We were expecting Audi to release a really cool SUV for Frankfurt and it did just that. The e-tron quattro concept is an all-electric luxury SUV that Audi plans to get into production by 2018. It is squarely aimed at the upcoming Tesla Model X.

Three electric motors

As we saw earlier with Porsche and its Mission E Concept, the Germans are pushing all-electric technology. This e-tron quattro uses three electric motors, one for the front axle and the other two power the rear axle. Power is claimed at 320 kW but there is an overboost function that temporarily gives the driver access to 370 kW and over 800 Nm of torque. It gives the all-electric SUV a claimed 0-100kph sprint time of 4.6 seconds. Top speed is limited to 210kph.

Similarly to the Porsche concept, the claimed range of the e-tron quattro concept is 500km. A full charge with DC current will take around 50 minutes and can be charged wirelessly. The Audie-tronquattroconcept uses a system for piloted parking that guides it to the proper position at the charging plate. In addition, a large solar roof provides electricity for the drive system battery on sunny days.

All-wheel steering

The chassis also has a fair amount of conceptual ideas about it. The adaptive air suspension, which features controlled damping, lowers the body at higher speeds to reduce drag. The dynamic-all-wheel steering combines a dynamic steering system on the front axle with a steering system for the rear wheels. Depending on speed and the driving situation, they steer either opposite or in the same direction as the front wheels.

Audi has updated its interior to a new version of the Audi Virtual Cockpit that we first saw on the TT. To the left and right below the fully-digital instrument cluster are twotouch displays with black glass and a subtle aluminium frame. The driver controls the lights and the systems for piloted driving with the left display. The large display on the right is for media and navigation management. The steering wheel serves as an alternate control level. Its spokes are equipped with contoured touch surfaces.

The concept is equipped with systems for piloted driving (an auto pilot of sorts): radar sensors, a video camera, ultrasonic sensors and a laser scanner. It computes a complete model of the car’s surroundings in real time and makes this information available to all assistance systems and the systems for piloteddriving. Audi says these technologies are also nearly ready for use in production vehicles.