• Audi toying with the idea of a super lightweight R8 codenamed "NF" ?

                    
      		   
      Published on 02-27-2011 01:27 PM
      5 Comments Comments
      Various sites are reporting that during a technology presentation at the Audi plant in Neckersulm, Germany that some of the senior Audi officials teased an upcoming R8 that will feature lightweight components. Audi would not allow any cameras into the presentation so the photos you see here are what Audi gave the journalists. The white R8 you see is believed to be the project NF prototype.

      So how are they lightening it? Extended use of carbon fiber, namely between the seats, rear bulkhead, and in the engine compartment. Exterior pieces like the bumper and sideskirts are also all carbon. Carbon fiber doors were used at one point but did not fair well in crash testing and likely would not make a production version. We like how hard Audi is pushing lightweight cars as of late addressing the main weakness of Audi's for so long.











      This article was originally published in forum thread: Audi toying with the idea of a super lightweight R8 codenamed "NF" ? started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 5 Comments
      1. leftlanefiend's Avatar
        leftlanefiend - 02-27-2011, 01:59 PM
        It's about time they focused their R&D on weight reduction. This has been a long standing problem for years, and every model has been plagued with it. Sometime down the road I still plan to buy either an RS5, S6, or R8 and strip it down of much unneeded weight as a fun little project.
      1. Sorena's Avatar
        Sorena - 02-27-2011, 02:09 PM
        so How much for CF parts? if they want to make it super expensive like that piece of CF on regular R8, no one will get it
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 02-27-2011, 02:31 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by leftlanefiend Click here to enlarge
        It's about time they focused their R&D on weight reduction. This has been a long standing problem for years, and every model has been plagued with it. Sometime down the road I still plan to buy either an RS5, S6, or R8 and strip it down of much unneeded weight as a fun little project.
        Audi is having a whole seminar on how they are applying lightweight technology, which is where this all comes from.

        Check this out: http://www.audiboost.com/content.php...-turbo-powered

        Looks to me like they are determined to build some lightweight cars. If they produce this Quattro concept and price it right as well as these other lightweight cars, they are taking huge steps in the right direction.
      1. fastgti69's Avatar
        fastgti69 - 02-27-2011, 02:58 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Looks to me like they are determined to build some lightweight cars. If they produce this Quattro concept and price it right as well as these other lightweight cars, they are taking huge steps in the right direction.
        that is their only thing they need to work on.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 02-27-2011, 03:04 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by fastgti69 Click here to enlarge
        that is their only thing they need to work on.
        I think so, weight and also trying to get better front/rear balance to reduce understeer.