unites hybrid multimaterial construction, in which very different materials are combined with one another, with the Audi Space Frame (ASF) construction principle. The superstructure is made largely from aluminium, complemented by add-on parts in Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP). The 18-inch alloy wheels also shave off around 2kg each compared with conventional equivalents thanks to cladding technology which greatly reduces the amount of material used.

The Audi A2 concept is a purely electric vehicle. A lithium-ion battery mounted in its sandwich floor stores 31 kWh of energy, 24 kWh of which is usable. The electric motor is transversely mounted in the front, and delivers 116PS of peak power (80PS continuous) and 270 Nm of torque (160 Nm continuous) to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission.

This power output permits a 0-62mph acceleration time of 9.3 seconds and a top speed of 93mph, the latter electronically limited in the interest of driving range, which stands at 124 miles according to the European driving cycle test.

It takes roughly 1.5 hours to fully recharge the battery with 400 volt three-phase current and approximately four hours with 230 volt household current. The Audi A2 concept is also designed for the new contactless charging technology (Audi Wireless Charging).

The charging socket and the cooling water connection are concealed at the front of the car behind the upper portion of the single frame grille. The lower section of the grille acts as an air inlet, and incorporates highly efficient cooling elements made of graphite foam. The lightweight mineral is an excellent conductor of heat from the water to the ambient air. Eight blocks with six graphite elements each are located in the central air inlet.

McPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle provide agile handling with the help of steering and brake systems which are purely electric (steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire), requiring no mechanical or hydraulic connection to the steering wheel or the pedals, respectively.

Credits: wilswong