From Our Audi Workshop: A Look Back at Audi’s Top Innovations

After years of working on some fantastic machinery at our Audi workshop, we feel as though you truly begin to understand the essence of each manufacturer’s products. This is where the Germans lead the pack: branding.

Be it Audi, Porsche, BMW or Mercedes, they each know precisely what they’re about and have largely stayed true to their promise through the years. In the case of Audi and their Vorsprung durch Technik trademark – translated to “advancement through technology” – few can doubt that they’ve done just that. Evidence of this can be seen with Audi winning their second consecutive Automotive Innovations Award in the premium category earlier this year, and innovation is indeed on full display with every Audi service we do. With the ultra-luxurious Audi A8 set to make its way to American shores next summer, we decided to take a look at the top Audi innovations and technologies we’ve encountered through the years.

Audi Quattro: Bringing AWD to the Masses

Up until Audi’s introduction of Quattro, power being delivered to all four wheels was associated simply with large, go-anywhere 4X4 trucks, and not regular sedans. It was Audi chassis engineer Jörg Besinger who, while testing a Volkswagen Iltis military vehicle in the Finnish snow, discovered the remarkable ability of the VW to find its way over anything thanks to its all-wheel drive system. Besinger then proposed the idea to Audi’s director of technical development, Ferdinand Piech, in February 1977. The technical team continued to tinker with different packaging solutions for what was a complex system, with the longitudinal center diff being built into the back of the gearbox. The gearbox’s primary shaft, in turn, is an extension of the crankshaft, which drives a secondary shaft, and this drives the diff.

It was the third, solid shaft that exists inside the hollow secondary shaft that really changed the game, delivering power to the front while saving a ton of space. The beneficiary was of course the Audi coupé which first hit European showrooms in 1980. It offered spectacular performance, and ever since, Quattro has affirmed itself as intrinsically Audi. Think KFC without its 11 secret herbs and spices, and you’ll have an idea of Audi without Quattro…

ASF (Audi Space Frame): Less Weight, More Rigidity

To compensate for the extra weight of the Quattro system, Audi’s first A8 grand saloon (available in North America towards the end of 1996) featured the first ever all-aluminum chassis on a production vehicle. The ASF body weighs up to 40% less than traditional steel construction, and before the launch of the first A8, saw a development process of 12 years. It showed Audi’s commitment, more than anything, to Quattro, and what they could do to counter the system’s extra weight.

LED Daytime Running Lights

While ultimately aesthetic, it is increasingly rare to find a new, premium model from any manufacturer which doesn’t feature some form of LED daytime running lights. These lights instantly signify “modern, cool, and advanced”, especially when approaching in your rearview mirror. Before anyone thought of the concept, Audi went ahead and installed daytime LEDs on the Audi A8 W12 in 2005, a design trait which now extends throughout their range.

What’s Next in the Land of Audi?

Looking ahead into Audi’s crystal ball of technology, the forthcoming A8 promises to introduce a raft of astounding technologies which once again places the brand alongside rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz (and in some cases, ahead of them). Here’s a preview of what you can expect from the new A8:

• Autonomous driving capability. Audi’s version of this new fad, which gives you the option of letting the car take over, features a ‘traffic jam pilot’ system which will be of interest to anyone spending hours commuting in heavy traffic. The A8 will effectively be able to take over driving duties in these scenarios at speeds of up to 37 mph. However, you can only use this system on a highway where there is a physical separation between carriageways. The system’s extremely advanced operation will also be subject to legal restrictions around most of the world.
• 48-volt electrical system. Now defined as a MHEV (mild hybrid electric vehicle), the new electrical system enables the A8 to coast with the engines turned off, and to restart with a whisper. These measures are of course aimed at reducing overall consumption.

What do we say? Cheers to Audi and their vehicles for continuing to authentically ‘live’ the brand. The new A8 will undoubtedly be a manifestation of everything Audi has done well over the last couple of decades, and we look forward to experiencing it!