Carbon-Aluminium hybrids to be a part of next generation Audis

Radical new carbon-fibre as well as aluminium’s hybrid pieces will soon be a part of the upcoming full generation of Audis.

Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi’s engineering boss, admitted that the new technology almost ready to debut in public in the Lamborghini Huracan at Geneva Motor Show next week, is headed across the top end of the Audi range.

“This is a chassis development with a combination of both engineering teams and you will definitely see Audi use this technology.”

The first Audi to use the hybrid pieces is the all-new R8. Initially it was decided the R8 would be launched later this year, but its release has held until 2015 because sources reveal Dr Hackenberg was not very happy with the development of this car compared to the Huracan, its sister car.

Unlike the outgoing R8 (which was longer and more than 100kg heavier than the Gallardo), the next generation will run on the same 2620mm wheelbase as the Huracan.

But the new technique, which bonds carbon-fibre for high-stress, torsionally demanding areas with light-weight metal in a riveted method, will also find its way in mainstream models.

Dr Hackenberg admitted both the Q7 as well as the upcoming A8 would likely be using the new system, but only for detailed pieces and not for a full chassis development.

“You will see it in several other cars, but not quite like this [the Huracan],” Dr Hackenberg admitted.

“The piece in the Huracan is a huge part coming from one tool. If you make it out of steel or aluminium then it would have been a lot of parts to realise this stiffness.”

“It’s also possible to bring this technology to some areas of a car like the A8, yes.”