Audi is this year, with lightweight plastic springs

Posted on 30-06-2014 at 21:49 by MrBrown – 41 Comments”

Light as a feather.

The innovative springs which will probably debut on the new Audi A4, are made of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) or glass-fibre reinforced plastic. With a weight of 1.6 kg per piece, the springs are 40% lighter than regular copies of 2.7 kg in the scales.

A total saving of 4.4 kg may not seem much, but it has, according to the brand of the technical lead a major influence on the comfort and drivability. That is because the springs for the half part of the unsprung mass. Also gets Audi the advantage that plastic can’t rust, John!

We were the weight-saving springs last year against the Audi TT ultra Quattro, which as a concept on the Austrian VAG-party was to be seen. But Audi should not pretend to the first, also the Renault Mégane R. S. 275 Trophy-R has springs of composite. A lot of ‘advantage through technology’, Audi has thus not only are they the first large-scale application.

The German brand has the feathers, moreover, are not self-developed. They are in the Italian feather expert Sogefi come from drawn, that the technique is just as ZF for a while in the house. The springs consist of glasvezeldraden with epoxy resin reinforced. The production requires 60% to 80% less energy and there need not be painted.

In addition to these weight-saving springs is also the regenerative hybrid-suspension attached to it. The suspension of the car promises the coming years, so an evolution, and that’s not just with Audi.