Great Googly Moogly! Audi Surprises With Nanuk Quattro

TTAC Staff
by TTAC Staff

In festivities on the eve of the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA – International Automobile Exhibition), also known as the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Volkwagen Group took the wraps off of the Audi nanuk quattro concept, an apparent derivative of the Giugiaro Parcour concept shown earlier this year. The nanuk quattro (Audi’s spelling) has AWD and unlike the Parcour it is powered by a diesel engine, turbocharged. The 4,189 lb vehicle is said to be capable of 3.8 second 0-60 runs and a top speed of 190 mph, with overall fuel economy of 30 mpg. The engine is a V10 with twin turbos and TDI and it puts out 544 horsepower, which doesn’t sound that impressive these days, but being a diesel it brings the torque, 738 pounds feet. It features Audi’s next generation of adaptive air suspension with that the driver can adjust up or down through a range of 2.76 inches. Four wheel steering has been making a comeback lately over at Audi’s VW Group stablemate Porsche, and the nanuk features something similar that Audi is calling integral steering. Rear wheels turn up to 9 degrees opposite to the front wheel’s direction to quicken steering at low to medium speeds, helping maneuverability. The wheelbase is effectively shortened by ~100 centimeters (about 40 inches), reducing the turning circle to roughly 10 meters (32.81 ft). At higher speeds, the rears turn up to 2.5 degrees in tandem with the fronts, effectively lengthening the wheelbase by about 140 centimeters which is said to enhance stability.

TTAC Staff
TTAC Staff

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  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Sep 10, 2013

    Alignments will cost $1000.

  • Autobahner44 Autobahner44 on Sep 10, 2013

    I was at the press conference this morning, and photos do not do it justice. It looks super bad-ass, and forget about the Nanook name and the spin about desert 4X4. You just caught the first glimpse of the next R8.

    • Brenschluss Brenschluss on Sep 10, 2013

      Not a desert 4X4? So what am I supposed to do with these 30-profile Mud Terrains I just ordered?

  • 05lgt 05lgt on Sep 10, 2013

    Where can I see a pic with something in the frame to give some sense of scale? Is it a raised R8 or a big goofy crossover?

  • BlueBrat BlueBrat on Sep 11, 2013

    The term Nanuk sounds very caveman-ish. I'm guessing in real life it looks less like a Crossover. Reminds me of the ZDX from the side.

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