Audi R18 e-tron quattro with complex electronic architecture

• Telemetry connection between race car and pit lane
• Permanent acquisition of far more than 1,000 parameters
• Various electronic control units interlinked by a multitude of CAN Bus systems

The Audi R18 e-tron quattro is the most complex race car created in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm to date. This not only applies to the mechanics. The electronics of the most recent LMP1 race car with the four rings is more sophisticated than ever before.

The age of electronic data transmission from the race car on track began for Audi in 1989. At that time, an Audi 90 quattro in the IMSA GTO series radioed eight parameters to the garage where engine speeds and a few pressures and temperatures were plotted on printouts – a tiny step from today’s perspective, but one that provided important insights at the time.  

Today, an Audi R18 e-tron quattro on more than a thousand channels, in cycles that in some cases only amount to milliseconds, generates data of crucial importance to a staff of engineers at Audi Sport. At Le Mans, the engineers constantly monitor their race cars for 24 hours. Whether it concerns the functionality of the systems, compliance with the regulations or information that is important for strategic reasons, the race car – similar to a medical EKG system – continually diagnoses its condition and reports it to the team garage.

For this purpose, the LMP1 sports car is equipped with an array of CAN Bus systems which interlink a wide range of electronic control units (ECUs). Sophisticated sensors measure various parameters, such as suspension and acceleration data, temperatures and pressures, or information in the area of energy management, to generate a database for the ECUs. The R18 e-tron quattro has a master system control unit that is primarily responsible for engine and hybrid control and additionally communicates with the other control units in the race car – such as the ECUs for the transmission, clutch actuators, windshield wipers and the laser beam headlights.

The race car has a direct online connection to the computers in the team garage. It is used for high-speed data transmission in real time for operating conditions, such as temperatures, that do not require a high transfer rate. This makes it possible to effectively transfer limited data volumes for a general assessment of the car’s condition. In contrast, the sports car gathers detailed data on each race lap and transmits it via a burst signal when the car drives past the pit lane. Data volumes of more than 20 megabytes are generated per lap, depending on the measurement configuration – equating to more than 10,000 A4 size pages.

Bi-directional data transmission is prohibited. Data may be transmitted from the car to the pits, but not vice versa. Radio communications with the race driver in the car are the only possibility which the team has to influence the car. If there is a need for action based on the engineers’ data analysis this information – such as brake balance, engine control or hybrid system settings – is communicated to the driver by radio. If necessary, alternative program versions stored in the car may be used.

In addition, there is a telemetry system for the officials of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), which together with the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) monitors compliance with the regulations: Is the hybrid system within the prescribed amounts of energy? Is the energy consumption of the race car within the prescribed range? Are the boost pressure parameters correct? Does the cockpit temperature remain within the permissible limits?

In addition, the FIA uses a GPS system. This year, the FIA has begun to use this system for measuring whether or not a race driver complies with the speed limit in critical situations, such as caution periods at the scene of an accident. Activities of the marshals (in marshaling areas to secure accident scenes, for example) are also displayed in the cockpit. This provides the driver with assistance that enhances the safety of all the participants. Furthermore, the position of the race car can be tracked on a map of the circuit in real time. Consequently, a modern LMP1 race car is constantly and comprehensively connected with the team and with race control.

Audi partners with creators for first-of-its kind event on May 7, transforming crowdsourced stories of perseverance into works of pop culture.

Apr 30, 2014 , HERNDON, Va.

Audi partners with creators for first-of-its kind event on May 7, transforming crowdsourced stories of perseverance into works of pop culture

Audi celebrates the uncompromised spirit of the all-new A3 with a live, crowdsourced creative event.

Select stories will be reimagined by masters of design, technology, music, food, and film at an exclusive social experience in Santa Monica, Calif., with works of art auctioned off for charity.

Comedian and television host Nikki Glaser will host the live webcast at audiusa.com/paidmydues.

HERNDON, Va., April 29, 2014 – The creativity and perseverance of the individual – along with the uncompromised nature of the all-new Audi A3 – will be brought to life by a group of well-known artists, musicians, designers, film directors and more at an exclusive live-streamed collaborative spectacle hosted by Audi in Santa Monica, Calif., on May 7. 

Starting today, fans and enthusiasts can submit their personal stories of creativity, ingenuity and courage on Twitter, Instagram or any other social media platform using the hashtag #PaidMyDues. The most inspiring stories that fit with the theme, meant to celebrate the A3’s uncompromised image, will be reimagined by the diverse group of creators at the event. Comedian and television host Nikki Glaser will host the webcast, 2pm – 8pm ET on May 7th at audiusa.com/paidmydues.

“Many people have overcome insurmountable odds to reach the top of their game,” said Loren Angelo, Director of Marketing, Audi of America. “This event will recognize those unsung heroes that embody the dauntless spirit of what it means to pay their dues and succeed, just as the all-new A3 refuses to compromise on top-level performance and luxury.”

This diverse group of creators will set up shop for six hours in the Santa Monica Airport’s Hangar 8, a unique indoor and outdoor setting which will allow them to respond in real-time to consumers who will be recognized for their willingness to “pay their dues” to attain success.

Upon the conclusion of the event, the creations produced by the creators will be auctioned off for charity through eBay Giving Works.

To submit your story of ingenuity, share your photo, video, or text with the hashtag #PaidMyDues on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Vine or Google+. Stories will be aggregated onaudiusa.com/paidmydues.

#PaidMyDues creators include:

• Money Mark – songwriter, musician, and producer
• Oddisee – freestyle rapper and producer
• Ben Landis – electronic chiptune songwriter
• Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company – improvisation and stand-up comedy troupe
• MADSTEEZ – graffiti artist
• Church of Type – hand-carved letterpress illustrators
• Red Medicine – award-winning chef Jordan Kahn
• Jim Mahfood – comic book creator and artist
• Sumi Ink Club – pen & ink collaborative art collective
• Gui Marcondes – filmmaker and director
• Oh Yeah Wow – animators and filmmakers
• MachineHistories – engineering and technology creators
• Lisa Hanawalt – illustrator and comic artist
• Alex Turvey – designer, filmmaker, and one of London’s top fashion creatives
• Dam-Funk – modern soul and electro-funk DJ

Watch the teaser here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR8_d9RlvD4

In March, Audi debuted the “Dues” advertising campaign to support the launch of the all-new Audi A3 sedan. The campaign features well-known, fearless individuals who are known for paying their dues to attain success, including: comedian Ricky Gervais, celebrity chef David Chang, internationally-acclaimed photojournalist Lynsey Addario, comedian Kristen Schaal, gold medal winning boxer Claressa Shields, street artists Cyrcle, and inner city church choir Voices of Destiny.

The Audi A3 family breaks the boundaries and raises the bar as to what is expected out of entry-level luxury vehicles. The A3 marks the first time that an A-segment vehicle will offer MMI® technology, Audi drive select, 4G LTE connectivity and Bang & Olufsen® audio.

The all-new Audi A3 lineup begins with the A3 sedan, on sale now. The A3 sedan plays a pivotal role in the soon to be expanding Audi A3 family and will be priced from a base MSRP of $29,900. It will be joined later in the fall of 2014 by the Audi A3 Cabriolet, A3 TDI clean diesel sedan, the high-performance S3 sedan and in early 2015, the A3 Sportback e-tron® gasoline electric plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

Audi A3* wins “World Car of the Year 2014”

Audi A3* wins “World Car of the Year 2014”

The Audi A3 is “World Car of the Year 2014”. This is the second overall victory for Audi in the ten‑year history of the World Car of the Year Awards, following the overall success of the Audi A6 in the inaugural year of the competition in 2005. The compact premium bestseller came out on top against 23 competitors. A jury panel comprising 69 international automotive journalists named the A3 as the winner. The Audi A3 g‑tron* furthermore achieved a place in the top three in the “World Green Car” category. (April 17, 2014)

All-new Audi A3 earns IIHS Highest Rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+

Mar 25, 2014 , HERNDON, Va.

• 2015 Audi A3 receives “ADVANCED” rating for front crash prevention
• Ratings reflect the importance Audi places on safety
• All-new Audi A3 on sale in April

The all-new 2015 Audi A3 sedan equipped with Audi pre sense® front received the highest 2014 safety rating available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) earning a TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) rating. 

Additionally, the A3 sedan earned an “ADVANCED” rating for front crash prevention which is the qualifier for the “+” portion of the TSP+ rating. The 2015 A3 received “GOOD” ratings for all crashworthiness tests, including Moderate Overlap Front Test, Side Test, Roof Strength Test, Head Restraints Test, and Small Overlap Front.

“The TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating for the A3 sedan demonstrates the full Audi commitment to safety,” said Mark Del Rosso, Chief Operating Officer, Audi of America. “With a host of standard luxury features, industry-first technology and uncompromised design, the Audi A3 raises the bar as to what is expected out of entry-level luxury vehicles.”

The all-new Audi A3 sedan goes on sale in April 2014 and will be priced from a base MSRP of $29,900. It will be joined later in the fall of 2014 by the Audi A3 Cabriolet, A3 TDI clean diesel sedan, the high-performance S3 sedan and in early 2015, the A3 Sportback e-tron® gasoline electric plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The A3 marks the first time that an A-segment vehicle will offer available features like MMI® technology, Audi drive select, 4G LTE connectivity and Bang & Olufsen® audio.

The Audi A3 will offer several advanced technology features which are new to the entry luxury segment, including: standard Audi pre sense® basic system which helps detect when an emergency maneuver is being made and prepares the vehicle and its occupant restraint systems in advance of a possible collision; and an optional advanced technology package, which includes Audi active lane assist, Audi pre sense® front and adaptive cruise control with stop and go. The A3 also introduces secondary collision brake assist and is the only vehicle to offer this system as a standard feature. The system automatically brakes the car after a collision so as to prevent a secondary collision with nearby or oncoming traffic. 

IIHS Top Safety Pick Ratings
IIHS tests evaluate two aspects of safety: crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash — and crash avoidance and mitigation — technology that can prevent a crash or lessen its severity.

To determine crashworthiness, IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal or poor, based on performance in five tests: moderate overlap front, small overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints. In the area of crash avoidance and mitigation, IIHS assigns vehicles with available front crash prevention systems ratings of basic, advanced or superior, based on the type of system and performance in track tests.

For more information on the 2015 Audi A3, please visithttp://www.audiusanews.com/newsrelease.do?id=3700&mid=16.
For video of the all-new A3, please visit
http://audiusanews.com/videogallery/view/18863277a253/0/2015-audi-a3-2.0t

Uncompromised’ positioning for A3 came out of consumer comparisons

Very Illuminating

The message behind the just-launched Audi advertising campaign for the new Audi A3 sedan–about the “uncompromised” luxury provided by the new entry-level nameplate–stemmed from customer research last year that pointed out the clear advantages the A3 would enjoy over its competition.

In new TV ads airing on NCAA March Madness this weekend, Audi doesn’t mention any rival premium sedans by name. But it’s easy to infer from ads such as the first one, “Dues,” that the Audi insistence on “no compromises” is painting a contrast between the fully loaded Audi A3 and less-generous competitors.

Audi conducted research clinics last year with consumers “taste testing” the A3 versus the competition while remaining unaware of what brand was paying for their opinions.

“We allowed them to walk around the car, feel the fit and finish and play with the technology,” said Anna Russell, General Manager of Brand Marketing for Audi of America. “They concluded that the technology was way beyond their expectations. And when they examined [others] side by side in terms of fit, finish and product features, they felt the A3 was exceptional.”

Further, Russell added, the mindset of premium buyers who are Millennials “of ‘not compromising’ was a natural fit with what our product clinics showed in terms of the car being uncompromised.” The generation of American consumers who are new adults through their early 30s, also known as Generation Y, comprise one of the key targets within what the brand now is calling “Generation Audi.”

More broadly, the target audience for the Audi A3 sedan will be first-time luxury buyers, many of whom will be considering the Audi brand for the first time. “So it was essential that despite the $29,900 starting price, the A3 was every bit a true Audi from its exceptional technology to the fit and finish,” Russell said. “They’ll know that not one millimeter was cut anywhere despite the highly competitive price.”

And while Audi won’t be calling out competitors’ specific vehicles in its TV advertising, Russell said that point-of-sale materials at Audi dealerships will make explicit comparisons. “It’ll be,” she said, “very illuminating.”

There are no shortcuts to greatness

In a class that’s full of compromise, we took a different path with the A3. It features uncompromising craftsmanship, and several Audi and industry firsts, like available 4G LTE Wi-Fi® hotspot connection, MMI® touch, and more. With standard leather seating surfaces and a large panoramic sunroof, the A3 sheds light on how a compact luxury vehicle can go big.

Driver-centric cabin design

The elegant dash design gives you a sense of space you’d normally only experience in much larger vehicles.

Luxury’s not a luxuryIt comes standard on the A3

The A3 interior is a new benchmark of intelligent design. From standard leather seating surfaces, decorative inlays, and an ultra-thin retractable MMI screen, to available Audi connect* with the MMI® touch wheel, every inch is artfully crafted with the driver in mind.*

The all-new 2015 Audi A3

The striking exterior design of the A3 sedan is paired perfectly with the 1.8-liter engine or the available 2.0-liter TFSI® engine beneath the hood.

Audi S3 Cabriolet is a topless two-door temptress

By Steven J. Ewing

Posted Mar 4th 2014 10:30AM

Via Autoblog  

Now that we've driven the Audi S3, we're pretty eager for it go on sale in the United States. And while we won't get the Sportback version, there's a teeny tiny chance that Audi may grace us with this new Cabriolet version that makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

That certainly wouldn't be a shame, considering the topless S3 packs the same 290 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque as the sedan, all of which comes from a turbocharged, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine. That folding roof mechanism adds a bit of weight to the S3 package, and thus, reaching that ever-so-special 62 miles per hour takes an extra half a second – 5.4 compared to 4.9 with the S3 sedan.

Looks-wise, we dig the aggressive little S3, though the chrome wheels of the show car are kind of throwing us off. Swap out a set of standard alloys, and we'll be good to go. Have a look in the gallery above to see the topless Audi for yourself.

Get a load of Audi's TTs

By Steven J. Ewing

Posted Mar 5th 2014 3:59AM on Autoblog 

The third-generation Audi TT coupe has made its debut here at the Geneva Motor Show, showing an evolutionary design for the German automaker's fashion-forward coupe. As expected, the new TT takes plenty of inspiration from the Sport Quattro Concept that debuted in Frankfurt last year, and it draws upon cues from the model's past two generations.

After seeing it in person, the Autoblog crew on-site in Geneva is sort of torn about the new model. It's crisp and well-proportioned, but in terms of its exterior design, it also doesn't come off like a significant generational leap forward – the aesthetic distance between the original TT and the second-generation model was quite a bit larger. Of course, it's hard to reimagine a design icon, and either way we'll have to wait until we see the car on the road to make final judgments.

Audi is offering a trio of engines for the new TT, including a 2.0-liter turbodiesel powerplant that's good for 184 horsepower, 280 pound-feet of torque and an excellent 56 miles per gallon. On the gasoline front, Audi is offering two versions of its well-liked 2.0-liter TSI turbo-four. The less-powerful spec still offers up a healthy 230 hp and 272 lb-ft of torque, while the higher-output 2.0T sends 310 hp and 280 lb-ft of twist to all four wheels in the TTS coupe. Potent stuff.

Inside, there's a brand-new interior with a fresh, modern design, incorporating the slick Virtual Cockpit thatdebuted at CES earlier this year and temperature controls mounted in the air vents, which lowers the cockpit's button count considerably. It certainly looks nice, and is decidedly more forward thinking than the exterior design, in our opinion.

All this discussion has us wondering: what generation of the TT design do you like best? Check out the videos below, vote in our poll and then have a look at a fresh set of TT pics in the gallery above.

Untitled

This logic seems legit in this scenario!