A mid-engine supercar capable of going off-road? Sounds like an insane idea, but guys in VW Group are serious on making it reality.
Audi has unveiled its "Nanuk" concept at the Frankfurt autoshow. The vehicle resembles ItalDesign Giugaro Parcour concept, previously shown at Geneva. No doubt about that, Audi actually developed Nanuk collaborating with Italian designers.
The Giugaro's concept was impressive - it had a mid-located Lamborghini V10 with 560 PS and Audi all wheel drive, gearbox and other goodies. It seemed like there was no room for further improvements, but Audi's Nanuk beast has its own new trumps.
Audi described its concept as “dynamic sculpture on large wheels that opens a new chapter in the Audi design language”. The car's design is very exotic and spectacular. It does really look like a raised R8, completed with some Giugaro styling elements.
The interior is told to be minimalist but very functional. It includes monitors, instead of side-mirrors, to access the wider view.
Doubtless, the engine is one of the most impressive parts of the concept. It is the new 5.0 Twin Turbocharged Diesel V10. It is good for 544 PS and 1000 Nm, available at 1500 rpm. These numbers are monstrous! In addition, it manages to get an impressive 6.5 liter per 100 km, or 36.2 mpg.
Power is transferred via a 7-speed S-tronic to all the wheels - obviously. The car is equipped with carbon-ceramic brakes, so be sure - this vehicle is still oriented on performance. To assure you on that, Audi claims a top speed of 305 kph and 0-100 time in just 3.8 seconds. That's just 0.3 sec slower than the halo-supercar R8 V10 plus - unbelievable!
The aluminum architecture was constructed to be convenient for any road. Its dimensions are 4.54 m length, 2 m with, 1,34 m height, with a 2.71 meter wheelbase. So the car shoul be usable both in city and the countryside.
The body panels are made of carbon fiber, and curb weight is claimed to be around 1900 kg. To be honest, to me, that sounds rather heavy, because Giugaro's concept already weighed 1550 kg. But still, Nanuk's curb weight is close to the concept Quattro's 1850 kg (which is starring right now at the show), so not bad at all.
But the main question is - will it properly go off-road? My guess is "yes". Nanuk is fitted with the new adaptive air suspension that can adjust the ground clearance up to 70 mm. And it sits on huge 22-inch wheels. At last, in addition to all that, the car is equipped with electric wheel-steering, which allows to turn the rear wheels up to 9 degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels, and the same with the front wheels. That technology noticeably increases agility and stability of the vehicle.
So basically Audi created a R8 that can conquest any landscape. Never SUVs were as ultimate as the Nanuk. This SUV should be good for either driving along fashionable streets, asphalt tracks or at a true off-road course. The most universal vehicle ever created?
Audi has to put this in production, it has a market... I wish!
