Audi PB18 E-Tron Concept Is A Driver’s Car From The Future

In a world where every new electric vehicle concept seems to be fitted with autonomous driving systems, Audi has done the automotive world a favour with its latest creation. 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 62 mph (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 (310 miles) 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.