Audi, the inventor of TDI, blazes a
trail in the field of engine manufacture. At the 27th annual Lake
Worther Tour being held at the end of May in the Austrian province of
Carinthia, the brand behind the four rings is showcasing this
technology’s potential with a sensational study. The 2-litre TDI unit
under the bonnet of the Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro delivers 165 kW
(224 hp) and musters up 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque – the sort of
pulling power normally associated with a sports car. The show car races
from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.6 seconds and attains a top
speed of 240 km/h (149 mph).
The Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro projects its power with supreme
confidence – both acoustically courtesy of its sonorous exhaust and
visually with a series of exclusive parts mounted on the body and in
the interior. Exterior components such as the large DTM-look rear
spoiler and the bolt-on wheel arch extensions give the car a dynamic
air, while the racing bucket seats and open gear lever gate in
aluminium form the highlights of the interior.
The show car is a true high-tech sports car. The drive power is directed
to the 20-inch wheels via a six-speed transmission and the quattro
all-wheel-drive system. At the front wheels, stopping power is provided
by six-piston brake callipers and ceramic discs. The Audi drive select
driving dynamics system allows the driver to vary at will the throttle
response characteristic, the exhaust sound, the level of power
assistance for the steering, the cut-in thresholds for the ESP
stabilisation system, as well as the operating mode of the dampers. The
dampers deploy Audi magnetic ride technology, enabling them to react to
changes in the driving situation with lightning speed