RÖSRATH, Germany--()--The global debut of Audi's entirely new 2010-model A8 high-performance luxury saloon, sees the launch of a new, leading-edge technology propeller-shaft solution from GKN Driveline at the heart of the vehicle's Quattro™ four-wheel- drive system.
“GKN Driveline, the global leader in propshaft technology and solutions, has met this challenge through our dedicated development team working closely with our customer.”
Audi is the first GKN Driveline customer to adopt the company's new Direct Torque Flow (DTF) technology for propeller shafts. The new Audi A8 is also fitted with GKN Driveline's sideshafts.
Direct Torque Flow (DTF)
GKN Driveline's DTF propeller shaft has been designed to the highest technical standards to meet Audi’s challenging performance and specific safety criteria and is the company's first launch of this new technology. DTF is a new interface design solution in which the propeller shaft is connected to the transmission in a way that saves weight, assembly time, space and cost.
While still ensuring efficient torque transmission, GKN Driveline has developed its DTF solution to reduce component complexity and make significant weight savings, reducing the risks of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and shaft stability typical in traditional propeller shaft designs. DTF solutions can be used to connect a propeller shaft to both a vehicle's transmission and its rear final-drive unit.
Another key feature of the GKN Driveline shaft on the new Audi A8 is the unique high-speed constant-velocity joint incorporating technology for efficient operation and an integrated “crash feature.” The latter, in conjunction with other system components, enables the shaft assembly to telescope inwards in a manner defined to support the crash safety strategy of the vehicle.
With the high performance nature of the vehicle requiring the propeller shaft to operate at extreme speeds of up to 10,500 rpm, GKN Driveline's shaft is designed with a range of other leading-edge features such as a high-strength light-weight steel tube, sealing systems and a low-level of rotational imbalance.
Rob Rickell, global engineering director for GKN Driveline: “With Audi's leading technology position in the industry, we are very proud to be working with them on such a challenging and rewarding program as the new A8. This development has required us to use the very best of our expertise and ensure a design that is optimised to deliver Audi’s requirements of performance, safety, weight, efficiency and cost.”
“GKN Driveline, the global leader in propshaft technology and solutions, has met this challenge through our dedicated development team working closely with our customer.”
About GKN Driveline
GKN Driveline is the world’s leading supplier of automotive driveline components and systems. As a global company serving the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, GKN Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline components – for use in the smallest ultra low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle demanding the most complex driving dynamics.
GKN Driveline is a leading global producer of sideshafts, propshafts, mechanically and electronically controlled torque management systems and associated geared components.
About the GKN Group
GKN plc is a global engineering business serving mainly the automotive, industrial, off-highway and aerospace markets. It has operations in more than 30 countries, around 38,000 employees in subsidiaries and joint ventures and had sales of £4.5 billion in the year to 31 December 2009. GKN plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN).
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6218712&lang=en
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Delicious
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Digg
MySpace
Newsvine
Google Bookmark
Yahoo! Bookmark
Email
Email 
