[s-cars] Audi Nuvolari quattro on the legendary Le Mans circuit

[Frederic L'Huillier]

Announcement from Audi UK;


The Audi Nuvolari quattro, the vision of a "GT of tomorrow", will be
presented to the motorsport fans before the Le Mans 24 Hour Race on
Saturday 14 June 2003.  Michèle Mouton, the only woman ever to win a round
of the World Rally Championship, will be at the wheel. Mouton's
co-driver on this stage, the scene of Audi's three historical triumphs between
2000 and 2002, is Walter de'Silva, as Director of Design for the Audi
Group and one of the fathers of the Nuvolari quattro. In addition to its
drive on the legendary highspeed track, the Nuvolari quattro makes a
guest appearance at the drivers' parade in Le Mans town centre on Friday
before the race.

   The naming of the Audi study Nuvolari quattro pays homage to a
racing legend, which in 1933, exactly 70 years ago, won the Le Mans 24 Hour
race: Tazio Nuvolari. The graceful Italian, born 1892 in Mantua and
died in 1953, wrote motorsport history like no other driver during the
first half of the century. His spectacular driving style became his
trademark, as did the yellow pullover that he always wore whilst racing. In
1938 Nuvolari changed teams, becoming works driver for Auto Union, and
in 1939 he succeeded in winning the last Grand Prix for an Auto Union.

   Audi Nuvolari quattro - this concept car combines pioneering
technology and the driving dynamics of a high performance GT car with the
future style and form of Audi cars. Following its début at the Geneva
Motor Show, the 2+2 Coupé with the proportions of a classical GT will be
driven for the first time on a racing circuit in front of more than
hundred thousand spectators.

   The most powerful engine ever developed by Audi for use in a
production car ensures adequate propulsion: a five-litre bi-turbo V10 with
FSI direct-fuel injection, producing 441 kW (600 hp), and mobilising a
maximum torque of 750 Newton metres. The Nuvolari quattro races from 0 to
100 km/h in a mere 4.1 seconds.

   Innovative technology is visible everywhere in the Audi Nuvolari
quattro. The coated aluminium body is constructed as Audi Space Frame,
ensuring an outstanding power to weight ratio, which simultaneously
offers a high degree of stiffness: the basis for the exceptional handling
qualities of this GT.

   A 6-speed automatic gearbox incorporating shift-by-wire-technology
makes the appropriate regulation of power and torque. When desired, the
driver can change gear actively by using the steering wheel mounted
shift paddles.

   It goes without saying that for such a powerful Audi the
transmission of power is made by quattro permanent all-wheel drive. In keeping
with the standard, the eye-catching large cross-drilled brake discs of
the racing brake system are visible behind the 9-spoke wheels.

   The aluminium suspension of the Nuvolari quattro lives up to the
demands made by a high-performance Gran Turismo. Together with the
adaptive air suspension the four link front suspension and trapezoidal-link
rear suspension ensure excellent handling characteristics and typical
sports car agility. The Nuvolari quattro also qualifies as long distance
cruiser due to the high degree of comfort assured by the air
suspension.

   Audi clearly demonstrates the marque's future path with the
appearance of the Nuvolari quattro in Le Mans: A future, symbolised by an
uncompromising sporting nature, that combines the highest technical demands
with unique design and accentuated elegance

Regards,
Frederic L'Huillier
Principal Support Account Manager
Siebel Systems France.	Email:frederic.l'huillier at siebel.com
6 Avenue Kleber		Off: +33 (0)1 58 44 91 95
75116 Paris		Cel: +33 (0)6 73 48 34 88
France			Web: www.siebel.com