• TT ultra quattro concept – reversing the weight spiral
  
• At just 1,111 kg, power-to-weight is 205 kW-per-tonne
  
• Four race cars and eight series-production models in the 3,500 square metre "Home of quattro" with interactive course

Audi is turning the Wörthersee 2013 into the "Home of quattro". At the large gathering from May 8 to 11 in Reifnitz (Kärnten), Audi will unveil the TT ultra quattro concept – which combines minimal weight and maximum sportiness. A wide range of high-performance cars will also give fans another taste of sportiness. In addition to the legendary Sport quattro S1, the very latest RS models and thoroughbred race cars are also on show. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro, which was the first hybrid car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, will also be part of the action.

At the start of May every year, the Wörthersee is the place to be for every car and Audi aficionado. Audi will therefore be showcasing a special highlight in 2013: the Audi TT ultra quattro concept. The showcar combines a lean 1,111 kilograms total weight with a 2.0 TFSI engine, whose 228 kW and 400 Nm effortlessly propel the coupé from a standstill to 100km/h in just 4.2 seconds. Its power-to-weight ratio of 205 kW-per-tonne is on a par with thoroughbred super sports cars. And it is also worthwhile looking at the detail, not least because the concept car pays homage to automotive lightweight construction.

Even the current series-production car, with a body weight of just 206 kilograms plus 98 kilograms for the detachable body parts, is testimony to the outstanding lightweight construction expertise of Audi. The engineers from Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm fine-tuned the Audi Space Frame (ASF) in the current TT generation to come up with the body for the Wörthersee showcar, shedding another 43 kilograms from the body structure. Together with the optimised detachable body parts, the result is a weight saving of 100 kilograms.

Audi has utilised an intelligent mix of materials, using the right amount of the right material in the right place. The Audi TT ultra quattro concept uses carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) throughout the rear end, the centre tunnel, in the B-pillars and in the roof. Magnesium components in the floor and used as hinge reinforcement reduce weight even further.

The combination of lightness and sportiness is also reflected in the looks. Compared with the series-production model, the Audi designers have honed the showcar's contours even further. With its large spoilers, the TT ultra quattro concept proudly displays its motorsport genes. The base of the rear wing is manufactured as a supporting component from milled aluminum, while the wing, as a functional element, is made of carbon.

The concept car is painted in the special colour Crystal White. The CFRP used on the exterior adds a striking touch on the bonnet, the roof, the sides and the boot. In the interior the same material also adorns the door trim, the centre console and the cross-bracing that replaces the rear seat bench. The developers have also fitted the bucket seats from the R8 GT to the concept study; their chassis alone, made out of fibreglass-reinforced plastic (FRP), reduce weight by 22 kilograms. The driver does not have to make any compromises when it comes to equipment and appointments: air conditioning, electric window controls and an electromechanical parking brake come as standard on the TT ultra quattro concept. The exterior mirrors are replaced by compact cameras which transfer the images directly into the digital cockpit.

To reverse the weight spiral, the Audi ultra lightweight construction concept is applied to all elements. The developers have further optimised each component. The front brakes feature ceramic discs with an aluminium fixed caliper, the exhaust system made out of titanium ends in a single central tailpipe. The wheels also reduce weight by 20 kilograms. Spokes made out of high-strength aluminium are bolted directly to the CFRP wheel.

Every gram counts, particularly true for the suspension. Here the unsprung masses have been reduced, thus improving comfort and handling. On the TT ultra quattro concept the coil springs are not made out of steel but from fibreglass-reinforced plastic (FRP). The core of the all-new springs consists of long glass fibres twisted together and impregnated with epoxy resin. A machine wraps additional fibres around this core, which is only a few millimetres in diameter, at alternating angles of plus and minus 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis. These layers support each other and act in either compression or tension. The use of FRP at this point cuts weight by 40 percent while maintaining good characteristics – 6 kilograms in relation to the car as a whole.

To further hone the handling of the TT, the developers have taken away weight from both ends of the car and moved it towards the centre. The lithium-ion starter battery, for instance, is located in the interior under the driver's seat. It is much smaller than a lead battery and weighs as little as just under four kilograms.

Overall, all these lightweight construction measures make the concept car 300 kilograms lighter than the comparable sporty series-production model. All of which helps minimize the inertial mass that the 228 kW 2.0-litre TFSI engine contends with during acceleration. The modified high-end four-cylinder unit develops its maximum torque of 400 Nm between 1,900 and 5,000 rpm, putting it on a par with the power of the V8. Modifications to the crankcase, the crankshaft, the balancer shafts, the flywheel, the oil sump, the bolts and certain ancillary units that make the engine 25 kilograms lighter have all helped get the engine into tip-top shape.

Thus the Audi TT ultra quattro concept offers the kind of driving experience that automotive fans on the Wörthersee expect from a genuine high-performance model. Like the "Ur-quattro" from 1980 and more than five million series-production vehicles since, this year's showcar is also fitted with the quattro permanent all-wheel drive. Grip is therefore always ensured despite the impressive performance. With its six speed transmission, the TT ultra quattro concept is 1.3 seconds faster than the series-production model when accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h. The top speed is 280 km/h.

The Audi showcar demonstrates the technical possibilities of an intelligent mix of materials. In this way considerable weight savings can even be achieved on an existing series-production model. Usage of these technologies is conceivable for future small-batch series.

The Audi stand at the Wörthersee

With high performance, success and lightweight construction, Audi is presenting at the Wörthersee in the "Home of quattro" not only the TT ultra quattro concept but also four race cars and eight series-production models.

The highlights include the new Audi RS 6 Avant. The high-performance model from quattro GmbH offers more efficiency and greater performance with reduced weight. Thanks to ultra lightweight construction, the RS 6 Avant weighs just under 100 kilograms less. The reduced weight helps cut fuel consumption from 14.0 to 9.8 liters per 100 kilometers. With the V8 twin-turbocharged 4.0 TFSI developing 412 kW the power-to-weight ratio of the RS 6 Avant is 213 kW-per-tonne. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. If the customer wishes, the top speed can be increased to 305 km/h.

In addition to the RS 6 Avant, there is also the new RS 7 Sportback. It embodies dynamism in its most stunning form. Its strong pulse also comes courtesy of the twin-turbocharged 4.0 TFSI V8. The output of 412 kW is on tap between 5,700 and 6,600 rpm. A constant 750 Nm of torque are available between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm. In addition to the rocket-like propulsion, the sound is an important constituent of the driving experience: switchable flaps in the exhaust system make the engine sound even fuller at the push of a button or under strong acceleration. Audi also offers an optional sport exhaust system.

The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet impresses as a four-seater with soft top in a unique combination of elegance and power. Its 4.2 FSI, a high-revving V8 engine, outputs 331 kW. It accelerates the high-performance sports car from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.

The Audi stand will also showcase the new Audi RS Q3 as the first RS model in the successful Q family. It is the fourth model that quattro GmbH will launch this year. An award-winning high-performance engine lies under the hood of the RS Q3 in the guise of the 2.5 TFSI engine, which boasts peak output of 228 kW. Since 2010, an international panel of automotive journalists has named the five cylinder engine "International Engine of the Year" in its category three years in a row.

In 2012, Audi completely revamped the R8 family. The new flagship model, the R8 V10 plus, awaits fans. It develops 404 kW and has a peak torque of 540 Nm at 6,500 rpm. The R8 V10 plus with the S tronic accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and only at 317 km/h does the rolling resistance become too much for the forward momentum.

In a nutshell, quattro GmbH has stood for high-performance and high-tech for 30 years: fascination quattro. With this anniversary, the focus in on the rallies in the 80s through which the Audi quattro drive has become the world's most famous all-wheel drive system. Audi has brought a key milestone of this history to the GTI gathering at the Wörthersee: the Audi Sport quattro S1. It made its World Championship debut in 1985 at the Argentine Rally. Walter Röhrl with co-driver Christian Geistdörfer clinched the first overall victory in an S1 at the San Remo Rally in Italy in October of the same year. The Sport quattro S1 on show was used with Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer onboard at the Monte Carlo Rally in January 1986.

The Audi S3 is another protagonist at the GTI gathering on the Wörthersee. Its outstanding characteristics include everyday suitability, impressive power, and groundbreaking efficiency. It manages to pull off this feat thanks to the all-new 2.0 TFSI engine which develops 221kW and 380 Nm of torque.

The DTM season gets underway on the Hockenheimring on May 5. Eight RS 5 DTM cars will be lining up on the starting grid for Audi this year. Fans will be able to experience the race cars up close on the Audi stand at the Wörthersee. "Motorsport is part of the Audi DNA and a test laboratory for series production," says Wolfgang Dürheimer, Board Member for Technical Development at AUDI AG.

In 2012 the Audi R8 LMS ultra was the race car to beat. In four years it has scooped 18 championships. Fans will also be able to see it in Reifnitz.

Another race car, the victorious R18 e-tron quattro, sits alongside the TT ultra quattro concept on the Audi stage. Last year it became the first hybrid race car to win the legendary Le Mans 24-Hours and recently clocked up another historic success for Audi at the 12-Hour Race in Sebring.

Audi fans can look forward to another special attraction at the Wörthersee: The Ducati Superbike 1199 Panigale R graces the stand as special guest. Inspired by the race track, the new queen of Ducati's superbike family offers outstanding performance and cutting-edge technology. In 2012, the sports motorcycle manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of AUDI AG.

New accessories for the Audi A1

Guests will see an Audi A1 with a new competition kit right alongside the entrance to the "Home of quattro". Since the Audi A1 was launched, Audi Genuine Accessories has been offering new customisation kits twice a year. The competition kit R18 is based on the look of the successful Audi R18 e-tron quattro race car and has been reinterpreted for the Audi A1 as competition kit R18 grey and R18 red.

The Audi Group
The Audi Group delivered more than 1,455,100 cars of the Audi brand to customers in 2012. In 2012, the Company posted revenue of €48.8 billion and an operating profit of €5.4 billion. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Gyor (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium). The Audi Q7 is built in Bratislava (Slovakia). In November 2012, CKD production of the Audi Q7 was added to the existing Audi A4, A6 and Q5 manufacturing operations in Aurangabad (India). At the Brussels plant, production of the Audi A1 has been running since 2010, while production of the new A1 Sportback began in 2012. The Audi Q3 has been built in Martorell (Spain) since June 2011. The Company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide. AUDI AG's wholly owned subsidiaries include AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft. (Gyor, Hungary), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy), AUDI BRUSSELS S.A./N.V. (Brussels, Belgium), quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm and the sports motorcycle manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy). Audi currently employs more than 68,000 people worldwide, including around 50,000 in Germany. The brand with the four rings plans to invest a total of €11 billion by 2015 – mainly in new products and the expansion of production capacities – in order to sustain the Company's technological lead embodied in its "Vorsprung durch Technik" claim. Audi is currently expanding its site in Gyor (Hungary) and will start production in Foshan (China) in late 2013 and in San José Chiapa (Mexico) in 2016.

Audi has long been fulfilling its social responsibility on many levels – with the aim of making the future worth living for generations to come. The basis for Audi's lasting success is therefore formed by environmental protection, the conservation of resources, international competitiveness and a forward-looking human resources policy. One example of AUDI AG's commitment to environmental issues is the Audi Environmental Foundation. Within the context of "Vorsprung durch Technik", which extends far beyond its products, the Company is directing its activities toward a major goal – comprehensive CO2-neutral mobility.