Revolutionary lightweight design
The all aluminium and highly innovative Audi Space Frame (ASF) is exceptionally strong but substantially lighter than a conventional chassis. In fact, the new Audi A8’s ASF is 6.5kg lighter than the outgoing model, whilst being 24% stiffer.
Safety, performance, handling and efficiency are all enhanced through the careful hand-welding of magnesium and aluminium panels. Using steel the structure would weigh around 40 percent more.
The benefits explained
A lightweight body is vital for excellent performance and the Audi Space Frame has helped significantly lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. However the benefits of aluminium are not just reflected through better performance and efficiency. The high rigidity of the body provides outstanding safety. And the lightweight metal allows for a level of creative freedom that would simply be unattainable with steel panels.
The Audi Space Frame was pioneered in a design study in 1993 and features also in the Audi R8 and Audi TT model range.
