Unlike most luxury automakers, Audi has a history that’s
steeped in dirt, gravel, and mud. The German automaker splashed onto the global
stage in the early 1980s by dominating the World
Rally Championship with its revolutionary quattro all-wheel drive
system—a signature element that remains part of its lineup to this day. But
what does an autonomous future hold for Audi’s off-road expertise? That
question should be (at least partly) answered at this September’s Frankfurt
motor show.
On Friday, Audi released a teaser
image of a Frankfurt-bound concept car known as the AI:Trail quattro. Audi’s
description of the concept was short on specifics, but the company bills the
show car as a “study for an electrically driven off-roader of the future.”
Details of the AI:Trail quattro's styling are concealed by
darkness in Audi’s teaser image, but its overall look can best be described as
autonomous pod meets SUV. The front and rear ends are blunt, which should
provide excellent approach and departure angles—a must have for any serious
off-road vehicle. It also appears as though the concept is fitted with knobby
all-terrain tires.
The middle of the AI:Trail quattro is more pod-like with
four-doors and a massive greenhouse. The body line dips down in the middle to
create large windows for lots of outward visibility. No interior images were
provided, but there appears to be a steering wheel, indicating the AI:Trail
quattro won’t be 100-percent autonomous. Perhaps Audi is planning an autonomous
vehicle that can drive itself to
the trailhead and then give controls back to the driver for some off-road
leisure time. The AI in the name seems to suggest artificial intelligence,
which would mean the car would have some kind of self driving technology.
Audi is keeping powertrain specs a secret until the start of
the Frankfurt show, but the AI:Trail quattro will obviously have all-wheel
drive, possibly through the use of in-wheel electric motors. Be sure to check
back for full details following the AI:Trail quattro’s official debut on Sept.
10.
by Drew Johnson
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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