Zell am See

Audijevi vozniki navdušili gledalce GP Ledene dirke

Spektakularno drsenje po snegu in ledu: na drugi GP Ledeni dirki v avstrijskem Zell am Seeju sta voznika Formule E Daniel Abt in DTM prvak René Rast s svojima Audijema nastopila na spolzkem terenu. Naši predstavi sta se pridružila tudi svetovni prvak v rallyu iz leta 1984, Stig Blomquist, in trikratni zmagovalec Le Mansa, Benoît Tréluyer.

27.02.2020 Avtor: Audi Team  Fotografije: Arhiv Audi

Dirkalni avtomobil Audi, parkiran na snegu. V ozadju močno sonce

Tam je bila tudi Hildegard Wortmann, članica uprave Audija za področji marketinga in prodaje, ki je za nekaj hitrih krogov prisedla k Rastu in Blomquistu. »Ta izkušnja je name naredila zelo velik vtis,« je dejala. »Čudovito je bilo videti navdušenje številnih navijačev na dirkališču nad dogodkom, ki je povezal zgodovino, sedanjost in prihodnost motošporta.«

Na tradicionalni ledeni dirki v Zell am Seeju, ki so jo lani ponovno obudili po 45 letih, so Audijevi vozniki gledalcem priredili vznemirljivo predstavo. Daniel Abt je s svojim Audijem e-tronom FE06 FIA Formula E naredil nekaj spektakularnih krogov v snegu in z vrvjo (kot se za skijoring spodobi) vlekel smučarskega asa prostega sloga, Benedikta Mayrja. »Bene je profesionalni smučar, jaz pa vozim dirkalne avtomobile, pa se nama je porodila ideja, da to nekako združiva,« je povedal Abt. »Ta dogodek, na katerem nastopajo dirkalniki različnih modelov in obdobij, je postal odlična zabava za vse ljubitelje avtomobilizma. Vozniki se lahko ves dan družimo brez pritiska tekmovalnosti, navijači pa so deležni čudovite predstave.«

“We only create things that can become real in some form. The technology has to exist to make the concept feasible.”

The Pop.Up Next concept doesn’t herald a flying car per se, but a self-driving, self-flying, fully autonomous, electric-powered taxi. It’s designed to operate on a multi-mode principle. Two passengers sit in a capsule, which, for driving purposes, is attached to a four-wheel ground module that is also electric-powered and fully autonomous. For flight mode, the capsule is autonomously detached from the ground module, then attached to an eight-rotor air module or drone capable of vertical take-off.

Starejši model Audi športnega avtomobila, med vožnjo na snegu. V ozadju nekaj dreves in zasnežene gore

Zaradi težkih pogojev blizu ledišča si je dvakratni DTM prvak René Rast v svojem Audiju RS 5 DTM #33 delil volan s Francozom Benoîtom Tréluyerjem. Ker je imel dirkalnik lani slabši oprijem, so mu letos montirali 12 centimetrov ožja platišča in tanjše gume z žebljički. »Potem, ko smo avto s posebnimi gumami prilagodili mehki in globoki podlagi, je moja vožnja po snegu navdušila navijače,« je dejal Rast.

 

 

 

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On board with Angus

“The aeronautical-inspired seatsfeature netting that adjusts to each passenger’s shape.”

The concept certainly appears cool and suitably futuristic, both from outside and inside the ultra-minimalist cabin. My details and my ‘journey’ have already been pre-registered on an app on my smartphone and, as I settle into the seat, I’m recognised and welcomed aboard by PIA, my speaking Personal Intelligent Assistant. The seats certainly feel comfortable, and, currently, there’s sufficient space behind them to hold a couple of small bags, although it’s possible the flying taxi will be smaller in size when it reaches production. The ‘dashboard’ in front of me is one large screen that incorporates augmented-reality technology and enables me to highlight icons simply by moving my eyes


By pressing on a small touchpad mounted between the seats, I can then choose the ambient-lighting theme I desire, and the type of music I wish to listen to through the speakers built into the headrests. Naturally, there is plenty of glass area to provide occupants with a fine view as they soar over the city, although the floor below my feet is not transparent – and deliberately so, as Nicolas points out: ‘We wanted to create an open environment that enables passengers to enjoy the experience, but we also wanted to ensure they felt safe and weren’t frightened.’

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Audijev dirkač, slikan pred svojim vozilom. V ozadju veliko gledalcev na snegu

Piko na i sta našemu spektaklu na ledu dodali dve legendi: Audijev tovarniški voznik in svetovni prvak v rallyju leta 1984, Stig Blomquist in njegov Audi Sport quattro. Za volan klasike se je usedel tudi Benoît Tréluyer: svetovni prvak v FIA vzdržljivostnem rallyju iz leta 2012 je v sklopu skijoring dogodka z old-timerjem DKW F91 na vrvi vlekel svetovnega prvaka v slalomu iz leta 1987, Franka Wörndla, ki je stal na smučeh Willyja Bognerja z olimpijade leta 1960.
One of the big problems we’ll have is acceptance.

Massimo Martinotti, head of mobility solutions, Italdesign

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The journey is the reward

The company has already conducted a flight in public, at Drone Week in Amsterdam last year – but using a 1:4 scale model. The flight module accurately placed a passenger capsule on the ground module, which then drove from the test grounds autonomously. This proved the effectiveness of the Airbus coupling system and its locking and latching functionality. The air module currently rests on legs to make docking easier, but it’s envisaged that such legs would not be required by the time the concept reaches production.

To make the project with full-sized versions viable, more powerful batteries than those that exist today would be required, and Airbus is currently working on developing such technology. Noise is another issue, and reduction of the high-pitched whirring familiar to anyone who has witnessed even a small drone in flight is being sought. Italdesign is working with Audi to develop battery and electric-motor technology for the ground module – an area in which Audi’s engineers have already proven highly competent, as the recent launch of the e-tron SUV testifies. Therefor an Audi engineer is also based with the Italdesign team in Italy.

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“It’ll take a while for the drones to arrive in great numbers – maybe by 2030.”

So, let’s assume that the technology can be developed to make the flying taxi operate safely, all legislative issues can be successfully resolved, and the public is happy not only to travel in such a vehicle but also to live in a city with them flying overhead. How might it all work in practice, and by when might it happen? ‘It’ll take a while for the drones to arrive in great numbers – maybe by 2030,’ explains Massimo. ‘We estimate that there could be 200,000 to 300,000 of them in operation all over the world by then, and several thousand could be deployed in a city like London. We envisage that, to start with, they’d operate in strict air corridors only, perhaps flying from the airport and landing on a tower downtown. But, in the long term, it may be possible to open up the sky and give them more freedom.’


While the current model is being designed to have a short, cross-city range, Massimo surmises that, as technology advances, it may even be possible for longer journeys to be undertaken. Massimo however is convinced the flying taxi will become a reality and is clearly very much looking forward to taking a flight in it. ‘After all,’ he adds with a smile, ‘humankind has always had the dream of taking to the sky, right back to the time of Leonardo da Vinci and his flying machines.’

 

 

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Dirkalno vozilo Audi, ki na snežni progi vleče smučarja. V ozadju gledalci, ki spremljajo dirko
Star automobil Audi, ni na snežni progi vleče smučarja. V ozadji gledalci prireditve

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