We finally have a shape to associate with Audi’s upcoming electric crossover. It’s called the E-Tron Quattro concept and it previews the brand’s first mass-produced all-electric vehicle.
Set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, the study gives us a pretty good idea of what Audi’s production electric crossover will look like.
Designed from the ground up as an electric car, the E-Tron Quattro follows Audi’s “Aerosthetics” concept, combining “technical measures for reducing aerodynamic drag with creative design solutions.”
The study features movable aerodynamic elements at the front, on the sides and at the rear, aimed at improving the air flow around the car. The underbody is completely closed for aerodynamic reasons, helping the car achieve a cd value of 0.25 – Audi says that’s a new record in the SUV segment. This has a significant contribution to the crossover’s driving range of more than 500 kilometers (310 miles).
Audi says the study is based on the second-generation modular longitudinal platform, with the length placing it between the Audi Q5 and the Q7. This means it may be called Q6, but that is not yet official. As you can see from the renderings, it combines a typical SUV body with a flat, coupe-like cabin which offers room for four people.
The large lithium-ion battery is positioned between the axles and below the passenger compartment, with Audi saying that this installation position provides for a low center of gravity and a balanced axle load distribution. That translates into better driving dynamics and driving safety than other vehicles in the segment, always according to the automaker.
The drive system consists of three electric motors, one on the front axle and two on the rear axle, giving it what Audi calls an “electrified Quattro” all-wheel drive system.
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