Sorry if repost, but what do you think?

" S5 prototypes currently being tested weigh around 3,000 lbs, with all the same safety features as the current car. Performance is said to be improved as well -- the cars are reportedly able to lap Germany's Nurburgring race track eight seconds faster than the current S5.

The 2014 S4 and S5 prototypes currently being tested look identical to today's models, but the production cars will get a freshened look with cues from the forthcoming A7, which is based on the Audi Sportback Concept."<ul><li><a href="http://www.leftlanenews.com/audi-s4-and-s5-to-go-four-cylinder.html">http://www.leftlanenews.com/audi-s4-and-s5-to-go-four-cylinder.html</a</li></ul>

working on those for the silent hybrids so pedestrians can hear them. Why not make them beefy V8's or even V10's? Or the sounds of the Jetsons hovercraft? ;-)

Maybe we will finally return to the weight of cars like back in the eighties when my fun Maxima was 3,000 lbs with 185 HP but lots of fun. I would think this is the best way to get gas mileage up there and make handling great.

25 years ago Lotus developed white noise canceling technology. It meant that road noise and wind noise could be eliminated.

As a by-product the sound of the car could be altered. You could make a Citroen 2CV sound like a Ferrari, and vice versa. You could also include a "valet sound lock" if you wanted, to make your Ferrari sound like a bag of nails above 3000 rpm.

So if the V8 goes and becomes a 4, then sound shaping can make it sound like a V8 without too much difficulty

... mostly.

At just over 3000 lbs with AWD and a 200hp engine,I routinely get 30 MPG on the highway.

Plus 0-60 in 5.9 seconds stock and superb handling.

So if the B9 S5 can get down to TT weight numbers, drop a few cylinders, and still maintain its power and utility it'll be a groundbreaking car.

PS. I posted about this yesterday on the Audi News Forum.

Any specific examples of what you're talking about? Sounds really interesting but I'm curious what would be involved to transform a 4 banger into a Ferrari sound.

The lotus elise has a 147 lb chassis. If Audi could start there perhaps this is all possible. It's amazing to me Lotus came out with the Elise in 1996 and 12 years later nobody else has done this.

I realize the D2 A8 had an Aluminum chassis/frame and was released in the early/mid 90s but the thing still pushed 2 tons! Apply this to a smaller car without a plethora of luxury additions and they could be on to something.

... while still being bigger, safer and more powerful. This is directly due to its aluminum intensive frame and is exactly what I'm talking about.

As far as the Lotus is concerned, if it also had all the safety, luxury and utility of the TT it would weigh a similar amount. Irrelevant argument. Apples to oranges.

Which literally shakes the car next to it. You feel the engine, you can blare an 8-track with thtat sound if you want ot, it ain't going to be the real thing.

so this technology has promise. But cut 1,000 pounds? Pretty tough.