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The New Audi A6/A7 Family - Aerodynamic Development of Different Body Types on One Platform

Journal Article
2011-01-0175
ISSN: 1946-3995, e-ISSN: 1946-4002
Published April 12, 2011 by SAE International in United States
The New Audi A6/A7 Family - Aerodynamic Development of Different Body Types on One Platform
Sector:
Citation: Mayer, W. and Wickern, G., "The New Audi A6/A7 Family - Aerodynamic Development of Different Body Types on One Platform," SAE Int. J. Passeng. Cars – Mech. Syst. 4(1):197-206, 2011, https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-0175.
Language: English

Abstract:

The paper describes the aerodynamic development and optimization process of the three different new models of the Audi A6/A7 family. The body types of these three models represent the three classic aerodynamic body types squareback, notchback and fastback.
A short introduction of the flow structures of these different body types is given and their effect on the vehicle aerodynamic is described. In order to achieve good aerodynamic performance, the integration into the development process of the knowledge about these flow phenomena and the breakdown of the aerodynamic resistance into its components friction- and pressure drag as well as the induced drag is very important.
The paper illustrates how this is realized within the aerodynamic development process at Audi. It describes how the results of CFD simulations are combined with wind tunnel measurements and how the information about the different flow phenomena were used to achieve an aerodynamic improvement. It also gives some examples of problems that had to be solved during the development. The challenge of an aerodynamic optimization of three different body types on one platform is explained in detail.