Title: Technical report: the aluminium body of the Audi A8

Authors: Hansjorg Schretzenmayr

Addresses: Audi AG, D-85045, Germany

Abstract: Audi has introduced a completely aluminium body for the Audi A8. Audi|s ambitious objectives with respect to weight, comfort and safety required more than a simple substitution of materials. Various semi-products of aluminium (die castings, extrusions, sheet metal) form a whole and each element acts as a load-bearing entity. This completely new body structure – the Audi Space Frame - offers superior characteristics in stiffness, rigidity and energy absorption. At the same time, weight is reduced by approximately 40%. The need for an economical repair concept has been integrated. Furthermore, the concept has enough potential to improve environmental compatibility.

Keywords: automotive body materials; aluminium car body; automobile industry; Audi A8; Audi Space Frame; stiffness; rigidity; energy adsorption; vehicle weight reduction; economic repair; load bearing; vehicle safety; ride comfort.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1999.005582

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1999 Vol.21 No.2/3, pp.303 - 312

Published online: 20 Oct 2004 *

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