Audi always combines its vision of the future with its vehicles to stun us with amazement. This year at Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi will present its final visionary concept car family member. The car combines serious off-road capabilities with autonomous functions. The new AI: Trail will be on show at Audi’s stand in Hall 3 throughout the whole of IAA 2019 along with the other three models – the Audi Aicon, AI: Me and AI: Race.
The soon to be introduced Audi AI: Trail combines superb off-road capabilities with autonomous functions. The broad glass surfaces of the vehicle provide a clear view of the surroundings. Marc Lichte, Audi’s Head of Design, says in a blog post:
“With the AI:TRAIL, we are showing an off-road concept with an emissions-free electric drive for an innovative driving experience away from paved roads. Consistent with this, we designed a monolithic basic vehicle body with maximum glazing to create an intense connection to the surroundings. A concept for sustainable mobility on demand.”
The Technical exterior of AI: Trail
The Audi AI: Trail has a length of 4.15 meters (13.5 ft) and a width of 2.15 meters (7.05 ft), The 1.67 meters (5.5 ft) roof and the enormous 22-inch wheels with 850 mm (33.5 in) tires increase the off-road capabilities of the vehicle. It is packed with an impressive ground clearance of 34 centimeters (13.4 in). In addition to that, it can ford through the water more than half a meter (1.6 ft) deep.
The body of the Audi AI: TRAIL is made of a mixture of high-tech steel, aluminum and carbon fiber giving it lightweight and maximum body stiffness. As a result of which it weighs just 1,750 kilograms (3,858.09 lb) though it includes a high-capacity battery.
All–around visibility
AI: Trail is covered with transparent glass and “almost the entire roof, from the top of the windshield to the rear spoiler, allows a clear view of the sky and the landscape.” Additionally, the vertical Single frame is also glazed. It is reportedly said that the vehicle’s design allows the tires to contribute a further 60 millimeters (2.4 inches) of suspension travel.
The side sills beneath the opposing doors act as retractable running boards. This makes it easier to load and unload the roof rack. Instead of bulky wheel wells, horizontal fenders are all that sit above the four wheels. That makes it possible to see the suspension in action from the cockpit even during travel. – blog post report
The brilliant interior
This four seated vehicle emphasizes on the concept of nature through its blue, grey and earthy tones, connecting us more closely to the mother nature itself. Light interior colors dominate the upper interior area down to the seat cushion level and the low dashboard.
Besides these; pedals, the steering wheel, a few buttons, and a smartphone attached to the steering column as a display and control center for vehicle functions and navigation give us the prominent combination of technology and simplicity. AI: Trail also features mobile outdoor chairs that can be taken out anytime you want. The luxurious carpet is also made of recycled leather, making it sustainable and durable.
The mechanisms
AI: Trail Quattro includes four magnificent electric motors which are installed near a wheel, drives the vehicle directly. The large lithium-ion battery provides a range of between 248 and 310 miles (400 to 500 kilometers) on roads or “easy off-road terrain” measured by the WLTP. During the deep off-roading, the vehicle will reportedly be able to cover approximately 155 miles (250 km) at a single charge.
The system output combines 429 horsepower (320 kilowatts) with a maximum torque of 738 pound-feet (1,000 Newton-meters). Audi probably hints at some kind of selective deactivation for one of the axles on their blog post.
According to an official report, the show car will be capable of Level 4 autonomous driving on the public roads. This is the second-highest level on the standardized international scale for increasing automation. The vehicle will also offer the traditional steering wheel and pedals with automated driving in the reduced-speed Level 3 range that can be possible on dirt roads only in exceptional cases and at low speeds.
This new addition to the Audi family certainly triggers up our hopes and we cannot wait to see what it can offer us more.
