Audi's TT Undergoes Strict Diet to Become the Ultra Quattro Concept [55 Photos and Video]

Many things have changed over the years for the automobile, but one thing that remains the same is that, if you’re looking to create a sports car or a racer that is fast and handles well, the lighter the build, the better – something that Colin Chapman and Lotus knew all too well since the middle of the previous century.

Audi has been a pioneer of sorts in the industry in recent years with the extensive use of aluminum for its cars, but with the new TT Ultra Quattro Concept, the brand with the four rings went one step further cutting a whopping 300 kilograms or a little over 660 pounds over the regular TT S Coupe, upon which it is based.

Revealed today at the annual GTI Wörthersee meet in Austria, the TT concept was made to show the benefits of weight saving measures on a series production model. The TT Ultra Quattro concept tips the scales at 1,111 kg (2,449 lbs), with Audi’s engineers shaving 100 kilograms (220.46 lbs) from the body structure and exterior panels alone. Some examples include the use of carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) in the rear end, the center tunnel, in the B-pillars and in the roof, and magnesium in the floor and as hinge reinforcement.

In addition, the R8 GT-sourced bucket seats with fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) chassis reduce weight by 22 kilograms (48.5 lbs), and the CFRP wheels with high-strength aluminum spokes save another 20 kilograms (44.09 lbs).

A slightly tuned version of the regular TT S’ 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit with an output of 306hp (310PS) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) or 38hp and 50Nm more, is paired to a six-speed manual and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.

The German brand says the concept is 1.3 seconds faster than the series-production model when accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) at 4.2 seconds, while the top speed is 280 km/h (174 mph).

Other improvements include a stiffer suspension setup, carbon-ceramic brake discs with fixed aluminum callipers up front, an aero package, the replacement of the exterior and interior mirrors with cameras and screens, plus a new digital instrument panel.

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