Audi Sportjet points way forward with new drivetrain

Audi used the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) at Detroit this week to debut its latest concept, the Sportjet. And while the compact good-looking five-door unveiled an evolution of the German marque's design language, the big news was under the skin -- a new longitudinal all-wheel-drive drivetrain and new seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox.

Though Audi's all originally featured longitudinal engines (ie: the engine's crank running parallel to the centreline of the car) in more recent times some models, such as the A3, TT and A4 have shared transverse engine installations developed in cooperation with their VW cousins.

The Sportjet features a new longitudinal all-wheel drive quattro powertrain based around the architecture of the existing 3.2-litre V6 powerplant with FSI direct fuel-injection and a new seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox.

The Roadjet is the first model to use the Direct Shift Gearbox in conjunction with a longitudinally installed engine and quattro permanent four-wheel drive. The new gearbox is "closely related" to the DSG already used in the A3 and TT and Golf GTI.

The switch to the longitudinal layout is believed to be in preparation for the all-new A4 -- due to debut in late 2006. Overseas pundits have suggested the car will feature a front/mid engine layout (where much of the engine is sited behind the front wheels) in an effort to endow the new generation Audi with more neutral and sporty handling.

The Sportjet gives some clues to the appearance of the new car. According to Audi it features a new four-link front suspension and self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension. It is unknown whether this set-up will be what find its way under the new generation volume seller.

The Sportjet also features variable damping shock absorbers and the new Audi dynamic steering rack-and-pinion steering concept with variable ratio for the first time.

The above assemblies combine with the engine management system and an advanced electronic package to produce 'Audi drive select'. According to Audi, this system enables the driver to "preselect several entirely independent vehicle characteristics at the push of a button." Three modes -- comfort, dynamic and sport -- alter the steering, damping and transmission response, as well as the engine characteristics.

Audi summarises the styling as a "four-door fastback saloon."

Dimensions are slightly up on that of the current A4 (overall length 4.7m versus 4.6, and a touch wider) but says Audi, the new car's height (1.55m, up 100mm) and wheelbase (2.85m, up 200mm) result in substantially more effective space for the occupants.

Safety is a another focus of the new car. It benefits from a new system of car-to-car communication based on data exchanges between vehicles moving in traffic and the ambient infrastructure, via the WLAN network. According to Audi, this technology opens up new horizons, enabling data on the traffic flow to be processed and route changes made to avoid congestion or even prevent accidents.

Also launched at Detroit was Audi's new S6 featuring a version of the Lamborghini-inspired V10 fitted to the recently released S8. The S6 will go on sale in Europe in the northern spring of 2006 (second quarter) in both sedan and Avant (wagon) versions.

The saloon is capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in 5.2sec (S6 Avant: 5.3sec) and the pair's top speed is electronically governed to 250km/h.

Audi says the S6 is expected to be launched in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2006. Pricing and specification details for Australian vehicles were unavailable at time of publish.