Preview: 2012 Audi A5 Coupe DTM Racing Concept

Germany’s DTM race series is about to get a lot more exciting with BMW returning to DTM next year and beside this with something new…Audi’s motorsport division released these preview images (pictured in the gallery) of the R17 A5 that will campaign what’s sure to be an exciting 2012 season. This new model will replace the four-door A4 DTM with which Audi has won the prestigious DTM title four times since 2004. 

The new upgraded A5 that is will be arriving at dealerships shortly provides the basis for the new DTM car.
“In 2012 new Technical Regulations will come into effect in the DTM,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “We’ve got exactly the right model for that in the A5. We’re convinced that we’ll be able to continue Audi’s success story with it in the DTM.”

Being built to be a “DTM,” the new Audi A5 DTM sports a high-strength carbon-fiber monocoque combined with a steel tube cage. The racing model adopts the current A4 DTM’s V8 engine with a power output of about 460 hp (340 kW) will be adopted from the successful A4 DTM nearly unchanged.

The proven six-speed transmission will continue to be used as well. Characteristic features of the 2012-generation of DTM vehicles are a larger rear wing and a reduction of the permitted aerodynamics components. The concept studies of the Audi A5 DTM by the Audi Design Team merely suggest the looks of the new Audi race touring car.

“Our engineers have been involved in bringing up safety in the DTM, which had already been high before, to the highest possible level,” explains Dr. Ullrich. “At Le Mans this year we learned again that our concept of designing safety structures is a very good and appropriate one. This is exactly what we’ve been trying to feed into the DTM’s safety concept together with our colleagues from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. This new principle is an outstanding example of what is possible when employees of three premium manufacturers try to achieve a common aim: to get the best possible, lowest-cost and safest vehicle – and a fantastic car in general – off the ground.”

Beside this, the requirements for the front and rear crash absorbers have been increased as well. “At higher speed lower deceleration is specified in order to protect the driver even better than before,” says Dr. Mühlmeier. “To achieve this, a crash test with the whole vehicle is now prescribed for the first time as well – according to FIA standards with 14 meters per second forward and backward against a rigid wall. In the past, ‘only’ the front and rear crash elements had to be driven against a wall with a sled.”

For now, the German car maker has shared a couple of renderings of the A5 DTM but we’ll get the chance to see the real thing at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Source: Audi and Carscoop