New Audi A8 to feature more lightweight tech

The aluminium components take the form of castings, extrusions and sheet. The body also incorporates high-strength steel components and a magnesium cross-brace is used at the front of the car to further increase stiffness.

A number of new manufacturing techniques have slimmed down the B-Pillar and structures around the glass areas creating more comfortable entry and exit for rear-seat passengers and improved vision. New techniques also include remote laser welding which is 53 percent faster than the previous laser welding process, uses 50 percent less heat and produces 25 percent less CO2.

The structure of the new A8 examined

1. Carbon fibre panel punches above its weight

The new A8 incorporates carbon fibre for the first time, in the rear panel and parcel shelf. Although it accounts for just one percent of the materials total, it adds a whopping 33 percent to the total stiffness.

The panel weighs 50 percent less than an aluminium equivalent at 2.6kg and braces the structure horizontally and vertically. Using a new process developed by Audi, traditional sheet carbon fibre is replaced by 50mm wide lengths of carbon fibre ribbon laid by machine on top of one another at 360 degrees around the points of the compass. The process is much faster than traditional labour intensive carbon fibre manufacturing, as is the RTM (resin transfer moulding) process which takes only five minutes.

2. Magnesium makes its A8 debut

Audi is a little late to the party with magnesium which several other manufacturers have been using for some time in areas like the under-dash assemblies. But the new A8 now incorporates a magnesium component in the form of a front brace spanning the front suspension turrets. Audi has developed as an anti-corrosion treatment to prevent the galvanic corrosion that takes place when magnesium contacts other metal. The brace forms part one of three torsional rings created by the ASF structure at the front, centre and rear of the car to achieve maximum rigidity.

3. Thin-wall castings lighter and stronger than before

Audi says “Aluminium DNA is at the core of every Audi Space Frame” and with that in mind has developed a new technique to make the walls of aluminium castings thinner and stronger. The surface of components made this way resemble natural forms like the lattice structure of a leaf or bird’s wing to provide rigidity. Components are 50 percent stronger but the wall thickness is reduced by 15 percent resulting in a weight reduction of 19 percent. The two largest castings are 1.43m in length and connect either side of the passenger compartment to the boot.

4. High strength steel cage keeps occupants safe

Hot-formed ultra high-strength steel is used to make the front section of the safety cage including the front bulkhead behind the engine, the A-pillars, B-pillars and the sills which form the side frames of the A8. The steel side members are extended the length of the passenger compartment. The aluminium side panel of the A8 is joined to the steel sill and B-Pillar by “roller hemming” which folds the edges of the soft aluminium over the edges of the steel, crimping it together and forming a neat hem, like a metallic version of the hem used in a piece of clothing.