The 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show will host the worldwide debut of the Audi e-tron Quattro Concept, an all-electric SUV. Audi’s off-again on-again electric vehicles program seems like it could be back for good.
Audi has already proven its electric vehicle powertrains, in vehicles such as the Audi A6 e-tron PHEV and Audi A3 e-tron PHEV. Still, those are only half-measures, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, but the automaker’s development in this area is still incomplete. A brand new SUV concept pulls all of Audi’s expertise together in a single efficient electric vehicle.
No doubt making use of a number of Audi’s lightweighting programs, the Audi e-tron Quattro Concept starts out lighter than most SUVs in its class, most of which weight savings is probably cancelled out by the lithium-ion battery pack, mounted under the passenger floor and between the front and rear axles. With a smooth underbody finish and aerodynamic profiling, the SUV has an impressive 0.25 Cd (Coefficient of drag), the best of any SUV and even better than the Toyota Prius’ 0.29 Cd.
With its lightweight construction and exceptional drag coefficient, as well as a three-motor drive system, similar to the Audi R8 e-tron, the Audi e-tron Quattro Concept promises excellent acceleration, all-wheel drive stability, and a range upwards of 300 miles per charge. The sketch above shows us what the concept looks like, but the SUV’s appearance could change between now and production, which is planned for 2018.
Image © Audi AG
