Reinventing the wheel

The invention of the wheel changed the course of human evolution and the humble, perfect shape remains key in almost all aspects of life. So much a part of the everyday in fact that the wheel is often overlooked and yet in an automotive sense, wheels are not only essential, they play a vital aesthetic role as well and getting the design right can massively impact a car.

For Audi, the wheel is as important as the distinctive lighting that helps to identify its vehicles at a glance. Developing the right wheel design to compliment the vehicle’s style is an art and one at which the brand excels.

“A wheel is, of course, first and foremost a safety-relevant component. All of a car’s forces are transmitted to the road through the wheel-tyre configuration,” says Audi designer Andreas Valencia Pollex.

“Unlike the components of the chassis, however, the wheel is visible from the outside. So, the job of a wheel designer like myself is to create something that meets the technical requirements and still manages to emphasise the design of the vehicle – form follows function in the best sense.”

The aerodynamic design of wheels for the brand’s all-electric e-tron models is a perfect case in point, reflecting the cutting-edge technology housed within the vehicle as well as serving an important role in aiding the overall aerodynamic nature of the vehicle and thus aiding in extracting maximum range.

Indeed each model and model range has its own requirements and its own style that must be reflected in every aspect of the vehicle including the wheels. Audi’s own DNA is also reflected in the design of its wheels according to Pollex.

“First of all, it’s the semantics, aesthetics, logic and surface quality that characterise every Audi wheel. Every detail radiates design quality: the tautness, the precise selection of angles, the balance of lines that come together over a radius,” he says.

“A certain calmness, coherence and at the same time, a visual stimulation. That is the Audi DNA of our wheel designs. Of course, we pursue our own intention with each wheel, designing individual characteristic traits such as sportiness, elegance or calmness.”

For example, the unique 20-inch milled alloy wheels on the RS 4 Avant  and RS 5 Sportback competition plus models not only match the aggressive styling of these standout vehicles but their construction is designed for maximum weight saving, shaving two kilograms per wheel off the weight of the car.

Then there are the wheels that bring an historical element into play, like the enormous 22-inch, Avus-inspired six-spoke rims on the Audi RS 6 GT, drawing on the brand’s rich heritage.

More recently, Pollex has been involved in the design of the wheels for next year’s new Q5 models, a major undertaking for this new design of such a successful model globally.

“Our customers expect absolute functionality, but also uncompromising aesthetics,” he says.

“The various wheel designs of the new Q5 should simultaneously fit in with the refreshing elegance and straightforwardness of the car, but also differentiate it. It’s a fine line. Our approach was to emphasise the symmetry in the spoke design. 

“The Audi Q5 wheel lineup is extremely multifaceted, in part because the customers and their demands are so diverse. With an aero cover for the 17-inch wheels in silver, we managed to combine advantages from both worlds: good aerodynamics and light weight. 

“Particularly with wheels in 19-inches and up, the Q5 offers nearly everything a design-savvy customer could want, whether robust, sporty or a combination of both. In keeping with the character of the Q5, there is a visually very powerful 20-inch five-spoke wheel and a dynamic five-double-spoke wheel. In my opinion, the most expressive wheels are the forged 21-inch S-design wheels, such as the high-gloss version with elements in neodymium silk matte.

The overall feel though is one of a more subdued approach, which has always been very much a part of the Audi design philosophy.

“It’s easy to attract attention. But that’s not the Audi way,” says Pollex. “Audi is not loud and chaotic, but emotional and self-confident – it stands out in an unobtrusive way. And the Audi wheels do, too.”