The reversal of the weight spiral

The new Audi A6 is – depending on the version – up to 80 kilograms lighter than the predecessor model. Audi has thus broken the unwritten law that says that cars become heavier with each new model line.

It appeared to be a basic principle in the vehicle construction industry: every model gained in weight when it was reworked. This was because every little comfort or safety improvement triggered a full-blown weight spiral. More weight – for example on the body – makes it necessary to increase engine output in order to ensure the same driving characteristics. This in turn creates the need for a stronger gearbox and brakes as well as a larger tank – thus increasing the weight even more. The process then starts from the beginning again.

Audi’s response to this development was to take the first radical step in the other direction. Thanks to an Audi ultra-lightweight body that is significantly lighter in weight than the conventional structure, it was possible to completely reverse the weight spiral. Just as each additional gram of weight is multiplied due to the measures that then have to be taken, each gram less has the opposite effect: smaller engines and tanks, brakes and gearboxes.

The result is lighter vehicles with the identical driving characteristics and a crucial advantage – less fuel consumption.