Frankfurt 2019: Audi Presents a Far-Out Off-Road Concept

Audi is renowned for its relative conservatism when it comes to car design, and generally any concept presented by the German automaker is very, very close to production-ready.

This is what makes the AI:Trail Quattro concept, presented yesterday at the 2019 Frankfurt auto show, not just jarring but eminently refreshing. The model is the fourth in a series that aimed to reveal the company’s vision of the future in terms of automotive mobility. More specifically, this prototype shows a possible future envisioned by Audi in the domain of all-electric off-road vehicles.

The styling, needless to say, is downright spectacular, and one reason for that is that the designers were freed from the constraints imposed by traditional combustion-engine powertrains. The wheels, for example, have been placed at the four extremities to allow for optimal attack and exit angles.

Inside, the stylists let loose with a futuristic approach, starting with a semi-circular steering wheel. The vehicle can accommodate four occupants in bucket seats with four-point safety belts.

As for what drives the thing, Audi has fitted it with four electric motors that together deliver a feast of power, namely 435 hp, and 738 lb-ft of torque. No need for differentials and other mechanical components that add serious weight to a vehicle.

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