It seemed like something from a science-fiction film: In autumn 2010 an Audi TTS ascended the legendary mountain road up to Pikes Peak at an altitude of 4,301 metres. At the wheel was not an experienced racing driver. Instead the sports car was being controlled by two computers installed in the boot.
The self-driving Audi TTS Pikes Peak was based on the production version of the Audi TTS. Audi’s engineers chose this model because its technical systems such as the electric accelerator and the semi-automatic dual-clutch transmission were a good fit with the electronics that enabled the vehicle to drive autonomously. The computer hardware in the test vehicle itself was not much more complicated than that of a standard laptop.
The Audi TTS Pikes Peak – a joint project led by the Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) and Stanford University – completed the 19.99 kilometres up to the peak in 27 minutes. This made it an important trailblazer for future mobility.
Technical data
| Engine | In-line four-cylinder petrol engine with direct petrol injection and turbocharging with charge air cooling | ||||||
| Transmission | quattro permanent all-wheel drive | ||||||
| Capacity | 1,984 cc | ||||||
| Transmission | 6-speed S tronic direct shift gearbox with electrohydraulic actuation | ||||||
| Power | 200 kW (272 hp) at 6,000 rpm | ||||||
| Top speed |
250 km/h (in theory) approx. 75 km/h (in fact) |
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| Accleration | 0 – 100 km/h in 4,9 sec | ||||||
| Dimensions |
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| Gewicht | 1,505 kg |