Audax source: gtfrance.free.fr

Audax source: gtfrance.free.fr

Audax logo source: gtfrance.free.fr

1997 Audax Roadster (original source is unknown)

1997 Audax Roadster source: getsupercars.com

Audax brochure source: Ebay

Audax brochure source: Ebay

Audax brochure source: Ebay

Audax brochure source: Ebay

Audax Ingénerie was a French company that existed from 1996 to 2000 and manufactured the only model - Audax Roadster.

A Renault Spider-based automobile was presented as a prototype at Geneva Auto Show in 1997. The Audax’s mechanicals (6-speed gearbox, final drive, clutch, steering, brakes, driveshafts, pedals, front hub and electronics) were derived from BMW. The first car(s) also had BMW 4.4l V8 engine, developing 286 hp. Later it was replaced with Ford V8 305 hp aggregate. However, the showcar was equipped with Renault Clio V6 engine (that otpion was not available for an intended production car).

A composite bodywork was designed by Olivier Moret-Bailly. Automobile’s chassis featured an inverted 3-pontoon system (made of aeronautic grade steel) that was a base for the exceptionally stiff multitubular frame, designed by Gérard Hély, much stiffer than the monocoque structures, and incomparably lighter: 85kg. This resulted in a power-to-weight ratio of 3.3 kg / hp ranking Audax Roadster among the top 10 at the time!

In 1998 the company presented a production version of the automobile. It had a suspension a whole new type: the Mono Interactive. This system, developed with the EUROFAC society, French importer of Billstein dampers and Eibach coil springs, allowed the setup of a single damper, mounted perpendicularly to the car’s length, using the compression forces produced by the wheels while cornering to mechanically recover that energy on the opposite direction through a trapezoidal tipping system in the inner wheel, which naturally tends to rise and due to the reaction force, will be stopped from rolling; this forces the vehicle to curve totaly flat.

In 2000 Audax introduced a supercharged version with 320 hp engine. The small group of enthusiasts considered producing their car in limited run of street-legal and racing versions - around 100 units per year at a 2500 m2 facility, with 29 qualified workers, 11 engineers and executives.

The company had a potential to build one car in 24 hours time, but because of the financial problems, the project must have been rejected.

In 2000 the project was bought by another well-known French automobile manufacturer PGO Automobiles that continued production until 2003.

According to the 6th source, 340 vehicles were built.

Technical specifications:

Engine: BMW V8, 4.4 l, 286 hp @ 5000 rpm.
Length: 3710 mm
Width: 1700 mm
Heigth: 1000 mm
Wheelbase: 2250 mm
Weight: 950 kg
0 - 100 km/h : 4.5 s
Top speed: 285 km/h

P.S. I would like to thank João Góis and Alexander Matveev for their contribution to writing this article.

Sources:

• gtfrance.free.fr (A French webpage dedicated for Audax (possibly the most comprehensive online article)
• translate.google.com (Machine translation)
• pagesperso-orange.fr (Another French webpage)
• www.getsupercars.com (Picture source)
• cgi.ebay.com (A source for brochure)
• de.wikipedia.org (German Wikipedia article)