Composites will make Audi’s sportscars lighter
The next R8 sportscar will use carbon-fibre reinforced plastic
- Published in News.
Pretty light: The next R8 will weigh 25% less
Audi’s second-generation R8 sportscar will use carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the body structure, making it 25% lighter than the current vehicle.
The new R8’s body-in-white will weigh 198kg and be made of 14% CFRP. Audi’s technical development director Michael Dick said: “Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic is gaining more importance. The next-generation R8 will have a CFRP rear end – the trunk and crash element – integrated into the aluminium spaceframe.”
Earlier this year Audi signed a letter of intent with materials company Voith to develop a range of composites.
