Audi wins European Inventor of the Year 2008 for lightweight ASF
The European Patent Office has named Audi the European Inventor of the Year. The reason? Audi's Space Frame technology (ASF). First introduced in the A8 in 1993, ASF is a high-strength aluminum frame structure into which the panels are integrated so that they also perform a load-bearing function. This design enables significant weight savings, improved handling and lower fuel consumption. So, the lighter a car is, the less CO2 it produces, if all other things are the same. The Audi A8, the Audi TT Coupé, the TT Roadster, the Audi R8 and the Lamborghini Gallardo are all equipped with Audi Space Frame technology. [Source: Audi]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Garythepowers 11:19PM (5/14/2008)
This is a big deal. There isn't enough effort to make cars lighter these days.
The lightness of the Lotus Elise is what makes it so successful around a track.
Do we really need 2 ton cars to carry a few hundred pounds of humans?
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paulwesterberg 4:58PM (5/15/2008)
So how come Audi's get such crappy gas mileage?
The should license the tech to a company that will fully utilize it.
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