Audi Le Mans quattro
Encyclopedia
The Audi Le Mans quattro was a sports car
styled concept car
, developed by Audi
, for presentation at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, as a result of Audi's three successive wins at the arduous 24 Hours of Le Mans
endurance motor race in 2000, 2001, and 2002. It was the third and final concept car designed by Audi
in 2003, following the Pikes Peak quattro
and Nuvolari quattro
.
Audi subsidiary quattro GmbH
subsequently decided to produce the Audi Le Mans quattro as a production road car, calling it the Audi R8, naming it after their very successful Audi R8 (race car) which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans
five times.
which are composed entirely of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The structural framework of the body, the Audi Space Frame
(ASF) used in the Lamborghini
Gallardo
, is made entirely of aluminium
, while the outer skin is made out of carbon fibre
and aluminium. The car also features an automatic rear spoiler
which raises at 70 mi/h.
The Le Mans quattro featured the magneto rheological damper
s, also installed in the latest Audi TT
, which gives the car a firmer and more responsive drive and improved handling characteristics. In Audi tradition, the car features quattro permanent four-wheel drive
to optimise traction and handling.
The Le Mans quattro's engine was a development of the Gallardo
's, with the same displacement but utilizing different cylinder head
s (with four valves per cylinder rather than five), as well as twin-turbo
chargers and Fuel Stratified Injection
(FSI) technology, resulting in the high output of 449 kW, and 750 newton metre of torque. The gearbox
is the six-speed sequential manual transmission
used in the Lamborghini Gallardo.
The car showcased various Audi styling cues and technological details, planned to be used in future production Audis.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
styled concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
, developed by Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
, for presentation at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, as a result of Audi's three successive wins at the arduous 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
endurance motor race in 2000, 2001, and 2002. It was the third and final concept car designed by Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
in 2003, following the Pikes Peak quattro
Audi Pikes Peak Quattro
The Audi Pikes Peak quattro was a sport utility vehicle concept car. It was created by German premium automobile manufacturer, Audi. The Pikes Peak quattro was first introduced at the 2003 North American International Auto Show...
and Nuvolari quattro
Audi Nuvolari Quattro
The Audi Nuvolari quattro was a concept car created by German automobile maker Audi. This vehicle was first introduced at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show. It was what Audi planned to become the vision of their next grand tourer vehicle...
.
Audi subsidiary quattro GmbH
Quattro GmbH
quattro GmbH is a wholly owned private subsidiary of the German automobile manufacturer AUDI AG, part of the Volkswagen Group.Founded in October 1983, it primarily specialises in producing high performance Audi cars and components, along with purchaser specified customisations...
subsequently decided to produce the Audi Le Mans quattro as a production road car, calling it the Audi R8, naming it after their very successful Audi R8 (race car) which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
five times.
Design and technical
The Audi Le Mans Quattro has a number of high-tech features, including the headlightsHeadlamp
A headlamp is a lamp, usually attached to the front of a vehicle such as a car or a motorcycle, with the purpose of illuminating the road ahead during periods of low visibility, such as darkness or precipitation. Headlamp performance has steadily improved throughout the automobile age, spurred by...
which are composed entirely of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The structural framework of the body, the Audi Space Frame
Space frame
A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports...
(ASF) used in the Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
Gallardo
Lamborghini Gallardo
The Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's most-produced model to date, with over 10,000 built in its first seven years of production...
, is made entirely of aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
, while the outer skin is made out of carbon fibre
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
and aluminium. The car also features an automatic rear spoiler
Spoiler (automotive)
A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition to directing air flow they also reduce the amount of air...
which raises at 70 mi/h.
The Le Mans quattro featured the magneto rheological damper
Magneto rheological damper
A magnetorheological damper or magnetorheological shock absorber is a damper filled with magnetorheological fluid, which is controlled by a magnetic field, usually using an electromagnet. This allows the damping characteristics of the shock absorber to be continuously controlled by varying the...
s, also installed in the latest Audi TT
Audi TT
The Audi TT is a two-door sports car manufactured by the German automaker and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi since 1998.The Audi TT has been produced in two generations. Both generations have been available in two car body styles; as a 2+2 Coupé, or two-seater Roadster...
, which gives the car a firmer and more responsive drive and improved handling characteristics. In Audi tradition, the car features quattro permanent four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
to optimise traction and handling.
The Le Mans quattro's engine was a development of the Gallardo
Lamborghini Gallardo
The Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's most-produced model to date, with over 10,000 built in its first seven years of production...
's, with the same displacement but utilizing different cylinder head
Cylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket...
s (with four valves per cylinder rather than five), as well as twin-turbo
Twin-turbo
Twin-turbo refers to a turbocharged engine, in which two turbochargers compress the intake charge. There are two commonly used twin turbo configurations: parallel twin-turbo and sequential twin-turbo...
chargers and Fuel Stratified Injection
Gasoline direct injection
In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines...
(FSI) technology, resulting in the high output of 449 kW, and 750 newton metre of torque. The gearbox
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
is the six-speed sequential manual transmission
Sequential manual transmission
A sequential manual transmission is a type of manual transmission used on motorcycles and high-performance cars for auto racing, where gears are selected in order, and direct access to specific gears is not possible....
used in the Lamborghini Gallardo.
The car showcased various Audi styling cues and technological details, planned to be used in future production Audis.
Specifications
- Power: 449 kW
- Torque: 750 newton metre
- Engine: 5.0L twin-turboTwin-turboTwin-turbo refers to a turbocharged engine, in which two turbochargers compress the intake charge. There are two commonly used twin turbo configurations: parallel twin-turbo and sequential twin-turbo...
charged (5.0 L twin turbo V10) with FSI - 0–100 km/h: 3.7
- Top Speed: 345 kilometre per hour