Audi has pulled the wraps off the AI:TRAIL quattro
concept, an electric off-roader study that combines automated driving with
superb capabilities off the beaten track. The lunar rover-looking concept
is apparently previewing some of the design changes Audi has in mind for its
future SUV models. The AI:TRAIL is the fourth member of Audi’s AI concept
series, which begun with the 2017 Aicon.
The new Audi concept features four electric motors,
one assigned to each wheel, with a combined output of 429 HP and 1,000 Nm of torque. There are no differentials and locks, as you would
assume, as the EV powertrain controls individually each motor depending on
driving driving conditions..
Audi doesn’t specify the capacity of the onboard
battery pack but says that the stated driving range is between 400 to 500 km on paved roads or 250 km on rough ground. Top speed
is limited to 130 km/h.
Of course the concept’s highlight isn’t the hardware
hidden underneath but the choices made for its bodywork; Audi opted for a
helicopter-style all-round visibility, offering passengers an unobstructed view
outside both in front and to the sides. The transparent panels on the front and
sides make wonders on that frontier, as does the roof which is made almost
entirely from glass.
The dashboard is free of any displays of its own;
instead it uses the driver’s smartphone, which is attached on the steering
column as a display and control center of the vehicle’s functions and
navigation system. The no-screens policy inside the AI:Trail enabled Audi to
give it a lower dash, further enhancing the visibility outwards.
The concept has a similar length with the Audi Q3,
measuring 4.15 meters long and 2.15 meters wide. Ground
clearance is set at 34 cm, meaning it can ford through water more
than half a meter deep.
Perhaps the wackiest feature of the Audi AI:TRAIL is
that it doesn’t feature traditional headlights; instead it makes use of five,
rotorless drones fitted with matrix LED elements. The driver could have them
docked on the roof rack or have them fly ahead of the vehicle and illuminate
the road. The drones also feature cameras than can transmit the image to the smartphone
display in front of the driver.
