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The Father and Daughter racers in the Vios Challenge

When a father has a passion for a sport, it often gets picked up by his children too and as they grow up, they learn the skills from him and can one day also become stars. In many cases, it’s often the boys who get the father’s encouragement and support but in Eddie Lew’s case, it’s his daughter and clearly, he believes that the sport is not restricted to just males.

So at this weekend’s Season 5 opening round of the Vios Challenge one-make race series (part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival) at the Sepang International Circuit, we have the presence of a father and daughter in the racing. It is probably the first such pair in Malaysian motorsports and while they are not racing directly against each other (in the same class) or even on the same team, perhaps one day that might happen.

Exposed to racing since 3 years old
Eddie’s daughter is Adele, 20, who’s been tagging along with him and his friends to races since she was 3 years old. “He used to compete a lot at the then Pasir Gudang Circuit (Johor Circuit), and I’ve been following him to all his races ever since, from the Malaysia Championship Series and the MSF Series to the Sepang 1000km Endurance Race,” Adele said, revealing that she started driving fun karts only last year and just managed to do it for a month before the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into force.

She is currently an undergraduate at one of the private institutions of higher learning in Kuala Lumpur and her father resides in Johor. So Adele’s training sessions have since gone online with the two spending hours communicating. “Believe me, our calls can last for hours with super long conversations on racing!” she revealed.

“When we’re together, he makes me drive a manual transmission car and we spend time on the racing simulator where he teaches me to become familiar with the many racing lines and braking points,” added Adele.

GR Young Talent Development Program
While her father, an accomplished racing veteran with a history that dates back to the early 90s, inspires her, Adele has also been given an opportunity to develop her racing skills through the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia/GR Young Talent Development Program. She is among the six young Malaysians who make up the second batch of the program. Candidates selected are between the ages of 16 and 20 who are keen to transition from karting and simulator racing to real-world saloon car racing. It is part of UMW Toyota Motor’s initiative to provide young drivers with a platform to climb the motorsports ladder, and to bring new blood into the sport.

The GR Young Talent Development Program provides intensive training just like what professional racing drivers go through. Simulator time is an important activity and top Malaysian drivers provide valuable guidance.

Adele and the other 5 rookies have undergone systematic training which covers core aspects of becoming a professional driver. From top drivers like Alex Yoong, Tengku Djan Ley and Mark Darwin, they learn racecraft and how to prepare themselves in fitness, nutrition and even psychologically. It is quite an intensive program and when they have graduated, they are given opportunities to race in the Vios Challenge and other events, as Adele will be doing this year.

“Compared to the others, I am a real beginner with limited experience and that means I have to put in twice the effort. We’ll see how things go as the season progresses, but I’d really like to get on to the podium and make my Dad proud. From several sessions on the track with the Vios racing car and being guided by several different coaches – some of whom were last year’s Rookie Class racers – I’ve learnt a lot especially in mentally preparing myself. And the car is also very easy to drive,” she said.

Not racing directly against Dad – yet
Technically, Adele will be competing in the Rookie Class (for the graduates of the program) while her father is in the Super Sporting Class for veteran and professional drivers. However, father and daughter will be in the same race as the two classes run together. So who knows – Dad might just see his daughter’s car appearing in his mirrors one day!

“This is a very special moment for the both of us. In order for me to be able to race my father shows just how long he has been in motorsport. This is going to be a whole new experience for the two of us and my dad is equally very excited. He is definitely the best mentor I could have ever hoped for to prepare for my first ever race weekend,” said Adele.

Racing fans and enthusiasts have been able to catch the weekend’s action and stage performances by local celebrities streamed live on the UMW Toyota Motor website at www.toyota.com.my and on the Toyota Malaysia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook pages

UMW Toyota Motor starts GAZOO Racing Young Talent Development Program

F1/Round 1: Preview and Starting Grid for 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix

Race starts at 6 pm in Bahrain/11 pm in Malaysia

The 2022 Formula 1 World Championship starts a new season this weekend in Bahrain which, as in 2021, was the venue for the season-opener and replaced Australia (which had complications due to its pandemic restrictions and requirements). This is the 18^th time Bahrain has hosted a round of F1 and has done so every year since 2004, except in 2011.

Although the last race at the Bahrain International Circuit was at the end of March last year, the drivers have fresher memories of the track as they had test sessions there just last month. The circuit at Sakhir is located in the middle of the desert (on what was formerly a camel farm) and has no less than 1,120 palm trees around the site. But while it may be located in a desert, sand doesn’t present much of an issue for the teams and cars, and the track surface cleans up quickly.

The majority of the F1 races held in Bahrain have used the 5.412-km Grand Prix layout, but on one occasion in 2010, the 6.299-km Endurance layout was used. It was not a popular switch as drivers found that the additional corners did not offer passing opportunities, so the GP circuit was used thereafter up till today.

The Bahrain Grand Prix is a twilight race, starting at sunset and finishing after dark when 495 lighting posts are switched on to bring daylight onto the track. Despite the new F1 weekend format, FP1 and FP3 still take place in daylight, while FP2.and qualifying take place in the evening. FP2 is therefore a crucial session for all the teams as it is the one chance to run the car in similar conditions to those experienced in qualifying and the 57-lap race.

Because of the various changes to the weekend format, there is less time for mechanics to work on the cars and less engineering time, due to the earlier curfew. So, more emphasis is put on hitting the ground running with good preparation and simulation work, hence more emphasis being on the pre-weekend preparations.

By now, racing fans will know that this year sees major changes in technical regulations to the extent that even wheel sizes have been increased. So this first round will be very interesting, and everyone will be watching to see how the changes affect performance. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes-AMG team boss, expects the performance of the cars through the corners will change. “For example, we expect the cars to take Turn 4 in Bahrain at 115 km/h in 2022, compared to 135 km/h last year. Similarly, a high-speed corner like Turn 12 will now be taken at 240 km/h, compared to 265 km/h,” he said.

“The teams had the chance get familiar with the 2022 18-inch tyre range, having spent a total of 6 days of testing with all the compounds, although not always in representative conditions. We know from the past that track temperatures can play an important role in Bahrain, affecting tyre degradation, and that’s something we noticed at the recent test as well. During the race temperatures should be milder compared to FP1 and FP3, so the teams will have to focus on their data from FP2 and qualifying. It’s still hard to predict the race strategy as, in the past, Bahrain has been a multi-stop race, but it will be interesting to see if anyone will try something different this year,” said Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director.

The official tyre-supplier has chosen the hardest compounds in the new low-profile range. Removing the requirement for the top ten to start the race on their Q2 rubber will, however, alter the established pattern in which the teams choose their tyres during the weekend.

The No. 5 Aston Martin won’t be in the race and instead, you’ll see No. 27 which is the number for Nico Hulkenberg. He takes over Sebastian Vettel’s place as the German driver tested positive for COVID-19.

*Zhou GuanYu, the first F1 driver from China, will be racing for Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN, alongside Valtteri Bottas.*

2022 sees former driver Kevin Magnussen returning to take Nikita Mazepin’s place in the Haas F1 team, while Thai-British Alexander Albon gets another go at F1 with Williams Racing, along Nicholas Latifi. Joining Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN is Zhou GuanYu who is the first F1 driver from China, and he will partner Valtteri Bottas who has moved over from the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Team. You’ll notice Nico Hulkenberg listed with the Aston Martin Aramco COGNIZANT Team and that’s because Sebastian Vettel cannot take part due to being tested positive for COVID-19.

F1 tyres to go from 13 inches to 18 inches in 2022 (w/VIDEO)

Vios Challenge: Season 5 starts with youngsters dominating two classes

Season 5 of the Vios Challenge, the one-make series that is part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival (TGR Festival), got off to a hot and exciting start with the younger drivers firing an early warning salvo by dominating the top two classes – the Super Sporting Class and Sporting Class.

In the Super Sporting Class for veteran and professional drivers, 17-year old Hayden Haikal catapulted himself from being fastest in qualifying to winning the race while, in the Sporting Class for amateurs, 22-year old Naquib Azlan shot to victory in only his second year of competitive racing after making a transition from simulator racing.

Incidentally, Naquib’s younger brother, 20-year old Nabil, who is also making his debut in the Rookie Class (competing in a real saloon car race for the very first time) also won his class for new drivers under GAZOO Racing’s Young Driver Development Program.

Super Sporting Class
In the Super Sporting Class, Hayden won a closely-fought race, finishing just half a second ahead of Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang with Laser Motor Racing’s Eddie Liew coming in third. The teenager had led an Axle Motorsports 1-2 in the opening lap of the race with team mate and senior driver Boy Wong in tow before being passed in the second lap by both Wong and Prima Pearl Auto’s Mitchell Cheah to drop into third place.

The battle that ensued at the front between Wong and Cheah, however, got the better of the two drivers who took one another out of contention in Lap 6 after a miscalculated overtaking manoeuvre. That allowed Hayden to regain the lead, with Ang and Liew also becoming the beneficiaries of the misfortunes up front. The race was tight between Hayden and Ang right to the chequered flag, with both drivers trying their best to get to it first.

Sporting Class
In the Sporting Class, Naquib won his class with a comfortable 15-second margin ahead of S&D Tama Motorsports’ Tom Goh, while another youngster 19–year old Bradley Benedict Anthony of Crestmax Motorsport followed them home in third place. Moving up to the Sporting Class after winning last year’s Rookie Class, Naquib had clocked the fastest time in qualifying but both he and Bradley were penalized for a technical infringement which dropped them to fifth and sixth on the starting grid. That however, proved not to be a big enough setback as they were able to make their way up the leaderboard.

“I was certainly looking forward to come back to race this season. I really enjoyed racing last year in the Rookie Class and I am now looking forward to competing against much more experienced drivers. Thankfully, Axle Motorsports decided to field a team this season and to move from virtual racing into the real world. Therefore I am very thankful to them for this opportunity and I want to make the most of it,” said Naquib.

On why he feels younger drivers in the series are beginning to propel themselves to the front of the field, he said: “We, the younger generation of drivers, are very lucky and fortunate that we have facilities that the senior or veteran drivers did not have back in their days. In my view, they had to work much harder to get to where they are now. We have the benefit of things like simulator racing because it helps us to prepare better and to accelerate our learning curve. We also have the benefit of having guidance from these more experienced drivers in the sport because they have spent many more years on track.

“To be honest, I never expected anything making the transition from simulator to real world racing. I do have a lot of self-belief and self-confidence, but I never knew I could do it until I got onto the track last season,” he added.

That sentiment is shared by Bradley adding that investing in training has been one of the important elements of his growth. “Being young, I am very passionate about racing and I would like to believe that we young drivers put in the extra time and effort into practice and training. For instance, my preparation for Season 5 involved a lot of training to prepare myself physically and mentally before coming to the track’” he said.

“My goal when I first joined the series was to finish the race or to get into the top 10. I did not set high expectations because it was my first time racing a saloon car, but the learning curve has just been phenomenal and really valuable,” added Bradley.Rookie Class

Rookie Class
In the Rookie Class, Nabil drove to his first ever saloon car race victory after making a transition from simulator racing. Finishing second and third were karters Sharique Zulqarinain and Muhammad Hamdany Abdul Hamid, respectively. Finishing fourth was 20-year old and the only female in the group, Adele Liew, while in fifth was another karter Muizz Musyaffa.

“I’m surprised how a lot of the things I’ve done in simulator racing can be applied to real world racing and I was very happy with my racecraft in this first race. I wanted to pace myself and try to get as close as I could to the other drivers in the Super Sporting Class (both the Super Sporting and Rookie Classes start together) but just enough to steer clear of any incidents,” said Nabil. “The most difficult part with real racing is dealing with the high temperature in car and this is something I will need to focus more on moving forward.”

Promotional Class
In the popular Promotional Class for celebrities, actor Zizan Razak did not leave anything to chance this year as he shot off from pole position to finish more than 15 seconds clear of defending Promotional Class champion and fellow actor, Shukri Yahaya. In third place was presenter Ahirine Ahirudin who is also an accomplished motorcycle rider.

Singer Nabila Razali had been in contention for fourth place until a mistake sent her into the gravel at the very last lap. That promoted presenter/comedian Nabil Ahmad into fourth, with singer Wany Hasrita, actress Janna Nick, presenter Ain Edruce in fifth, sixth and seventh positions, respectively.

Today’s racing is just half of the first round of Season 5 and the second series of races will run tomorrow (Sunday, March 20) at the Sepang International Circuit. Racing fans and enthusiasts can catch all the action and stage performances by local celebrities streamed live on the UMW Toyota Motor website at www.toyota.com.my and on the Toyota Malaysia and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Malaysia Facebook pages..

The Father and Daughter racers in the Vios Challenge

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Elegance and R-Line 4MOTION

When the second generation of the Volkswagen Tiguan was launched around 6 years ago, there were two body versions – short wheelbase with 2-row seating and long wheelbase with 3-row seating. Initially, it was thought that the 3-row version was for China where extended bodies are preferred but it turned out that the longer Tiguan, known as the Tiguan Allspace, is offered globally as well.

The Tiguan Allspace has become a success story for Volkswagen as around 1.5 million units were sold worldwide, and this version accounts for 55% of all Tiguan production. With SUVs being popular, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) chose the model to add to its locally-assembled range with the completely knocked-down (CKD) kits coming from the global production hub in Mexico.

With the addition of the Allspace version, VPCM decided to stop assembling the 2-row version and now has two offerings – the Tiguan Allspace Elegance and R-Line 4MOTION. Both have been updated for 2022 with cosmetic changes and upgrades within. They are priced at RM174,745.68 and RM219,443.59, respectively, without insurance and with full exemption of sales tax (until June 30, 2022).

The overall form of the Tiguan Allspace remains recognizable but up front is a redesigned grille flanked by slimmer headlamps. The headlamps are LED units and said to have wider light distribution to better illuminate the sides of the road. The headlamps also include an all-weather light system and dynamic cornering function.

Like the front, the rear lights also use LEDs, with dynamic turn indicators typically found on premium models these days. The taillight cluster with a distinctive lighting signature puts on an interesting ‘show’ (Click-clack effect) when braking.

Other changes include redesigned bumpers and the signature LED illuminated light strip. Sharp-eyed observers will also notice that the brand logo is new, the result of what was said to be one of the world’s largest rebranding campaigns carried out in 2019 and 2020. The logo is reduced to its essential elements and has a new design that is flat and two-dimensional.

Plush and functional space for 7
Inside the new Tiguan Allspace is a plush and functional interior for 7 persons. Seats are all wrapped in Vienna leather with the addition of active climate 12-way adjustable seats at the front. The 11.7-inch Digital Cockpit has been improved and offers customizable displays on a TFT colour panel with resolution comparable to a premium smartphone.

The driver can operate and manage numerous functions from the multifunction sports steering wheel which has haptic-touch controls (needs a bit of getting used to). However, for more intuitive operation, there are upgrade knobs and buttons on the dashboard to adjust the air-conditioning systems. The shifter panel display has also been redesigned and gear positions are shown on the interface with illumination to highlight which gear is engaged.

Around the cabin, 30-colour ambient lighting is provided with light strips extending across the doors, creating a contemporary and personalised atmosphere to suit any driving modes, occasions, or moods. Newly added is the Easy Open and Easy Close feature that enables handsfree opening and delayed closing of the tailgate. The cargo volume can be expanded to 1,775 litres by folding down the rear backrests.

The infotainment system has also been upgraded to a new generation 9.2-inch Discover Pro unit. It now supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and includes a navigation system as well as accepts voice commands. For the Tiguan Allspace R-Line, there is an additional Off-road display to provide information when this driving mode is selected. Also exclusively for the R-Line 4MOTION is the premium Harman Kardon 480W audio system with 10 speakers.

2-litre and 1.4-litre powertrains maintained
Technically, the powertrains are unchanged with the Elegance version having a 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged engine and 6-speed DSG (150 ps/250 Nm) and only front-wheel drive, while the R-Line 4MOTION uses the 2-litre TSI turbocharged engine and 7-speed DSG (220 ps/350 Nm). Power is transferred to all four wheels via the all-wheel drive system.

*1.4-litre TSI turbocharged engine for Tiguan Allspace Elegance*

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace — *2.0-litre TSI turbocharged engine for Tiguan Allspace R-Line 4MOTION.*

The 4MOTION all-wheel drive system distributes power between front and rear axles on an infinitely variable basis. continuously adjusted to actual driving conditions. Mostly, it would be towards the front wheels but in slippery conditions, there will also be distribution towards the rear wheels for stability and grip.

The Tiguan comes with Dynamic Chassis Control for more personalised settings for driving behaviour, and there are 4 additional modes as part of the 4MOTION system – On-road, Off-road, Off-road Expert, and Snow. It is also fitted with progressive steering for sharper and more precise maneuvering.

Volkswagen pays a lot of attention to safety and would be right up there with other global brands. But unusually, the Tiguan doesn’t seem to have an integrated active system package that usually includes autonomous emergency braking. It does, however, come with a Lane Assist system which helps to keep the SUV within its lane. If it starts to move out of the lane, a gentle steering force will guide it back.

Nevertheless, all the other usual active safety systems like ABS, and stability control which works with the advanced Electronic Differential Lock (XDS). 6 airbags are also installed in the front and sides of the cabin and ISOFIX childseat points are provided in the front passenger’s seat as well as the rear seats.

The new Tiguans are now in authorized Volkswagen showrooms which have specific test-drive events this weekend. For those who do buy one, there’s a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty, free scheduled maintenance for the first 3 years as well as complimentary roadside assistance for the first 5 years.

“SUVs are increasingly popular among Malaysians, and we see an opportunity for us to fill the gap in providing premium SUVs for the discerning. What we have in the Tiguan Allspace is an all-rounder that has more to give – more space, more performance, more value,” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM.

To know more about the new Tiguan Allspace or to locate a showroom, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.

Review: 5 Reasons You Should Get The VW Tiguan Allspace R-Line

Aston Martin V12 Vantage ‘Final Edition’

15 years ago, Aston Martin revealed a new car built around the premise of fitting the most compact and driver-focussed model with the largest and most potent series production engine. It was the V12 Vantage RS Concept that would go into production and through successive version that have formed an iconic bloodline.

This lineage is now nearing its end and it ‘goes out on the highest of highs’, as Aston Martin’s CEO, Tobias Moers, says with the fastest, fiercest and most dynamically accomplished version of them all. While other manufacturers present ‘First Editions’ of their new models, Aston Martin is presenting the ‘Final Edition’ of the V12 Vantage. There will never be a car like it again.

Production of the V12 Vantage is strictly limited to 333 units, all of which have already been taken right after the new V12 Vantage was confirmed in December last year. As with many such limited editions, the number who want it exceeds the supply so there is a register of interest for hopefuls who wait for someone to change their mind. The first customers will get their cars before June this year.

The engine is the heart of every Aston Martin but never has it been more so than in this car which is the fastest and most powerful Vantage ever built. The quad-cam 60-degree 5.2-litre V12 develops 700 ps at 6,500 rpm and 753 Nm, fully available between 1,800 rpm and 6,000 rpm. That can send the V12 Vantage from standstill to almost 100 km/h in around 3.4 seconds, and on to a top speed claimed to be 320 km/h.

While the muscular engine provides the strong propulsion, extensive weight-saving measures have also brought the overall weight down so that it has a power-to-weight ratio of 390 ps per ton, or more than 20% compared to the V8-powered Vantage.

The power flows through a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission and mechanical Limited-Slip Differential mounted at the rear of the car. Unique transmission calibration enhances shift speeds and driver interaction, with learnings taken from the V12 Speedster and Vantage F1 Edition. This specially calibrated software delivers a level of shift refinement and usability which is beyond that seen on dual clutch gearboxes.

The weight-saving measures include a carbonfibre front bumper, clamshell bonnet, front fenders and side sills, composite rear bumper and decklid, and a special centre-mounted twin-exit exhaust system. Tuned to ensure the V12 Vantage has a voice to match its looks and performance, this new exhaust system is made from lightweight 1 mm stainless-steel, saving some 7.2 kgs compared with the system fitted to the Vantage. Even the battery is a specially sourced lightweight unit.

To complement the engine performance and character is the dynamic driving experience, improved in this last V12 Vantage. It comes with a new adaptive damping suspension system including new anti-roll bars, bushes, and spring and damper assemblies. Suspension spring rates have been increased by 50% at the front and 40% at the rear, combined with top mount stiffness increasing by 13% and new anti-roll bars are 5% stiffer at the front and 41% softer at the rear. To maintain comfort for the driver, a secondary tender spring has been introduced to the rear.

Body stiffness has also been increased with additional front and rear sheer panels, a rear suspension tower strut brace and fuel tank bracing, increasing body stiffness by 8% and lateral stiffness by 6.7%, giving the optimum platform stiffness for superior driving dynamics.

For stopping power, Aston Martin has installed its Carbon Ceramic Braking system as standard, saving 23 kgs in weight. This comes with 410 mm x 38 mm discs with 6-piston calipers at the front, and 360 mm x 32 mm discs paired with 4-piston calipers at the rear. The CCB discs maintain consistent braking performance at high temperatures and have been engineered to resist brake fade at very high temperatures.

Moving to the interior, the V12 Vantage retains the instantly recognisable layout of the current Vantage, whilst signifying its halo positioning with a Sports Plus Seat trimmed in full semi-aniline leather featuring ‘Wings’ quilt and perforation pattern as standard.

There is also a new carbonfibre performance seat with exposed twill carbonfibre shell and manual 6-way adjustment available as an option, offering a supportive seat design for those enhanced driving dynamics and a distinct design character. This is an Aston Martin patented design inspired by motorsport, optimised to save 7.3 kgs without compromising comfort.

Woven leather or Alcantara seat inserts, trim inlays and the anodised rotary dials found in the centre console can coloured in a way to match or contrast with the exterior body or graphic colour, providing a more subtle injection of colour inside the cabin. With so many design combinations available, it would not be a surprise to see no two cars the same.

Aston Martin provides F1 Safety and Medical Cars again for 12 races in 2022

A6 Avant e-tron concept previews Audi’s future electric stationwagon

Like many other carmakers, Audi too has firm plans on electrifying its range and within this decade, it will have a range of models running only on electric power. The models will come under the ‘e-tron’ umbrella which is the name Audi uses for its battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Some are already in the market, the first having been launched in 2018, and more are on the way.

Not just a design exercise
The A6 Avant e-tron concept shows what a future BEV stationwagon will be like and Audi says it is not just a simple design exercise. Its lines and proportions preview future Audi production models which Premium Platform Electric (PPE) platform developed jointly with Porsche. The lines are a consistent development in Audi’s contemporary formal language, and significant elements like the closed Singleframe and the continuous strip of lights in the rear link it to the other e-tron Audis.

The concept car appears monolithic, as if from a single mould – particularly when viewed from the side. The gently backward sloping roof arch with the slanted D-pillar is a typical feature of Avant window design; the D-pillar rises from the stable base of the vehicle’s back end in an especially streamlined manner. The eye-catching quattro wheel arches effectively accentuate the width of the body and are simultaneously integrated organically into the side surfaces.

The wheel arches are connected by the specially sculpted battery area above the rocker panel, which is highlighted with a black inlay – a design element that is now a hallmark of the Audi’s fleet of BEVs. Also typical of e-tron models are the sleek, camera-based virtual exterior mirrors at the base of the A-pillar.

Advanced lighting units
The lighting units at the front and rear are technologically advanced. Digital Matrix LED and digital OLED technology make it possible to achieve maximum brightness and a wide range of features even with a minimal surface area while, at the same time, offering customizable light signatures.

Three small, high-resolution LED projectors are built into each side of the body, transforming the ground beneath them into a stage when the doors are opened – small, extended, dynamic lighting effects greet the occupants with messages in their own language. The projectors also display warning symbols on the ground to warn a bike rider that the car door is about to open, for example.

Another four high-resolution LED projectors – inconspicuously integrated into the corners of the vehicle – generate turn signal projections. The design of these projections can be modified to address different markets and approval regions as required.

The Digital Matrix LED front headlights deliver almost cinematic quality. If, for example, the car is parked in front of a wall during a break to recharge the battery, the driver and passengers can pass the time playing a video game projected onto it. Instead of on a small screen in the cockpit, they’ll see their current game’s virtual landscapes projected onto the wall in XXL format – and all this via the Digital Matrix LED headlights.

The rear end of the concept car features a new generation of digital OLED elements that, as a continuous strip of lights, act as a display for various digital light signatures and even dynamic lighting displays. The 3-dimensional architecture of the digital OLED elements – adapted to the shape of the body – makes it possible to perfectly integrate the night design into the overall look. This makes it possible to experience the dynamic light show not only in two dimensions – as was previously the case – but with an impressive, 3D spatial effect.

Cd of 0.22
Aerodynamics have always played a key role in Audi’s designs. The cd value of the 100 (C3) sedan at 0.30 was the lowest in its day back in the early 1980s. Now the electrically-powered Avant e-tron concept has a value of 0.22, said to be unprecedented in the electrified C-segment. This means greatly lowered aerodynamic drag, which initially translates into lower energy consumption to help extend range.

As this is a concept car, performance numbers quoted can be taken as targets: 700 kms of range with an 800V system, with 2 electric motors are capable of delivering 350 kW (469 ps) of total output and 800 Nm of torque to go from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds.

High degree of variability inside
The Avant concept has the high degree of variability that has been a hallmark of this line of models since 1977. ‘Avant’ is a term derived from avant-garde and a 1995 Audi ad slogan. Measuring almost 5 metres in length and almost 2 metres in width, the A6 Avant e-tron is certainly a large and long car. It will not only provide comfortable accommodation but also take lots of cargo, just like the other Avant models past and present.

Audi grandsphere concept shows Audi’s future electric flagship and technology

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