Welcome to the Audi PB18
e-tron Concept. Introduced during Monterey Car Week in California, the PB18 e-tron
Concept is an all-electric supercar that’s designed specifically for driving
thrills. Consequently, there is no semi-autonomous driving technology.
The car uses three electric motors. Up front, there’s
a motor delivering 201 hp while two other motors power the rear wheels and
output a further 604 hp. In typical driving, the combined power sits at 671 hp
and 612 lb-ft of torque but if the driver is brave enough, peak power of 764 hp
can be funneled to the ground in short bursts. All told, the concept hits 100 km/h in a touch over two seconds.
Beyond all the impressive grunt the powertrain
delivers, it has also been designed to be exceptionally efficient. With that in
mind, the PB18 e-tron recovers a considerable amount of energy while it’s being
driven as the electric motors are solely responsible for decelerating the
vehicle in low-to-moderate braking scenarios.
The presence of electric motors at both the front
and rear axles has allowed Audi to implement a Torque Control Manager that
works alongside the Electronic Stabilization Control. This system actively
distributes power to the wheels as needed to provide the best possible
performance.
As for the battery, it is 95 kWh in capacity and has
an impressive range exceeding 500 km in the WLTP cycle. The concept
has also been designed for charging with a voltage of 800 volts, meaning it can
be fully recharged in just 15 minutes. The car also supports Audi Wireless
Charging that simply involves placing a charging pad on the floor and the car
being parked over it. The alternating magnetic field creates an alternating
voltage in the secondary coil fitted in the floor of the car, allowing it to
charge wirelessly.
The Audi PB18 e-tron Concept also takes inspiration
from Audi’s successful R18 e-tron quattro Le Mans racing car and comes complete
with a similar suspension system. This setup combines push-rods on the front
axle with pull-rods at the rear. Both the front and rear are completed with
adaptive magnetic ride shock absorbers.
Another interesting element of the concept is its
cabin. Depending on the driver’s preferences, the interior can be changed from
a two-person layout to a single-seater configuration. Audi has no plans on bringing the
PB18 e-tron Concept to the road.