High-tech and handcrafted:

Transcription

TECHNOLOGY: AUDI R8 PRODUCTION
High-tech and handcrafted:
The Audi R8 production shop
28 million euros have been invested in this prestige project
at Neckarsulm. A sign of Audi’s commitment to Germany’s
manufacturing future. More experienced workers are preferred,
particularly for vehicle assembly. Text Eric Felber
Hands-on work in the R8 body manufacture:
the finishing of the outer skin’s surface is the
final production stage in the body shop.
U
pon touring this vehicle pro-
cycle. Gaspare Buono has been working
duction shop, the last word
on the Audi production lines for 27 years,
that would occur to you to de-
but he too finds this an utterly new expe-
scribe it is “hectic”. The atmosphere in
rience: “Everything here is much calmer.
this low factory building is evoked much
But at the same time you need to know a
more aptly with words such as “in-
lot more in order to keep up with the
formal”, “elegant” and “ultramodern”.
processes going on here.” Johannes
Daylight floods into the halls, and the
Kind, mechatronics specialist, describes
colours white and silver are dominant.
it as “a simply fantastic place to work.”
To emphasise the contrast, the few
And Hakan Solmaz, group spokes-
robots are jet black. The workers, clad
person, declares credibly: “It’s an honour
in red overalls, come across as highly
for me to be building this car. I get goose-
focused yet relaxed. They are all proud
pimples every time I look at the R8.”
to be working in a place like this. Be-
Part of this “tingle factor” are the 99
cause this place, having the air of a
metres of weld seams, 782 punch rivets,
sanctuary amid an environment of
308 self-tapping screws and 113 weld
industrial-scale automotive production,
studs that go into every finished R8 body.
is where one of the most spectacular
More than 5,000 different parts are
products in the car sector takes shape:
supplied for the Audi R8 by manufactur-
the Audi R8*, the first Audi super sports
ers all over the world. After passing
car with a 309 kW (420 bhp) V8 FSI mid-
through a grand total of 39 stations – 17
engine.
in the body shop and 22 in assembly
For all concerned, being part of this
and final inspection – a new R8 is then
project is something truly special. The
ready for shipping to the customer. A
R8 production shop is special in very
total of around 250 workers are involved
many respects: the car manufacturer
in the process. Another unusual statistic
has invested 28 million euros into the
is that more than one-third of those
craft-scale production shop at the
working in assembly are highly quali-
Neckarsulm plant. The sports car has
fied, experienced skilled workers with
been built here on a two-shift basis, un-
an average age of over 40.
der the supervision of quattro GmbH,
since autumn 2006.
The rhythm of working life here is dif-
The two halls are modest in size, and
bear no comparison with giant industrial
plants. High-tech on a craft-shop scale.
ferent: whereas there are just one and a
In future, visitors will moreover be able
half minutes earmarked for each work-
to have a look around. A new route will
ing cycle on an Audi A6, the R8 has been
take visitors on factory tours through
allocated a luxurious 44 minutes per
the R8 production shop.
>>
* fuel consumption figures
at the end of the Annual Report
AUDI 2006 ANNUAL REPORT
41
Body shop
52 connecting points for the running
This is how the Audi R8* takes shape as
gear and steering are machined in the
a top-quality product: the super sports
milling centre, and holes and threads
car is steered through production ac-
formed in the body. Because the R8
cording to the “string-of-pearls” princi-
features suspension with motor-racing
ple. The string-of-pearls idea means
traits, maximum precision in the con-
that a fixed assembly sequence in which
necting points is absolutely imperative.
all the scheduling criteria of the various
The bodies, now finished apart from
production areas are incorporated is laid
the add-on parts, are then measured in
down even before body manufacturing
a contactless laser process. 90 laser
has started.
measuring heads scan about 185 meas-
In the production process itself, the
uring points on each body in less than
sequence determined before the start
five seconds. This so-called inline meas-
of body manufacturing is then adhered
uring technology provides an indication
to precisely. The aim is sequence fidelity
of the quality and dimensional accuracy
of at least 96 percent.
of each body. The measuring points can
The Audi R8 has passed through 17
be represented three-dimensionally and
stations in the body shop in Hall B14
evaluated. These ongoing dimensional
by the time it reaches final assembly.
accuracy checks mean that any adjust-
99.9 percent of the body is made from
ments needed to the fixtures and com-
aluminium, with just a few parts made
ponents can be made straight away.
from plastic. Here again, the many years
All add-on parts such as the front lid
of experience and expertise of the
and doors are precision-fitted to the
Neckarsulm body shop in the domain of
body in the framing station. The gap
aluminium bodies is exploited.
“The inline measuring
technology provides
an indication of the
quality and dimensional
accuracy of each body.
The measuring points
are represented
three-dimensionally
and evaluated.”
and functional dimensions are adjusted
Personnel are only admitted to the
The R8 body tips the scales at just 240
individually to the target value for every
paint shop via prescribed routes, and all
kilograms, and complete with all add-on
vehicle. This guarantees that the add-on
must wear protective clothes. They for
parts such as doors and lids the alu-
parts function well and have excellent
instance have to pass through air locks
minium shell weighs 270 kilograms.
build quality.
on their way to the top-coat painting
The cycle time in the body shop is
The body manufacturing process is
44 minutes. This means that the produc-
completed by finishing the outer skin’s
tion capacity, on a two-shift basis, is
surface over the entire body.
booths.
As well as giving the R8 body its individual appearance, the paintwork meets
20 cars a day. The level of automation
Once the vehicle identification num-
a whole range of other requirements. Its
of just 25 percent underlines the char-
ber has been stamped on, the R8 body
properties include resistance to chemi-
acter of a bespoke article. 38 welding
can be forwarded to the paint shop.
cals, long-term stability, resistance to
machines, five sets of riveting tongs,
PHOTOS: AUDI
The cycle time in assembly is approximately
44 minutes.
scratching and impact from flying
five robots, 37 hand-held devices and 13
Paint shop
stones, imperviousness and corrosion
welding stations are used in the produc-
This is where the sports car’s body is
resistance. One paint coating alone
tion of the Audi R8. Around 70 workers
painted, on the same production line
would be unable to meet all these re-
operate these facilities, which occupy a
as the Audi A8 and the Lamborghini
quirements. The desired result is ob-
floor space of 3,570 square metres.
Gallardo. Buyers of the R8 can choose
tained through the combination of dif-
At the start of the body manufacturing
from eight basic colours: Jet Blue
ferent, coordinated coating processes.
process, the three sub-assemblies – for-
(which is exclusive to the R8), Phantom
ward structure, central floor and rear-
Black, Ice Silver, Monterrey Green, Day-
Employees
ward structure – are welded together
tona Grey, Brilliant Red, Ibis White and
The craft-scale assembly of the R8 de-
by hand in various fixtures. These sub-
Mugello Blue. In order to obtain a su-
mands very high qualifications and
assemblies form the substructure of
perlative paint finish for these colours,
considerable experience from the 100
the R8.
the paint must be applied in immacu-
or so workers. Many employees who
lately clean conditions. The entire paint
were involved in Technical Develop-
shop has consequently been divided up
ment and Prototype Construction were
into four clean-room zones. A slightly
thus retained for series production of
higher air pressure is maintained inside
the Audi R8.
Top left, opposite: the three sub-assemblies
for the body are welded together by hand.
Bottom left, opposite: the Audi R8 is
assembled in 14 work cycles.
the building compared with its sur-
In launching the pilot project “Audi
roundings, to prevent particles of dirt
Silver Line”, Audi is also responding to
from finding their way into the paint
demographic change by focusing on
shop.
and specifically seeking to utilise
* fuel consumption figures at the end of the Annual Report
>>
43
Futuristic look with the tailgate opened.
baskets are prepared by assembly
test”. This involves driving the cars
workers operating as a team.
both on the internal test track and in
The parts required for fitting to pre-
ordinary traffic. The duration of the road
cisely one vehicle are collected in a
test is about two hours on both tests
component basket in the “supermarket
combined. At the factory, the vehicles
zone” or directly at the assembly line.
are driven over the “shake stretch” and
The worker on the assembly line takes
through a banked curve, as well as put
the materials for the vehicle on which
through a brake test. The test drives
he is working from the component bas-
include inspections of the engine com-
ket. In other words, he does not need to
partment and checks of various func-
leave the “worker zone” to collect each
tions (lights, air conditioning, naviga-
part, and the materials needed for each
tion system, radio, mirrors, etc.).
assembly step are in the immediate
“In launching the pilot
project ‘Audi Silver Line’,
Audi is responding to
demographic change
by focusing on and
specifically seeking to
utilise the strengths
of “older” employees
for R8 production.”
vicinity of the car and ergonomically
Final approval
within the worker’s reach.
After the road test, the vehicle arrives at
The component baskets are fitted with
the finishing hall for its final approval
inlays to prevent painted parts in par-
at check point 8 (ZP8), in other words
ticular from being damaged. The inlays
for the final vehicle inspections. The fin-
mean that every component has a de-
ishing is done together with quattro
fined location and the optimum order of
GmbH’s RS models. Before being driven
fitting is specified automatically. This
into the hall, every vehicle is washed
order is visualised by the numbering of
and prepared in a drip zone for the
the components displayed on the bas-
“sprinkle test” to check for watertight-
ket. This serves as an exact overview for
ness. The R8 is now sprayed with
the strengths of “older” employees for
the worker as to which parts have al-
around 1,200 litres of water for the dura-
R8 production. Dr. Werner Widuckel,
ready been installed. In other words,
tion of six minutes, dried and checked
AUDI AG Board of Management Mem-
the assembly process for each cycle is
for water penetration.
ber for Human Resources, explains:
complete when the basket is empty.
There then follow the interior check,
“This new model seeks to make the
This reduces personnel traffic and ren-
the paint/surface finish check in the
best possible use of valuable voca-
ders the process more reliable.
light tunnel, various functional checks
tional experience.” But he is at pains to
The materials are delivered to the as-
and electrical checks (control units).
add: “The work involved is by no
sembly line and the supermarket zones
Once the vehicle has been cleaned and
means an ‘easy option’. If anything, the
by floor conveyor vehicles. These vehi-
the checks completed, the R8 receives
low number of production sequences
cles transport the materials to the point
its official final approval. Before leaving
means a greater range of work is in-
at which they are required on trailers
the finishing hall, the headlights are
volved in each cycle. The high complex-
that are joined together like rail cars.
adjusted and the transit packaging is
ity of a vehicle such as the Audi R8*
No fork-lift trucks are in use in the R8
fitted. The sports cars are then loaded
means very experienced workers are
assembly.
for shipping to the customer.
needed. At the same time, the longer
The supermarket zones have the same
Board Member for Production Dreves
working cycles reduce the physical
structure as the individual component
concludes: “It takes incredible expertise
burden on the workers.”
baskets, so each of the zones in which
and just as much passion and emotion
the baskets are filled contains only the
to build a car of the calibre of the
Assembly
materials for one particular basket.
Audi R8. And our employees are not
The R8 assembly line occupies an area
Every standard or small part and every
lacking in any of these qualities. Every-
of 5,370 square metres. It comprises 14
tool has a defined place on the assem-
one is immensely enthusiastic about
assembly cycles and eight preassembly
bly trolley. All tools are in addition
this car. As our customers will be, of that
areas located in the immediate vicinity
colour-coded and therefore assigned to
there can be no doubt.”
of the fitting cycles. The hall also hous-
a specific cycle. This ensures that the
es commissioning, the track test bench
“wrong” tool is not used.
gine, suspension, radiator, windows,
Road test
control units, rear lid, cockpit and doors
Once the R8 has passed check point 7
are preassembled.
(ZP7), where the car’s test chart is
90 percent of the materials in assem-
scanned and the underbody and engine
bly are brought to the assembly stages
compartment are checked, the road-
in component baskets. The component
ready sports car now goes for a “road
44
Top right, opposite: despite the use of robots,
the level of automation in the R8 manufacturing process lies at just 25 percent.
Bottom right, opposite: only after it has
received a thorough final check in the light
tunnel does a car leave the assembly line.
PHOTOS: AUDI
and the roller dynamometer. The en-
TECHNOLOGY: OPTIMISED PRODUCTION
Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann:
“We feel very much at
home here in Germany.”
“The key to securing
jobs in Germany
is having new,
competitive products.”
flexibility, logistics and procurement
all need to be scrutinised, too. And we
believe there is still ample potential for
improvements in those respects.”
In the case of the R8, Audi manufactures body parts at the toolmaking
shop in Gyó´r, Hungary, where the facilities can be used very economically
for manual small-scale production be-
Keeping Germany
productive
R8 production an object lesson
cause of the low labour costs there.
The production planners for the R8
started doing their job very early on.
“Our planning team also supervised
the production preparations for the
Lamborghini Gallardo Coupé* in Sant’
Agata. This experience meant that we
Building cars competitively in Ger-
is emphasised by our choice of produc-
knew what potential there was for
many is not a question of scale, nor of
tion bases for our new models – the
improvements, and were then able to
trickery. Any doubters should look to
Audi A5, the small SUV Audi Q5 (both
realise it very early on for the R8. The
the Audi Neckarsulm plant for an ob-
Ingolstadt) and then, of course, the
important thing was being able to
ject lesson in how to do things. There,
Audi R8. We feel very much at home
intervene as early as the concept
the brand with the four rings has set up
here.”
phase. Once the design has been
a small-scale production shop for its
Heizmann does, however, make one
approved, it is much more difficult to
super sports car, the Audi R8*. It is the
thing perfectly clear: “Our decision in
make changes.” Compared with the
result of lean processes and produc-
Germany’s favour in each of these
Lamborghini Gallardo, the production
tion-driven product design, of which
three cases was not just about sheer
time of the R8 was virtually halved.
Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Board Mem-
patriotism; we have chosen to build
The R8 production approach also
ber for Production of the Volkswagen
them here because it also makes eco-
observed the dictates of ‘lean produc-
Group and Board Member for Produc-
nomic sense. Economic, because we
tion’. The Neckarsulm production halls
tion at AUDI AG until January 31, 2007,
have workers who are very well quali-
reflect many features taken from the
says: “The fact that we are building
fied and highly motivated. And the
methods and ideas toolkit of lean pro-
the new Audi R8 in Neckarsulm is a
infrastructure is excellent. The key to
duction: waste avoidance, optimum
ringing endorsement of our belief in
securing jobs in Germany is having
ergonomic conditions, short routes,
Germany’s manufacturing future. It is
new, competitive products. Audi is in
and guided working processes.
an example of how to create a compet-
such a good position because our
itive small-scale production line of the
products are highly sought after.”
locations depends most crucially on
shorter the production time, the lower
whether we keep improving our prod-
the widespread belief that producers
the labour costs factor. And he adds:
ucts and processes systematically. In
will gradually have to turn their backs
“We shouldn’t keep hammering on
developing our new vehicles we have
on Germany due to the rising pressure
about the level of labour costs in Ger-
to be even more systematic in ensur-
of costs. Heizmann continues: “We
many. Wages obviously have to be
ing they meet the exacting require-
definitely do not share that opinion.
realistic, but they are only part of a big-
ments of our customers, while keeping
The fact that Audi won’t be pulling out
ger picture. Efficiency, productivity,
them efficient to produce.”
PHOTO: CLAUDIA KEMPF
His equation is relatively simple: the
The production expert thus refutes
highest technological calibre.”
46
Heizmann concludes: “The longterm success of German production
TECHNOLOGY: LED HEADLIGHTS
Cars seen
in a new light
Light-emitting diodes are the light source of the future.
Audi has already developed a headlight that operates entirely
with these tiny light sources. Text Fred Wagner // Photos Jens Neumann
By a model of a lightemitting diode (LED):
designer Andreu
Sola Gomfaus (left)
and technical expert
Dr. Wolfgang Huhn.
W
henever engineers and designers at
because they operate in an entirely different way
Audi ponder the possibilities for the
to conventional light bulbs. LEDs light up with
car headlight of the future, the good
the aid of semiconductors on an electronic chip.
old light bulb does not even enter into the equa-
When an electrical voltage is applied to these
tion. The developers have discovered a new light
semiconductor layers, the electrons leap to a
source for the car: light-emitting diodes, or LEDs
higher energy level. They then emit light as they
for short. These tiny semiconductor compo-
revert to their original level.
nents, measuring but one square millimetre, are
very efficient at converting electricity into light
Thanks to their special operating principle,
LEDs are almost entirely free from wear and
>>
47
TECHNOLOGY: LED HEADLIGHTS
generally last the entire lifetime of a car. They
daytime running lights are eye-catching, and
are more resistant to shaking and do not have
incorporated distinctively along the lower edge
a hollow structure that could implode. LEDs
of the headlights. The turn signals comprising
also produce more intense light, use less elec-
eight yellow light-emitting diodes run along
tricity and respond as much as ten times faster
the inner edge of the headlights and, together
than a classic light bulb, because semiconduc-
with the 24 light-emitting diodes of the daytime
tors operate virtually inertia-free. White high-
running lights, form a frame for the futuristic-
performance light-emitting diodes in particular
looking headlights. The light colour that they
are regarded as an important technology of the
produce is almost daylight white, and the colour
future that will also transform the car world in
temperature is higher than that of xenon head-
the next few years. And Audi is one of the key
lights. This light appears brighter and more
players behind this development.
agreeable to the eye, contrast vision is aided and
The Ingolstadt company, working with the light-
driving at night is less fatiguing.
ing experts from the Californian light-emitting
diode manufacturer Philips Lumileds Lighting
LED headlights with cooling fans
and with Automotive Lighting, from Reutlingen,
To keep the relatively high temperatures gener-
is the first car manufacturer in the world to
ated by the operating currents in check, each
develop a headlight in which high-performance
headlight has two small cooling fans for the low-
light-emitting diodes perform all the lighting
beam and high-beam headlights. These fans
LED low-beam headlight
functions: low-beam headlights, high-beam head-
simultaneously circulate the warm air forward to
module: basic light dis-
lights, turn signal lights, daytime running lights
the headlight’s lens, to keep it free from ice in
tribution by an array of
and sidelights. The Audi R8* will be available
winter. A new headlight normally takes at least
four LEDs for each of the
optionally with this revolutionary technology of
two years to develop. “We resolved to have the
upper and lower reflector
the future, as a world first. So-called LED arrays –
LED headlight ready for the Audi R8 in just 18
shells, range and light/
modules consisting of several light-emitting
months,” declares Dr. Wolfgang Huhn, revealing
dark boundary via the
diodes – serve as the light sources. Specifically,
the ambitious nature of this project. The Head
plastic lens from three
basic light distribution for the low beams of the
of the “Light and Visibility” Department at Audi
arrays of two LEDs.
Audi R8 is performed by two LED arrays each
can rely not only on the full commitment of
with four white light-emitting diodes, and each
everyone involved in this project. The many years
emanating from a hemispherical reflector sur-
of experience of Audi engineers in LEDs are also
LED high-beam headlight
face. There are three further LED arrays behind
speeding up the development process. Audi
reflectors: one array of
the plastic lens, supplying the light at the
already unveiled several vehicle studies with
four LEDs per reflector
light/dark boundary and for the range. The light
functioning LED technology three years ago: the
shell.
for the high-beam headlights is generated by
Audi Pikes Peak quattro with strip-shaped LED
the two reflector shells next to the low-beam
fog lights, and the Audi Nuvolari quattro and the
headlights, with LED arrays again used. The LED
Audi Le Mans quattro with LED headlights and
The principle of
LED headlights
1
2
3
LED turn signal:
eight yellow highperformance LEDs.
4
LED daytime running light
1
strips: 24 white Advanced
Power TopLEDs with
3
optical fibres for homogeneous illumination.
2
4
48
become a prominent distinguishing feature.
Lighting expert Huhn is convinced that lightemitting diodes will become the principal light
source for vehicles over the next few years. Not
just because they are smaller, more robust, more
durable and operate more efficiently than halogen and xenon lights. The new light sources are
also exceptionally useful for automotive design
purposes. “LEDs open up unprecedented scope
for design,” explains Andreu Sola Gomfaus,
Head of Lighting Design at Audi. Because the
LED light no longer comes from a single light
source, the LED arrays are very flat and compact
and occupy much less space than conventional
headlights, it will in future be possible to transform the face of a car much more easily. Several
LEDs can moreover be combined in all manner of
shapes, for a striking look.
The design challenges nevertheless remain.
“The designer must give the vehicle a soul, with
emotions and virtues,” explains Sola Gomfaus.
New technologies alone – which every vehicle
manufacturer has access to – will not do the
trick. “The key to success is creativity, a half-way
house between fantasy and logic,” is the guiding
principle of the Audi designer who is playing an
instrumental role in the development of the LED
headlight for the Audi R8. It is always important
for a designer to start considering issues that
might only assume real relevance in a few years’
time. “We already need to start preparing to
meet the future requirements of our customers.
Even if they themselves have no idea yet what
they will want in a few years’ time,” muses Sola
Gomfaus.
Innovative LED vehicle lights will undoubtedly
be one of the items on the wish list. “LEDs are set
to become a typical feature of all premium vehi-
Leading lights
rear lights. At the start of 2004, Audi became the
cles. And we are the trendsetter,” enthuses his
The Spaniard Andreu Sola
first manufacturer to integrate LED technology
colleague Huhn, from Technical Development,
Gomfaus (left) is respon-
at the front of a production model.
who is convinced of the abundant promise of
sible for the design of
lights and wheels at Audi.
On the 12-cylinder Audi A8*, the daytime run-
LED technology. Huhn continues: “I’m sure we
ning lights and the sidelights are produced
will discover many future uses for LED technol-
by five-pointed star-shaped high-performance
ogy that we can’t yet begin to imagine.”
Within Technical Develop-
LEDs that come on automatically as soon as the
ment, Dr. Wolfgang Huhn
engine is started. The new Audi S6* features
is Head of the “Light and
daytime running lights in the form of an eye-
Visibility” Department.
catching LED strip that distinguishes it even
“Nothing is more exciting than technology,
from afar.
especially for cars,” says Fred Wagner.
Light-emitting diodes have also already made
their appearance on the vehicle’s tail end. Red
The 48-year-old native of Berlin first studied
Mechanical Engineering, subsequently
LEDs are now standard in the raised brake lights
spending many years working as a development engi-
on all models. Audi has applied this technology
neer. Wagner has spent the past few years working
for the tail, brake and even indicator lights at
as a freelance journalist, writing regular articles on
the rear of the A8. On the Audi A6, the LED tail
innovations in the automotive world for various media
light signature specifically for the A6 Avant has
including Handelsblatt.
49
Across Down Under
The first koala to cross
Australia holds on tight to
the famous four rings.
Audi Q7 Australian Trans-Continental Crossing 2006
Broome
Sydney
50
Inspired by a book on early outback pioneers,
Jörg Hofmann, Managing Director of Audi Australia Pty
Ltd., came up with the idea of a Trans-Continental
Crossing to mark the Australian launch of the Audi Q7.
What began life as a simple road trip quickly snowballed into a full-scale media event that would pit fifteen
Audi Q7 models against 7,000 km of the most remote
and punishing roads on Earth. Text and photos Sam Tinson
TECHNOLOGY: ENDURANCE TEST FOR THE AUDI Q7
Sept 3: Sydney,
New South Wales
n on a busy
A red light changes to gree
oy of
conv
Sydney street, and our
ls snakes
mode
Q7
Audi
fifteen gleaming
fic. On the
traf
ing
morn
midthe
into
k gecko
bonnet of each car is a blac
symbol of
e
ntur
adve
motif, the offroad
these
that
clue
a
and
a
rali
Audi Aust
on
seen
Audi Q7s, the first to be
in store
Australian roads, have more
l
loca
the
to
trip
a
for them than
ion is
inat
dest
our
fact
In
s.
shop
7,000 km
Cable Beach in Broome, over
those
For
a.
rali
Aust
ern
away in West
part, the
ng
taki
be
to
gh
enou
y
luck
the journey
next three weeks will be
d’s first
worl
the
For
of a lifetime.
will be
it
SUV,
at
n-se
seve
premium
the ultimate test.
Audi Q7 Club. Journalists
and members of the Audi team
outside the Packsaddle
Roadhouse on the Silver City
Highway, New South Wales.
Below: Cameron’s Corner,
where New South Wales,
Queensland and South
Australia converge.
Sept 4: Lake Mungo
National Park,
New South Wales
Today we hit dirt roads for
the first
time, and as we bid farewell
to the
bitumen there’s a feeling
that we’re
leaving civilisation behi
nd. In
fact Lake Mungo was the site
of the
earliest civilisation in
Australia;
Aboriginal artifacts dati
ng back over
40,000 years have been foun
d here.
The landscape looks the part
too.
Wind and rain have carved
the sand and
clay into surreal forms,
including
the famous Walls of China,
a series
of sculpted dunes 30 metr
es high and
over 33 km long. We’re bare
ly one
day out of Sydney, but it
feels like
we’ve arrived on Mars.
ll,
Sept 6: Broken Hi
es
al
W
New South
blowing
in from
ill wind
Despite the ch
oken
Br
in
re
he
e atmosp
the desert, th
1883
in
d
he
is
bl
ta
. Es
Hill is heated
scovered
posits where di
when silver de
w serves
no
’
ty
ilver Ci
in the area, ‘S
the
to
y
wa
te
ga
les’
as New South Wa
troin
an apt place to
outback. It’s
motors
a’
li
ra
Q7 to Aust
duce the Audi
ge
an
ch
Ex
l
ya
Ro
the
ing press, and
ty as
ng with activi
Hotel is bustli
d out
ie
rr
ecks are ca
last minute ch
the
on
d
fe
ie
s are br
and journalist
part
de
we
ow
rr
mo
To
upcoming trip.
e bush,
campsite in th
for our first
–
ed
ud
cl
media in
and everyone –
is excited.
51
ra,
Sept 8: Tiboobur
es
al
W
New South
we
go, the
the bush
The deeper into
booburra
Ti
.
me
co
wns be
smaller the to
with
nt
me
le
tt
se
k
ac
is a tiny outb
and not
es
ndful of hous
two pubs, a ha
ed city
nt
te
r
ou
erecting
much else. By
tically
ac
pr
e
’v
we
wn
to
on the edge of
. Our
cal population
doubled the lo
an excelto
f
ve got of
support crew ha
elter
sh
,
od
fo
g
in
ovid
lent start; pr
thirty
for upwards of
and sanitation
s is
ce
an
st
ch long di
people over su
ready
be
st
mu
s
te
Campsi
no easy task.
that
ew
cr
, and for the
when we arrive
–
oy
nv
co
e
ahead of th
means staying
ns
va
ed
ad
lo
o fully
not easy in tw
mping
packed with ca
towing trailers
gear.
Sept 9: Innamincka,
South Australia
Camp Audi. The support crew became experts
at dismantling thirty tents, transporting them
hundreds of kilometres and re-erecting them
at the next campsite ready for our arrival. How
they managed it remains a mystery.
We break camp jus
t in time to avoid
a rainstorm, and
around 70 km out
of
Tibooburra the roa
d crosses a vast
dry
lake bed. The tem
ptation to floor
it
across the cracke
d clay surface is
too much for some,
and the convoy dis
integrates in a clo
ud of red dirt as
half a dozen Audi
Q7s break ranks and
accelerate toward
s the horizon in
all
directions. Once
discipline is restored we press nor
thward to Cameron's
Corner, a remote
, sun-scorched
junction where the
state boundaries
of New South Wales,
South Australia
and Queensland con
verge. The couple
who run the ‘Corne
r Store’ sometimes
go weeks without
seeing a customer,
so they’re deligh
ted to see thirty
turn up at once.
In a matter of
minutes we clean
them out of tea,
cake and souvenir
beer coolers.
aThe afternoon’s drive is an exhil
rating 200 km roller-coaster ride
over the parallel sand dunes of the
Strzelecki Desert. As we enter the
desolate plains of the Moomba gas
ng
fields a sandstorm blows up, slowi
near
was
It
.
crawl
a
to
y
the convo
here that an earlier trans-continental attempt – the ill-fated Burke
and Wills expedition of 1861 – came
to its tragic end. What would Burke
and Wills have given to exchange
Q7s?
their camels for a couple of Audi
52
ille,
Sept 10: Birdsv
Queensland up overnight,
and a
kept
The wind has
ept
sw
be
to
of sand has
thick layer
ka Hotel
nc
mi
na
In
e
es of th
off the tabl
ast. Still,
n eat breakf
ca
we
re
befo
me to give
sville in ti
we reach Bird
anerica,
pp
Na
a run up
the Audi Q7s
stralia.
Au
in
ne
du
sand
the tallest
er known
tt
ppanerica, be
Conquering Na
of
l
ai
Gr
is the Holy
as Big Red,
but the
,
ty
ni
er
at
4WD fr
Australia’s
the
light work of
ke
ma
s
Q7
di
Au
rnoon
te
af
spend the
challenge. We
p slope,
ee
st
e
th
and down
y
hurtling up
on Dakar Rall
growling as
the engines
d
le
il
ch
lebrate with
cars, then ce
ges into the
the sun plun
as
e
champagn
ems a long,
rt. Sydney se
Simpson Dese
.
long way away
Crossing the
giant Nappanerica
sand dune,
also known as
Big Red.
In the South Australian outback
the temperature
would drop
dramatically at
night, making
the campfire the
best place for
a beer and a yarn.
Sept 12: Clayton River,
South Australia
Today the cars face another
outback
trial, the legendary Bird
sville
Track. This notorious road
is strewn
with potholes, boulders
and splintered rock, but it proves
no match
for the Audi Q7s. The cars
’ adaptive
air suspension irons out
the bumps and
we make camp hours ahead
of schedule.
Even Johannes Strobl, the
ice-cool
‘Flying Technician’ from
AUDI AG, who
has travelled from Ingolsta
dt to be
on the trip, can’t hide his
approval.
A sign written in Aboriginal slang
advises drivers to reduce speed.
The reverse side of the barrel says
“PUTTUM BACK DOWN”.
53
Sept 18: Yulara,
Northern Territory
Yulara is a huge
resort complex bui
lt
in the middle of
the desert to
accommodate touris
ts visiting Uluru
(Ayers Rock) and
Kata Tjuta (The
Olgas). It’s the
halfway point of
our
journey, a chance
to recuperate
and prepare for the
final stage. Our
trusty Audi Q7 veh
icles have been
cleaned inside and
out, and look lik
e
they’ve come straig
ht from the showroom. They’re in
showroom condition
too, despite the
flogging they’ve
had over the last
two weeks. The onl
y
maintenance needed
is a precautionar
y
change of air fil
ters. There’s
nothing more to do
now but drive out
to Uluru and watch
the giant monoli
th
blaze orange, amb
er and crimson in
the last rays of
the setting sun.
We all agree it’s
a sight well worth
driving 5,000 km
to witness.
The local Aboriginals believe Uluru to be a highly sacred place.
Seeing it at sunset, it’s easy to see why.
Who said going bush
means you have to
rough it? Dinner with
a view of Uluru at
the Yulara Resort.
Sept 20: Tilmouth Well,
Northern Territory
a
The last three days have been
icons;
an
rali
Aust
of
tour
stop
whistleon
Uluru, Katu Tjuta, Kings Cany
forma(whose dramatic geological
film
the
in
us
famo
made
tions were
rt)
Dese
the
of
n
Quee
a:
cill
Pris
ide crater
and Gosse’s Bluff, a 5 km-w
orite
mete
mic
clys
formed by a cata
s ago.
year
ion
mill
140
over
impact
ern end
We’re now camped at the east
k, and
of the legendary Tanami Trac
rt,
Dese
mi
Tana
the
lies
us
ahead of
arid
one of the most isolated and
t expect
places on the planet. We don’
rs
tsee
sigh
many
to bump into
tomorrow.
54
Sept 23: Broome,
Western Australia
Sept 21: Rabbit Flat,
Northern Territory
The cattle drovers who first used the
Tanami Track knew that the best route
across a desert is a straight one;
we drive over 450 km today without
turning a corner. The landscape is
by turns alien (millions of termite
mounds stretching to the horizon)
and apocalyptic (scorched earth and
trees blackened by bushfire), and the
emptiness is interrupted only by the
occasional monster road train. Our
campsite is at Rabbit Flat, home to
the most remote roadhouse – and the
most expensive petrol – in Australia.
Faced with a choice of paying $2.25
per litre or driving 500 km to the
next servo, we bite the bullet and
fill up all fifteen cars. Bruce,
the owner, is probably still laughing
now.
The end of our voy
age in sight, we
set
the Audi Q7s to cru
ise control and
let the cars eat
up the final 700
km to
Broome. We roll int
o town ahead of
schedule, and on
the endless sands
of
Cable Beach the cha
mpagne corks pop
for one last time.
Three weeks ago we
set out from Sydney
with 7,000 km of
Australia’s toughe
st terrain to tac
kle;
ahead of us now lie
s only the Indian
Ocean and the set
ting sun. A contin
ent
has been crossed,
and the mutual sen
se
of achievement amo
ng us is palpable.
The real heroes how
ever are the Audi
Q7
models. Between
them, the fiftee
n Audi
vehicles have tra
velled a total of
105,000 km across
the outback, mos
tly
in conditions far
tougher than the
y
will ever see in
normal use. And yet
we suffered not a
single breakdown
or
mechanical fault;
in fact, aside
from the occasiona
l tyre change, our
dly dirtied their
technical crew har
feel a glow of
hands. So while we
ssing Australia
cro
in
satisfaction
said
st, it has to be
from coast to coa
have
ld
cou
one
any
that in an Audi Q7,
done it.
tish
Sam Tinson is a Bri
moved
He
t.
lis
rna
photo jou
4 in
200
in
lia
tra
Aus
to
h the outback.
order to photograp
ney and writes for
He now lives in Syd
and motoring
vel
tra
n
the Australia
lishes articles
press. He also pub
azine.
regularly in GQ mag
Filling up straight from the
barrel on the Tanami
Track, Western Australia.
Journey’s end, and a
perfect sunset on Cable
Beach, Broome.
55
TECHNOLOGY: SERVICE PROGRAMME
Audi Australia
Even if the nearest
Audi Centre is
2,000 km away, Audi
Service is at hand
when needed.
56
The Trans-Continental Crossing proved beyond
to drive to locations outside the normal prime
doubt the reliability and endurance of the
market area”, suggests Hofmann.
Audi Q7, and for Audi Australia that has meant
Audi Australia has begun establishing satel-
an increasing number of sales in remote
lite service centres away from their city show-
outback locations. Providing premium client
rooms, and these facilities will obviously in-
service to these areas calls for a unique after-
crease as the customer network grows, with
sales strategy, as Jörg Hofmann, Managing
increased scope in rural centres.
Director of Audi Australia, explains: “The Trans-
Providing a foundation for all these initiatives
Continental Crossing certainly raised Audi’s
is the Audi Modern Apprenticeship Program
profile in rural Australia. There was a great deal
(AMAP) a registered training organisation for
of interest in the Audi Q7 in towns we passed
young automotive technicians organised and
through such as Broome and Birdsville, with
run by Audi Australia.
some buyers actually flying in to view the new
“AMAP is a four-year apprenticeship run in
car and placing orders on the spot. It’s our aim
conjunction with our dealerships,” says Hof-
to give these customers the same premium
mann. “The program produces technicians
service that Audi provides to its clients in
who are distinguished by their competence
urban centres.” There are a number of ways to
and loyalty to Audi as they have started their
achieve this. One is to fly Audi technicians to
apprenticeship with the brand. We also have
remote locations. For instance, the nearest
full-time technical trainers who run training
Audi Centre to Broome is over 2,000 km away
programs on all models, so our technicians
in Perth, so a technician will fly from there
are always up to date with the latest service
to conduct service clinics for our Broome
procedures. AMAP is a clear benefit over our
clients.
competitors – no one else offers this. In the
“We are also looking into other possible solu-
long term it means our customers are guaran-
tions, one of which could be a fleet of ‘Audi
teed the highest possible level of customer
Mobils’ – fully-equipped service vehicles able
service.”
PHOTOS: SAM TINSON
bringing “Vorsprung durch Technik”
to the outback
TECHNOLOGY: FOR THE SAKE OF SCIENCE
Cars and archaeology
How a 2,000-year-old mummified bird from Egypt came to
be scanned in the Audi computer tomograph. Text Er ic Felber
It was revered as a sacred bird in Ancient Egypt. The Ibis (Threskiornis
aethiopicus) was believed to be the incarnation of the moon god Thoth and,
after its death, was used as an embalmed offering and burial object. One
such specimen of a mummified bird
around 2,000 years old, from Abydos in
Egypt, found its way to the Audi plant
in Neckarsulm in August 2006, through
the mediation of the Hesse State
Museum in Darmstadt and the State
Museum of Württemberg. At Neckarsulm, the antique treasure was put
through a series of tests that are otherwise only performed there on complete vehicle bodies, in a computer
tomograph that is the only setup of its
kind in the world.
The accuracy of the 3D x-ray machine
used at AUDI AG is in the order of onehundredth of the breadth of a human
hair (about one micrometre). This was
Sacred bird in the Audi
computer tomograph:
a highlight of scientific
research.
the first time it had been used for purely
archaeological purposes. Dr. Erwin
Keefer, from the Württemberg State
Museum, found this unusual source
of assistance by the car manufacturer
invaluable: “The uniquely high-resolution pictures are a great help to us in
our research. This is the first time in
Germany that it has been possible to
screen a mummified object using an
industrial CT system.” The images that
PHOTO: AUDI
the x-ray robot delivers are up to 50
times sharper than conventional ones.
million euros and weighs some ten
cule electronic components just three
The images even make it possible to
tonnes, for scanning weld seams and
millimetres across can equally be scru-
examine the bird’s feather stalks for
punched and clinched joins on vehicle
tinised in the Audi CT.
the most minute of details.
bodies. “This method represents an
The experts at Audi investigate
Like the phoenix from the ashes, the
important new departure in that parts
several entire vehicle bodies each year.
bird of antiquity is resurrected in com-
can now be examined without any con-
This involves measuring every detail of
prehensive detail in front of the re-
tact and non-destructively,” explains
thousands of joins and evaluating
searchers’ eyes: “We can unwrap the
Dr. Manfred Sindel, from Aluminium
them non-destructively.
mummy entirely without physically de-
Technology Quality Assurance at Audi.
The results of the successful experi-
stroying its exterior,” explains Michaela
It was previously necessary to cut
ment are now to be put to creative
Kurbel, taxidermist of the Hesse State
components laboriously out of the
use by the scientists: thanks to the
Museum in Darmstadt, delighted at the
body in order to examine them for any
3D images from the CT, the Ibis is
new findings that would have remained
inaccuracies. Even body components
destined to spread its wings again. By
hidden without Audi’s assistance.
measuring more than five metres in
computer animation, of course. Per-
The car manufacturer normally uses
length can now be examined in this
haps one day it will even be used on a
the apparatus, which costs around one
way without any problems. But minus-
Pharaoh.
57
TECHNOLOGY: PHOTOMIX DETECTORS
The seeing diode
New developments from the electronics
powerhouse of ideas at Audi
A detector operating by means of reflection measurement of
infrared rays is able to pick up spatially whether and what
objects are present in front of a vehicle. It converts the data into
images that improve in quality the more pixels they contain.
The developers at Audi Electronics Venture GmbH have a market
of the future in their sights. Text Johannes Köbler // Photos Angelika Emmerling
58
T
he future is already taking shape on an
The photons, once converted into electrons,
industrial estate in Gaimersheim, near
are separated by a so-called charge carrier and
Ingolstadt. That is where Audi Electron-
can thus be represented pixel by pixel. Three
ics Venture GmbH (AEV), the Audi powerhouse
chip types currently exist. The first and oldest of
of ideas in the field of electronics, is based in
them operates at 1,024 pixels, the second one at
one of the office blocks. There is a workshop on
3,072 pixels, and the third one at an impressive
the ground floor. Torsten Gollewski, Head of
29,200 pixels, packed into a silicon surface meas-
Strategy and Finance at AEV, has arranged for
uring less than one square centimetre.
a black Audi A8 to be brought into the room; at
“The number of pixels compared to a digi-
first glance it looks like any other car. Yet it is
tal camera does not sound high,” remarks
capable of doing something quite remarkable:
Gollewski, but then adds with fatherly pride:
it can “see spatially”, in a radically new way.
“But then those chips can only see two-dimen-
Not with the aid of cameras or radar, but with
sionally. In our diode, every single pixel takes
photonic mixer devices (PMD).
its own distance measurements.” The square
Images from the
29,200-pixel chip, showing both grey value and
distance pictures.
PMD technology is excitingly high-tech in its
pixels themselves are minute – on the latest
realisation, yet astonishingly simple in principle.
chip, each one has an edge length of just
A light source – positioned on the upper edge of
0.04 millimetres, not even half the breadth of a
the single-frame grille on the A8 test car – trans-
human hair.
mits invisible infrared light into the area in front
The 1,024-pixel sensor on the A8 test car can
of the car. It is reflected by the objects there and
see for 40 metres and it converts the information
returned to the PMD sensor located in the base
into data 100 times a second. In the test setup,
of the interior mirror. Detectors in the sensor
the images that it supplies appear on a large
measure the time the light rays take to arrive and
monitor. A person walking in front the radiator
match them against a reference signal, thus pro-
grille is visible in the raw data as an angular
ducing information on how far off the objects
“human pictogram”, then in the refined data
are. Because the speed of light is obviously very
record as a “walking fir tree” in the three-dimen-
high, the measurement is ultra-precise, to the
sional setting. On the 29,200-pixel chip, the im-
nearest 6.6 trillionth of a second.
age is already much more differentiated,
>>
59
TECHNOLOGY: PHOTOMIX DETECTORS
Top right: a triple representation of the 1,024pixel chip in the test
setup; bottom right: a
double representation;
top left: an image
“reconstructed” from
processed distance data
(the colours change
according to distance);
bottom left: a colourcoded long-distance
image.
and in fact is rather reminiscent of those old,
the automotive sector, too, it is considered a hot
flickering newsreel pictures from the 1920s.
topic with the capacity to transform major mar-
The PMD sensors are superior to technologies
kets radically. Robots will be able to see with mil-
generally available today. A conventional camera
limetre precision thanks to PMD diodes, and
supplies only a two-dimensional image, which is
fork-lift trucks will navigate a warehouse accu-
useless for dynamic ambient recognition. A 3D
rately. The sensors are moreover suitable for use
scanner needs an expensive apparatus about the
in medical technology and in multimedia – for
size of a coffee machine. And a radar sensor clas-
games consoles and cameras.
sifies objects merely as dots. PMD sensors, on
60
the other hand, can identify relevant objects in
“Letting the imagination roam”
front of the vehicle much more effectively thanks
“It is still early days, but there is ample scope for
to the high number of 3D points. They also func-
letting the imagination roam,” states Dr. Bernd
tion in the dark, and are not susceptible to inter-
Buxbaum. He, together with Torsten Gollewski, is
ference e.g. in the form of direct sunlight. They
one of the two directors of the Siegen-based
are furthermore so small that they can be in-
high-tech company PMDTechnologies GmbH.
stalled anywhere.
The technology originated in this town in south-
“We can use PMD sensors for identifying the
ern Westphalia. Professor Rudolf Schwarte, a re-
car’s environment – for prompting emergency
searcher at the local university, filed the trailblaz-
braking, assisting lane changes or facilitating
ing patent in 1996 after many years of effort.
sensor-controlled parking manoeuvres,” ex-
With the backing of the Federal Ministry for
plains Torsten Gollewski. “And with a sensor in
Research, he and his assistants created the first
the interior we can also observe the front pas-
diode prototypes by 2001.
senger’s posture, so that the airbag is accurately
Once contact had been established with AEV,
activated in the event of a collision. Or imagine
PMDTechnologies was founded in May 2002. It
one day being able to operate your Audi merely
operates as a joint subsidiary of AEV and ifm
by hand signals that the sensor can recognise.”
electronic GmbH, Essen, which is active in the
According to Torsten Gollewski, PMD technolo-
field of automation technology. The Essen
gy will be making its appearance in vehicles from
company, which has already carved out a major
the Audi brand “in the near future”. Away from
competitive edge, already succeeded in selling
Torsten Gollewski next
to the PMD’s chip design.
It shows the highly
magnified structure of
the 1,024-pixel chip.
around 20,000 PMD sensors in 2006. The prices
market, as well as paving the way for the estab-
should come down rapidly as production volume
lishment of joint ventures. AEV brings together
increases. A complete PMD unit currently costs
people, knowledge and capital in its core dis-
between 75 and 260 euros, depending on the
ciplines of electronics architecture, sensor
quantity ordered and its application. In a few
technology and software; it generates beneficial
years the price will fall again quite significantly
effects for the group parent by managing tech-
thanks to the continuing integration of system
nology and market requirements.
components into the PMD silicon. “PMDTechnologies is a prime example of a company spun
“Small islands of innovation”
off from university research activities, which is
AEV regards its small scale – it employs fewer
unfortunately still a rare breed in Germany,”
than 100 employees – as a positive virtue thanks
summarises Torsten Gollewski. And the story
to the flexibility that this allows; flexibility is a
continues. 60 specialists are working on incorpo-
vital attribute on the electronics and software
rating photonic mixer devices into cars – at AEV,
scene, where product cycles are much shorter
PMDTechnologies and the supplier Harman/
than in the car business. The think-tank in
Becker, which is also involved. The project has
Gaimersheim serves as an uncomplicated dock-
also garnered acclaim at a political level. The see-
ing-on point to the parent company Audi for
ing diode was nominated for the German Future
external start-ups.
Prize in 2002, and in 2005 it captured the Hermes
Award, one of German industry’s top technology
prizes. In the same year, Professor Schwarte was
awarded the Federal Order of Merit (First Class)
“Modern technology is immensely enjoyable,”
in recognition of his research work.
believes Johannes Köbler (44). The freelance
The example of the PMD diode demonstrates
motoring journalist has been monitoring
how AEV, founded in 2001 and a fully-owned
developments in the car industry for the past
subsidiary of AUDI AG, operates. The technology
15 years. “Technology is exciting. But the most exciting
scouts from Gaimersheim track down innovative
thing is the people who are behind it,” he says. Köbler
basic technology at an early stage and help
has also penned a profile of Wolfgang Hatz and his new
to bring it to production maturity and onto the
TFSI engines (page 20) for the Audi Annual Report.
61
TECHNOLOGY: IN BRIEF
Toolmaker
of the Year
Audi Hungaria
Institute
The Toolmaking Division of AUDI AG
has won the competition “Excellence in Production” for the second
time, adding to its achievement in
2004. The division fended off 321
The decision was taken to
other toolmakers and mould makers
establish the Audi Hun-
also challenging for the coveted
garia Institute in Budapest
award. The Audi Toolmaking Division
in 2006. This joint venture
operates as an independent enter-
between Audi and the
prise under the umbrella of AUDI AG.
Technical University
Its customers include the group
of Budapest will increase
brands Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley,
the knowledge transfer
SEAT, Škoda and VW, as well as ex-
between the spheres of
ternal carmakers.
research and application.
“I am confident that the
The Audi Toolmaking Division scooped the award for the
second time.
partnership will lead to
new research and development findings,” declared
Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn
Distinction of world’s most
powerful car diesel engine
at the signing of the framework agreement. Audi will
award various one-off
Audi is the maker of the world’s first twelve-cylinder diesel engine to be
projects to the Technical
used in a production car. This world “first” is fitted in the Audi Q7 and was
University of Budapest.
unveiled to journalists in Ingolstadt in the autumn. Audi has already
demonstrated how well motor racing and production technology comple-
Honorary professorship at Technical University
of Chemnitz
ment each other with the FSI engine. The Audi Q7 V12 TDI evokes associations with the engine of the R10 racing car for Le Mans, which became the
first compression-ignition engine to win the famous 24-hour race. Audi sets
new standards of TDI technology with the 12-cylinder power unit. The Gyó´r
plant, in Hungary, is to build the 368 kW (500 bhp) engine with a torque of
1,000 Newton-metres.
Elegant power
pack – the
500 bhp TDI
engine.
Dr. Jochem Heizmann,
Board Member for
Production at AUDI AG
until January 31, 2007, was
awarded an honorary professorship at the Technical
University of Chemnitz at
an official ceremony in December 2006. The honour
was granted to mark the
launching of the new bachelor’s and master’s degree
course of Automotive Production at the Faculty of
Mechanical Engineering.
62
World premiere
Audi heralded in a new chapter in its
corporate history with the world
debut of the R8* at the Paris Motor
Show, by bringing the flair of motor
racing onto the roads. “This car extends our model range upwards and
provides our brand with even greater
impetus,” announced Prof. Dr. Martin
Winterkorn. The V8 FSI mid-engine
developing 309 kW (420 bhp), quattro
permanent four-wheel drive and the
aluminium body provide the basis
for superior handling characteristics.
The mid-engine sports car went into
production at Neckarsulm in September 2006 and the R8 will be
in brief:
The Audi R8 made its first public
appearance at the Paris Motor Show.
appearing on the market in the first
half of 2007.
technology
Top marks for safety
In 2006 the Audi A4 and A6 were awarded the “Top Safety Pick” for the second
time in succession in recognition of their outstanding reserve safety. Audi is
consequently the only German manufacturer to have received two awards from
the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). To merit the top mark, both
models had to come through exhaustive frontal, rear-end and lateral crash tests.
Bavarian
Prime Minister
driving an Audi
The IIHS regularly conducts crash tests with vehicles on behalf of the American
insurance industry in order to assess their standard of safety.
The brand with the four rings became
the mode of travel of a Bavarian Prime
Minister for the first time in 2006. In
November, Dr. Edmund Stoiber took
receipt of the keys to a very special
premium-calibre vehicle from Ingolstadt: the armour-plated Audi A8 L
W12 Security. This car meets very rigorous safety requirements and has
been granted the highest security
classification by the Wiesbadenbased Federal Criminal Police Office.
PHOTOS: AUDI
Edmund Stoiber taking receipt of the
keys to his armour-plated Audi A8.
Exhaustive testing to earn the distinction of “Top Safety Pick”.
63

High-tech and handcrafted:

Transcription

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