Abstract
Keywords - A3 CABRIOLET. Body in White development. Structural key elements. Passive safety. Stiffness. Pedestrian protection.
With the introduction of the Audi A3 3door hatchback in 1996, Audi established the premium compact car segment. Extending the model range by a 5door hatchback in 1999 and continually renewing its design kept it up to date according to the "Zeitgeist". More than 2 Mio A3 cars sold up until now are telling a success story.
This spring , Audi has been first again introducing a premium compact convertible with a classical canvas top. Thus amplifying its compact model range and strengthening Audi´s life style image and competitiveness in it´s push to achieve it´s goal to sell 1,5 Mio cars by 2015.
The decision to develop a Cabriolet on the basis of the A3 platform was taken in February 2006 taking Karmann as a development partner. Ingolstadt was chosen as the production site thus requiring an integration of the cabriolet production within the A3 assembly line.
It´s always been a challenging task to design geometrics and enforcements of a Cabriolet Body in White in order to make up for a lacking roof structure. The A3 Cabriolet development has been even more challenging when one considers the stringent time table hinting at above and the boundary conditions due to the implementation of the Cabriolet production into the existing A3 assembly. In addition, the package requirements of a fully 4-Seater car with priority on customer value, also represented by the trunk volume of 260 l in conjunction with a declinable rear seat did not simplify the task of the FEM analysts and project engineers. Within this context, the structural performance of the Body in White with hang ons aimed for, supposed to ensure the base for the same passenger passive safety as the A3 base model. Furthermore, the Body in White stiffness had to be sufficiently high in order to achieve the typical dynamic ride performance and comfort which a customer expects from an Audi.
Besides, the development of the front section of the A3 Convertible served as blue print for the A3 face lift. Accordingly, part of the technical specifications was to comply with Phase I European legislation with respect to pedestrian protection.
The presentation emphasizes the key structural elements which assure the excellent Body in White performance of the A3 Convertible with respect to (w.r.t.) passive safety, stiffness and pedestrian protection.