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2007 Audi Nuvolari WHAT AUDI HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS CAR: (Source: Audi) Audi will be showing its new Nuvolari quattro concept study, a vision of tomorrow's elegant, powerful Gran Turismo, at this year's Geneva Motor Show. It combines future Audi design philosophy and the progressive technology and dynamic road potential of a high-powered GT. With the Nuvolari quattro, Audi's designers have created a two-door 2 + 2-seater coup? with classic GT proportions. Its lines are an evolutionary interpretation of the current repertoire of outlines typical of Audi's styling philosophy. After the debut of the Pikes Peak quattro crossover study at the Detroit Motor Show, the Nuvolari is the second car in 2003 with which Audi shows off the future of the brand: a future notable for systematic emphasis on sporting character, highly advanced technology, unique design and emphasis on exclusiveness. Gran Turismo - the term is synonymous with the ultimate high-performance, road-going long-distance sports car. Time and time again, GTs were among the most fascinating and most beautiful cars of their day. Like no other type of vehicle, a classic GT combines the aura of performance and speed with styling that derives its aesthetic appeal from technology and dynamism rendered visible to the onlooker. Without a doubt, the Audi Nuvolari quattro, which has a Luna Silver paint finish, is such a car - this becomes clear the very first time you see it. The coup? silhouette of this 2 + 2-seater is dominated by the long engine hood and the roofline dropping smoothly towards the wide rear end. The windows are extremely shallow, emphasising the proportions of the 4.80-metre long, 1.92-metre wide and 1.41-metre high Nuvolari quattro. The gently curved coup? roof is supported by slim A and C pillars that blend smoothly into the rising shoulders of the body. Significant features when seen from the side are the heavily contoured, dynamic line in the sill area and the bold, slightly rising shoulder line. The latter starts at the front wheel arch and continues its curve in a wide arch that gradually flattens out. It rises discreetly towards the C pillar and descends just as smoothly behind it, thus creating a light line on the extremely curved side surfaces. The front and rear overhangs are very short, which, together with the large 9-arm wheels in the circular wheel arches, emphasises the potent, compact body. This effect is added to by the high tail end with its remarkable stylistic uniformity; the two big, oval exhaust tailpipes provide a visual clue to the power this car's engine can provide. In addition to this formal innovation, the evolutionary integration of current lines and shapes is waiting to be discovered: The geometry of the boot lid and the transition between the bumper and upper rear end are variations on characteristic elements of the latest generation of Audi models. The lights, which are well wrapped round at the sides of the car, connect the side panels and the rear end and supply a new, distinct visual emphasis. Walter de'Silva, Head of Design for the Audi brand group, comments: "The Nuvolari quattro outlines the direction that Audi's exterior and interior design will take. We are aware of our brand's heritage and will continue this success story in evolutionary steps."The synthesis of evolution and innovation is also characteristic of the Audi Nuvolari quattro's front end: the rounded shape of the front side panels toward the bumper is a deliberate reference to the lines of the Audi TT - which is, after all, one of the most successful examples of Audi's current styling. The striking single-frame radiator grille has also evolved from the current design motif and has been arrived at by linking together the two double grille segments of the current Audi generation. Another new feature are the slightly inclined, low-height main headlight strips on the Nuvolari quattro. They make use of an entirely new technology - super-bright high-performance light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This is where, once again, Audi's typical groundbreaking design principles and its proverbial "Vorsprung durch Technik" combine. The combination of systematic lightweight design and a highly rigid body is doubly important in high-powered GTs such as the Audi Nuvolari quattro - for the car's performance and also for resistance to vibration, which is a vital precondition for dynamic, comfortable driving.The decision on how to build the body-in-white was therefore easy: the latest-generation Audi Space Frame proved to be the best concept currently available in both the weight-saving design and rigidity departments. Like the current A8's frame architecture, the Nuvolari quattro's Audi Space Frame (ASF) consists of a combination of extruded aluminium profiles and cast parts connected tightly together, for a combination of minimum mass and maximum strength. The proportions of the GT concept study necessitated considerable structural changes compared with the ASF used in the A8 luxury sedan. The best example is the wheelbase of the 2 + 2-seater Nuvolari quattro, which is more than six centimetres shorter. The front end with its characteristically dominant engine hood is longer, the rear end on the other hand looks more compact. The proportions are additionally emphasised by the short front and rear overhangs. As is typical for a coup?, the doors have frameless windows. All four side windows can be lowered completely. A new opening technology is used: as soon as the keyless-entry transmitter in the key has unlocked the door by means of a signal, a recess opens inwards below the handles, which are normally flush with the body. The handle space is illuminated by an LED. Leather and aluminium: the atmosphere in the Nuvolari quattro's interior consists of a dialogue between organic and highly technical materials. The contrasting Stromboli black and Carrara white leather elements and the cool metal surfaces add structure to the layout of the dash panel, doors, and centre console.The four individual, heavily contoured seats with integral belts are of typical sports car design and provide ample space for the driver and passengers. The high, substantial centre console, which continued through to the rear of the interior, has also been designed according to the classic GT philosophy: the driver and front passenger will feel themselves to be almost part of the vehicle. The three-point seat belts are attached on the insides of the seats. As an occupant protection measure, two discreetly installed cameras for the "out of position" airbag system monitor the front passenger's seat position and vary inflation of the airbag accordingly. The dash panel, which is covered by a semi-circular hood, combines classic GT architecture and advanced ergonomics. Two large round instrument dials - a speedometer and a rev counter - dominate the central viewing area. The centre console with the MMI display is clearly angled toward the driver. The high centre console is extremely neat in appearance. At the front are the air-conditioning controls and telephone dialling buttons. The MMI terminal with the central control knob and surrounding function and control keys are located behind it and extremely easy to reach. This ergonomic principle set a new standard when it was introduced in the Audi A8 and was unanimously praised by the trade press. The tiptronic gearshift lever has one shift gate. If the driver prefers to select gears manually, he or she can do so at shift paddles behind the three-spoke sports steering wheel - as in the Le Mans-winning Audi R8. The shift lever is then only used to select the P, R, and D modes. Like the pushbutton-operated electro-mechanical parking brake, the gear shift mechanism has no mechanical connections whatsoever. In addition to the particularly tidy centre console which this provides, it opens up new potential uses for the console itself. The one in the Nuvolari can be opened to reveal an additional, easily accessible storage compartment for the driver. There is also storage space for the rear passengers' use in the rear section of the console. Even the glove compartment is equipped with high-tech features. It is opened by fingerprint recognition ("one touch memory") rather than with a key. A sensor field the size of a stamp consisting of 65,000 electrodes scans the fingerprint and opens the lock after verification against memorised data. The advantage: whenever the owner has to let others drive the car -for example valet parking - valuables can safely be left in the glove compartment. Surrounding light strips from the instrument panel via the side door trim to the rear are central interior design elements in the Nuvolari quattro. LEDs are again used as the light source; the illuminated surface distributes their light homogenously, lighting without glare. This lighting emphasises the elegant interior ambience while optimising the ergonomic qualities of the night-time design. High power output, maximum torque, refinement and a fascinating sound - these are the basic characteristics of a perfect GT engine, with a fascination that lies both in its potent performance and its everyday usability. The 5.0-litre `biturbo' V10 has these features plus the `bite' that comes from ample torque in all engine speed ranges and a willingness to run up to high speeds that is second to none.This engine is a new design, capable of mobilising an impressive 441 kilowatts of power (600 bhp). FSI petrol direct injection, the advanced technology that is setting new standards and has already paved the way for historic victories in the 2001 and 2002 Le Mans 24-hour races and the American Le Mans Series, makes a decisive contribution to the engine's performance. Among the most impressive features of the Audi Nuvolari quattro's ten-cylinder `biturbo' FSI engine's are its willingness to rev freely and the vigorous power flow available at all engine speeds. It accelerates the Gran Turismo from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds and on to a maximum speed that has been governed to 250 km/h. The maximum torque of 750 Nm is available at an engine speed as low as 2,000 rpm and remains constant over a broad engine-speed range. All this results in powerful, not to say supreme, forward thrust, the ideal precondition for driving long distances in a sporting style and also when storming up winding mountain passes. Driving pleasure was of course one of the main requirements that the Nuvolari's chassis designers were asked to satisfy, because apart from having a powerful engine, GTs are expected to be extremely easy to handle and responsive.To meet these requirements, the Nuvolari quattro has an aluminium chassis with four-link front and controlled-toe trapezoidal link rear suspension, and both of these concepts lead to enthusiastic cornering ability and high steering precision. A racing-car brake system with large cross-drilled discs is appropriate to a car of this kind, and can be glimpsed through the 9-arm alloy wheels. The adaptive air suspension - 4-corner air springs with continuous damping control - is the first system of its kind in a GT that resolves the traditionally conflicting goals of excellent handling and comfortable shock absorption on long journeys. The lowered ride height at high speeds improves the Nuvolari quattro's aerodynamics. Three pre-defined ground clearance levels are available: normal, with a ground clearance of 100 mm; the "autobahn" level (from 160 km/h upwards) with a ground clearance of 90 mm and the raised level with a ground clearance of 110 mm, which is ideal for driving on bumpy roads up to a maximum speed of 40 km/h. Electronic control of the adaptive air suspension allows drivers to adjust the chassis characteristics and thus the driving dynamics to suit their own preferences in three modes - Automatic, Dynamic and Lift. Depending on the selected mode and the actual speed, the system automatically adjusts the damping characteristics and the car's ride height. In conjunction with the electronically controlled, continuously adaptive damping system, the air suspension provides a combination of highly dynamic driving characteristics and perfect driving comfort. Body acceleration, vertical movement of the four wheels and numerous other parameters such as the actual steering angle or the accelerator and brake pedal positions all influence the optimum degree of damping that is computed for every driving situation.If there is no need for increased damping, for example when driving straight ahead on good roads, the shock absorber settings remain in the comfort-oriented zone. Specific variation of the damping force at individual wheels eliminates body movements that could detract from the occupants' comfort. Size 265/720 R 560 PAX wheels (which corresponds to a visible rim diameter of 20.6 inches) improve control of the vehicle in the event of tyre pressure loss and, even with a flat tyre, guarantee mobility for a distance of up to 200 km at a maximum of 80 km/h. OUR TAKE ON THE AUDI NUVOLARI: The Nuvolari is the quintissential Audi vehicle. It encompasss all that Audi strives for: Timeless elegance, cutting edge technology, stunning looks, avant garde styling, quattro all wheel drive handling and power. We are absolutley impressed with the Audi Nuvolari as it stages itself to replace the S8 as the foremost flagship of Audi's lineup. Nuvolari, a vision of the future, now. Other Audi Vehicles you may be interested in: Audi A3, Audi Nuvolari, Audi Shooting Brake, Audi A5, Audi A6, Audi A8, Audi A4, Audi S4, Audi RS4, Audi TT, Audi Q7 RELATED ARTICLES, REVIEWS AND SITES:
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