Worthersee Gallery #3: Audi Stand Shots from audi4ever

Though it’s been going on officially or unofficially for over a week, today marks the official opening of the Audi presence as well as other official displays from Volkswagen Group siblings, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen. Audi friend Manfred from the Austrian-based audi4ever.com was able to return to the center of Reifnitz in order to grab more photos of the official Audi presence.

The TT ultra quattro concept is but one car on a more extensive display that stars current performance models, current and historic Audi race cars and even models from Ducati. Here’s how Audi billed it ahead of the event.

With high performance, success and lightweight construction, Audi is presenting at the Wörthersee in the “Home of quattro” not only the TT ultra quattro concept but also four race cars and eight series-production models.

The highlights include the new Audi RS 6 Avant. The high-performance model from quattro GmbH offers more efficiency and greater performance with reduced weight. Thanks to ultra lightweight construction, the RS 6 Avant weighs just under 100 kilograms (220.46 lb) less. The reduced weight helps cut fuel consumption from 14.0 to 9.8 liters per 100 kilometers. With the V8 twin-turbocharged 4.0 TFSI developing 412 kW (560 hp) the power-to-weight ratio of the RS 6 Avant is 3.4 kg/hp. The same figure for the predecessor was 3.5 kg/hp, despite the V10 engine. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 3.9 seconds. If the customer wishes, the top speed can be increased to 305 km/h (189.52 mph).

In addition to the RS 6 Avant, there is also the new RS 7 Sportback. It embodies dynamism in its most stunning form. Its strong pulse also comes courtesy of the twin-turbocharged 4.0 TFSI V8. The output of 412 kW (560 hp) is on tap between 5,700 and 6,600 rpm. A constant 750 Nm (553.17 lb-ft) of torque are available between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm. In addition to the rocket-like propulsion, the sound is an important constituent of the driving experience: switchable flaps in the exhaust system make the engine sound even fuller at the push of a button or under strong acceleration. Audi also offers an optional sport exhaust system.

The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet impresses as a four-seater with soft top in a unique combination of elegance and power. Its 4.2 FSI, a high-revving V8 engine, outputs 331 kW (450 hp). It accelerates the high-performance sports car from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.9 seconds.

The Audi stand will also showcase the new Audi RS Q3 as the first RS model in the successful Q family. It is the fourth model that quattro GmbH will launch this year. An award-winning high-performance engine lies under the hood of the RS Q3 in the guise of the 2.5 TFSI engine, which boasts peak output of 228 kW (310 hp). Since 2010, an international panel of automotive journalists has named the five cylinder engine “International Engine of the Year” in its category three years in a row.

In 2012, Audi completely revamped the R8 family. The new flagship model, the R8 V10 plus, awaits fans. It develops 404 kW (550 hp) and has a peak torque of 540 Nm (398.28 lb-ft) at 6,500 rpm. The R8 V10 plus with the S tronic accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.5 seconds and only at 317 km/h (196.97 mph) does the rolling resistance become too much for the forward momentum.

In a nutshell, quattro GmbH has stood for high-performance and high-tech for 30 years: fascination quattro. With this anniversary, the focus in on the rallies in the 80s through which the Audi quattro drive has become the world’s most famous all-wheel drive system. Audi has brought a key milestone of this history to the GTI gathering at the Wörthersee: the Audi Sport quattro S1. It made its World Championship debut in 1985 at the Argentine Rally. Walter Röhrl with co-driver Christian Geistdörfer clinched the first overall victory in an S1 at the San Remo Rally in Italy in October of the same year. The Sport quattro S1 on show was used with Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer onboard at the Monte Carlo Rally in January 1986.

The Audi S3 is another protagonist at the GTI gathering on the Wörthersee. Its outstanding characteristics include everyday suitability, impressive power, and groundbreaking efficiency. It manages to pull off this feat thanks to the all-new 2.0 TFSI engine which develops 300 hp and 380 Nm (280.27 lb-ft) of torque.

The DTM season gets underway on the Hockenheimring on May 5. Eight RS 5 DTM cars will be lining up on the starting grid for Audi this year. Fans will be able to experience the race cars up close on the Audi stand at the Wörthersee. “Motorsport is part of the Audi DNA and a test laboratory for series production,” says Wolfgang Dürheimer, Board Member for Technical Development at AUDI AG.

In 2012 the Audi R8 LMS ultra was the race car to beat. In four years it has scooped 18 championships. Fans will also be able to see it in Reifnitz.

Another race car, the victorious R18 e-tron quattro, sits alongside the TT ultra quattro concept on the Audi stage. Last year it became the first hybrid race car to win the legendary Le Mans 24-Hours and recently clocked up another historic success for Audi at the 12-Hour Race in Sebring.

Audi fans can look forward to another special attraction at the Wörthersee: The Ducati Superbike 1199 Panigale R graces the stand as special guest. Inspired by the race track, the new queen of Ducati’s superbike family offers outstanding performance and cutting-edge technology. In 2012 the sports motorcycle manufacturer Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of AUDI AG.