Weight reduction is the simplest way to boost fuel economy and reduce overall emissions, which is why Audi has developed a lightweight prototype of its A5 Coupe. Based on the standard A5 Coupe, Audi engineers were able to reduce the A5‘s weight by more than 240 pounds, thanks the extensive use of aluminum and carbon fiber.
Designed for optimal efficiency, the A5 prototype swaps its steel body construction for Audi’s aluminum space frame. The result is a body structure that is 40 percent lighter than that of a standard issue A5 Coupe.
Other carbon fiber bits also help to keep weight in check, dropping the A5 prototype’s weight to 2,888 pounds from 3,130 pounds.
Thanks to that lighter curb weight, the A5 lightweight prototype is able to use a 2.0L four-cylinder engine – compared to the A5’s 3.2L V6 – without a sacrifice to performance. Based on weight alone, Audi says the prototype gains at least 8 mpg.
Audi has already produced over 550,000 aluminum-bodied vehicles since 1994, so a production version of the A5 lightweight prototype seems likely. However, Audi hasn’t announced when such a vehicle might arrive in dealer showrooms.
