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| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | October 1983; 41 years ago (1983-10), inNeckarsulm, Germany[1][2] |
| Headquarters | Neckarsulm |
Number of locations | one 3,500 m2 site at Neckarsulm |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | High-performanceluxuryautomobiles,[2] wheels andsuspension components, specialist body styling parts, automotive consumer goods |
| Services | Automotive design, testing,production, research and development |
 €220 million(2004) | |
Number of employees | 580 (plus 250 additional R8 employees)(2009)[1][2] |
| Parent | Audi |
| Subsidiaries | Volkswagen R GmbH Volkswagen Individual GmbH |
| Website | audi.com/audisport |
Audi Sport GmbH, formerly known asquattro GmbH,[3] is the high-performance car manufacturing subsidiary ofAudi,[1][4][5][6] itself a subsidiary of the greaterVolkswagen Group.
Founded in October 1983 as quattro GmbH, it primarily specializes in producing high-performance Audi cars[2] and components, along with purchaser specifiedcustomizations.[1] The company's former name was ahomage to Audi's originalfour-wheel driverally-inspired road car—theAudi Quattro. In 2016, the company was renamed Audi Sport GmbH.[7]
The division's operations are located in a 3,500square metres (37,670 sq ft) site atNeckarsulm,[4] nearStuttgart, in theGerman State ofBaden-Württemberg. Development and manufacturingfactories[2] are based within a larger 10,700 square metres (115,170 sq ft) site of the now defunct German automotive makerNSU Motorenwerke AG.
Its core products include theAudi RS3, theAudi RS6 and theAudi RS7 Sportback. Furthermore, it does not sell itsautomobiles directly to the public via franchised outlets under its ownbrand name; instead, they are sold under the Audimarque.
Audi Sport GmbH specializes in four 'key' areas,[1] including the design, testing, and production of specialist andhigh performance Audiautomobiles. Examples include theAudi RS3,Audi RS Q8, and theAudi R8.
They also design and produce special wheels, sport suspension,[1] and exterior body panels, such as front bumpers, side skirts, and rear bumpers, which are mainly used on the Audi"S line" trim specification available on most of Audi's model range.
The Audi RS cars are Audi's high performance variants of their regular offerings, similar toBMW'sM cars andMercedes BenzAMG subsidiary. The "RS" initials are taken from theGerman:RennSport – literally translated as "racing sport". RS is Audi's highest trim level, positioned above the "S" ("Sport") specification level of Audi's regular model range. Audi Sport creates,designs, andproduces all RS models in conjunction with its parent, Audi AG.[1][2] The RS models are typically Audi's most powerful cars and are built in limited numbers with the latest technology and engineering offered by the car maker.
S line is a trim specification that is offered on many Audi models. Whilst the individualS line parts and components are designed and manufactured by quattro GmbH,[1][2][4] Audi "S line" cars are still manufactured in the sameAUDI AG factories, on the same production lines as their related models with differing trim levels. Cars with "S line" trim should not be confused with high-performance "S" and "RS" models. Audi cars with S line trim bear identical performance figures to their counterparts with SE or base trim levels, with the exception of theAudi Q7 S line with the3.0 V6 TFSI petrol engines (213 kW (290 PS; 286 bhp) for standard, 245 kW (333 PS; 329 bhp) for S line).
quattro GmbH offers potential purchasers of new Audi cars the possibility of customizing their new car beyond the scope of "conventional" options, to their own personal desires during the initial manufacturing process.[4] This facility is calledAudi exclusive,[8] and extends to virtually all areas of the car. The customer may choose unique exteriorpaint, in any colour, as well asalloy wheels originally developed by quattro GmbH. For the interior, the upholstery can be finished in various grades and grains ofleathers (includingNappa), in a choice of colours. These coloured leathers may also be applied to interior door coverings and rear parcel shelves. Headlining fabrics can be customized in colour, along withseat belt webbing. The interior can be finished with a wide selection of wooden trims, sourced from around the world, along with colour-coordinated piping on the edges of tailored floor carpet mats. A range of in-caroffice equipment is also available.[1] quattro GmbH first offered this service at the1995 Frankfurt International Motor Show.[2]
From 1985, quattro GmbH has developed a range ofAudi lifestyle products, known asAudi Accessories.[2] These includemountain bikes and personal leather goods, such asbriefcases, handbags,purses andwallets.
quattro GmbH has historically only been able to produce one specific model at a time at its sole plant at Neckarsulm. Chronologically, the first quattro GmbH model produced was theAudi RS2 Avant, ajoint venture betweenPorsche and quattro GmbH, from 1994–1996 (and actually built at Porsche's Zuffenhausen plant). After this initial joint venture, all subsequent cars have been solely (with the exception of theAudi TT RS) produced at Neckarsulm by quattro GmbH. The second car was theC4 S6 Plus, produced from April 1996 to July 1997. Third was the 2000–2001B5 RS4 Avant quattro; fourth was the 2003C5 RS6 quattro; fifth was the 2005B7 A4 DTM Edition saloon. Sixth out of quattro GmbH was the 2006B7 RS4 quattro, seventh out of quattro GmbH was the 2006B7 S4 25 Quattro, the eighth was a special edition A4 S-Line with 220 hp (223 PS; 164 kW) and additional options for local markets – for example the UK 'Special Edition' with black optics pack, ventilated cross-drilled front disc brakes, black exhaust pipes, two-tone leather interior – and the Swedish 'TS' designation with ventilated cross-drilled front disc brakes, S4 chassis, sport seats and aluminum interior detailing, and as of 2009, the ninth and latest offering is the 2008C6 RS6 5.0 TFSI quattro.[2][4][6]
In 2005, they built an Audi TT quattro sport with 176 kW.
TheAudi R8 was built in a new and totally separate quattro GmbH plant at Neckarsulm.
The latestAudi TT RS and theAudi RS3 were both notable departures from this Neckarsulm-only production tradition. Whilst the TT RS and RS3 were wholly designed, developed and engineered at Neckarsulm by quattro GmbH, they were manufactured alongside the non-RS Audi models, with the TT RS being manufactured atGyőr,Hungary, by AUDI AG subsidiaryAudi Hungaria Motor Kft.[9]
quattro GmbH-produced cars from Neckarsulm can be identified by their specific 2nd and 3rd digit of theWorld Manufacturer Identifier section of the vehicles'Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) – quattro GmbH manufactured cars begin with 'WUA....', whereas cars produced by AUDI AG in Germany begin with 'WAU....'.[9]
TheAudi R8 two-seatmid-enginedsports car was exclusivelydesigned anddeveloped and isproduced by quattro GmbH.[4][6] An old factory on the AudiNeckarsulm site was redeveloped, and€28 million was invested in the new R8 production line. Around 250 employees work on this car.[1]
Thelongitudinally oriented 4.2 litreFuel Stratified Injection (FSI)V8 engine used in the R8, rated at 309 kW (420 PS; 414 bhp) and 430 N⋅m (317 lbf⋅ft) of torque, is shared from theB7 RS4 quattro, but modified to use adry sump lubrication system[10] and induction system.
A subsequentV10 engined version of the R8 is also available, using a de-tuned version of their sister company's 5.2-litre FSI V10, used in theLamborghiniGallardo LP560-4. This variant produces 386 kW (525 PS; 518 bhp) and 530 N⋅m (391 lb⋅ft) of torque.
Furthermore, quattro GmbH unveiled adiesel engined R8concept, the "R8 V12 TDI" (later renamed "R8 TDI Le Mans"). This was to use a 6.0-litreV12 engine, utilisingVolkswagen Group's long-establishedTurbocharged Direct Injection (TDI)turbodiesel technology. This engine was rated at 368 kW (500 PS; 493 bhp) and 1,000 N⋅m (738 lbf⋅ft) of torque.
quattro GmbH has developed the most powerful diesel poweredsport utility vehicle (SUV) in its class.[4][6][11] TheAudi Q7 V12 TDI quattro is fitted with aV12Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI)internal combustion engine. A world first,[additional citation(s) needed] this all newdiesel engine displaces 6.0 litres, generating a motive power output of 368 kW (500 PS; 493 bhp) (measured according toDirective 80/1269/EEC) at 4,000 rpm, and 1,000 N⋅m (738 lbf⋅ft) oftorque at 1,750–3,000 rpm. This allows it to accelerate from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 5.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155.3 mph). quattro GmbH has developed this new engine using existing technology from Audi'sLe Mans endurance racing program – theAudi R15 TDI.[12]
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