“The wheels make the car”
Audi Q5 SUV series: Fuel consumption (combined): 7.6–5.9 l/100 km (provisional); CO₂ emissions (combined): 174–146 g/km (provisional); CO₂ class: F–E (provisional)
Audi Q5 SUV series: Fuel consumption (combined): 7.6–5.9 l/100 km (provisional); CO₂ emissions (combined): 174–146 g/km (provisional); CO₂ class: F–E (provisional)
Today’s wheel designs strike a balance between the optimal form and technical demands, trends and timelessness. Designer Andreas Valencia Pollex explains his vision for the wheel lineup of the new Audi Q51 – and what superheroes have to do with it.
At the beginning of any project, Valencia Pollex familiarizes himself with the characteristics of the vehicle in question: “The Audi Q51 has a long history of success. In my opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful SUVs ever made. Every generation has impressed the world anew. With its aesthetics and outstanding proportions, the current Q51 exudes natural self-confidence. That’s why complementing this style with the right wheels was a lot of fun.” He illustrates: “The various wheel designs of the new Q51 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 emphasize the symmetry in the spoke design. For a long time, we developed very extroverted wheel designs – now we’re moderating the tone again.”
The new diverse Audi Q5 wheel lineup
Valencia Pollex explains: “The Audi Q51 wheel lineup is extremely multifaceted, in part because the customers and their demands are so diverse.” He says designing the 17-inch wheels in silver was the biggest challenge: “With an aero cover for this entry-level wheel, we managed to combine advantages from both worlds: good aerodynamics and light weight.” Particularly with wheels in 19-inches and up, Audi offers nearly everything “a design-savvy customer could want, whether robust, sporty or a combination of both.” For instance, in keeping with the character of the Q51, there’s a very powerful-looking 20-inch five-spoke wheel and a dynamic five-double-spoke wheel. The “most expressive wheels are the forged 21-inch S-design wheels, such as the high-gloss version with elements in neodymium silk matte.”
Valencia Pollex explains his vision: “It’s an exciting time to work as a designer. Design plays an extremely important role at Audi, and yet form always has to follow function – because we want to deliver technically outstanding products to our customers. The zeitgeist is prompting us to improve vehicles’ efficiency. Wheels are a product of this interplay. Wheel design is strategic design.” Through this process, Valencia Pollex is trying to explore the limits of modern aesthetics, or even to redefine them. On top of that, he wants to tell a story through wheel design. The same is true for the new Q51: “The first-generation Q51 wheels had prominent notches in their spokes. In tribute to them, I seized on this design once again in a 19-inch version for the new Q51.”
-
Audi also offers an all-black 20-inch wheel for the Q5¹. Valencia Pollex was inspired by superheroes.
-
In keeping with the character of the Q5¹, there is a visually very powerful 20-inch five-spoke wheel.
“Even after 300,000 kilometers, the wheels still have to look good”
But what’s the key to good design, and what does it come down to? The industrial designer explains: “Design is a craft that can be learned. Of course, it also has a lot to do with feelings and passion. But everyone involved in innovation, regardless of what field they’re in, can be just as inspired or creative as a designer. If you strictly follow a few rules, it leads to design quality which, in the best case, lends a certain timelessness to the end product.” Beyond that, technical demands such as longevity need to be taken into account. Valencia Pollex stresses: “Even after 300,000 kilometers, the wheels still have to function and look good.”
How superheroes influence wheel design
Audi also has a completely black 20-inch wheel on offer for the Q51. Valencia Pollex was inspired by superheroes: “I often use superheroes to describe design approaches. Their stereotypical characteristics are well known, which saves time, and everyone knows what we’re talking about. Batman, for instance, is mysterious but morally righteous in my opinion, and a lot of people aim for that. Besides, he’s just cool.” To show the geometry of the completely black wheel, Audi developed the color black metallic. Valencia Pollex said: “This color moves between light and shadow. Just like Batman!”
