Audi Nanuk quattro Concept


Audi is showing the Audi nanuk quattro concept show car at the 2013 IAA in Frankfurt am Main. Its crossover concept combines the dynamics of a high-performance sports car with Audi's quattro expertise on the road, on the race track and also off-road. The V10 TDI engine sets benchmarks for power and efficiency.

Audi developed the Audi nanuk quattro concept show car in collaboration with the designers from Italdesign Giugiaro. The result is a sports car for any stage of life and for any surface - equally at home on the race track, the highway or a winding country road as it is off-road in the sand or in the snow. It's crossover concept combines the dynamics of a mid-engine sports car with the versatility of a sporty recreational vehicle.


The two-seater is powered by a newly developed V10 TDI installed longitudinally in front of the rear axle. The powerful 5.0-liter diesel engine produces over 544 hp and delivers 1,000 Nm of torque to the crankshaft from just 1,500 rpm. Its twin-turbo register charging unit is controlled via the Audi valvelift system (AVS). The common rail system operates at an injection pressure of 2,500 bar. A beefed-up seven-speed S tronic located behind the engine transfers the torque to a specially designed quattro drivetrain.

The Audi nanuk quattro concept has a curb weight of around 1,900 kilograms. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and the top speed is 305 km/h. The innovative thermal management with its separate cooling loops and the steplessly regulated oil pump contribute to the excellent fuel consumption of just 7.8 liters per 100 kilometers on average.


Another technological highlight of the show car is the integral steering, which resolves the classic conflict between dynamic handling and stability. The system combines the proven Audi dynamic steering at the front axle, which among other things can intervene at the cornering limit for enhanced stability, with supplemental steering for the rear wheels. Separate actuators activate the two active track rods.

When the driver steers at low to moderate speeds, the rear wheels turn up to nine degrees in the opposite direction of the front wheels. This shortens the wheelbase virtually by around 100 centimeters, reducing the turning circle to roughly 10 meters. Handling also becomes more agile. The Audi nanuk quattro concept turns in even more eagerly and is essentially neutral in corners.

At higher speeds the system turns the rear wheels by as much as 2.5 degrees in the same direction as the front wheels. This extends the wheelbase virtually by around 140 centimeters for better stability. On the highway, the show car is firmly seated on the road and masters fast corners and avoidance maneuvers with aplomb.


The Audi nanuk quattro concept has a wheelbase of 2,710 millimeters. It is 4,541 millimeters long, 1,990 millimeters wide and 1,337 milli-meters tall. The load-bearing body structure is a lightweight, aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF). Components made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) comprise the outer skin and are finished in Extreme Red.

The interplay between protruding and recessed surfaces continues at the rear of the car. A concave section extending across the entire width integrates the Audi rings, the tail lights and the third brake light, which runs as a flat strip between the lights. The license plate is mounted on another recessed surface in the lower section of the back end. The diffuser houses the two large, round tailpipes of the exhaust system.

A large rear window exposes the TDI engine. The entire rear bodywork can be flipped upward in one piece like with a race car for maintenance work. The occupants' luggage is stowed at the front of the car, where there is room for two trolleys or a golf bag.


The interior of the Audi nanuk quattro concept has been reduced to the essentials. The architecture revolves around the instrument cluster. A carbon island accentuates the cockpit and provides for a clear driver focus. The instrument panel seems to float and emphasizes the horizontal lines and the width of the car. It is supported by aluminum stirrups at the center console, which have soft pads as leg rests. Besides numerous storage compartments, there is also a holder made of a soft material in the scissor doors.

All control elements, including the controls for the electronically controlled air suspension, the touchwheel for navigation and multimedia functions and the turn signals, are concentrated on the center tunnel console and the steering wheel. The seats, with folding backs, pronounced side bolsters and integrated head restraints, are power-adjustable. A mobile phone can be charged inductively in the Audi phone box.