New Wave

The future of mobility will never be the same, as Audi begins what it calls an e-offensive that will see a dozen new e-vehicles released on to world markets by the year 2025. This follows the world premiere last week of the Audi e-tron – the brand’s first all-electric series production model.

Joining the Audi e-tron next year will be the Audi e-tron Sportback in 2019 and Audi will present the Audi e-tron GT concept showcar at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Following will be a succession of new e-models, including Avant and other Sportback incarnations to occupy every relevant market segment from the smaller vehicles to the full-size luxury class. Audi is also looking to increase the number of plug-in hybrids as part of the e-offensive.

Audi sees electrified models as accounting for up to one third of the brand’s global sales and the future of mobility as it continues to refine technologies and develop new ones to continuously improve the e-product. 

“In the future, virtually every market segment will include models powered by a combination of electric motors and a combustion engine, and that can be charged at an electric outlet,” says Peter Mertens, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG.

“The Audi e-tron is definitely a highlight in the history of our company and the starting signal for our electrification strategy,” says Mertens.

A total of four technical platforms and product families are the prerequisite for offering electric vehicles in every segment from A to D. Close collaboration between Technical Development and other Group brands leverages the synergies required for a broad, global range that also offers optimal prospects of financial success. 

The Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportback use components from Audi’s modular longitudinal platform. This and numerous innovative technologies primarily in the area of drive systems are giving rise to a separate product family of e-SUVs with electric quattro all-wheel drive. Fast charging with up to 150kW and ample range suitable for long-distance journeys are benchmarks in this class. 

The technology in this vehicle was developed in collaboration with Porsche; the design and character of the e-tron GT concept are packed full of unmistakable Audi DNA. 

Another joint project of the development departments at Audi and Porsche is the Premium Platform Electric (PPE). It will be the basis for multiple Audi model families with all-electric drive covering the high-volume B through D segments of the market. 

A major strength of the PPE is that it was developed exclusively for electric drive, offering advantages with respect to weight, the package and the proportions of the body. 

Several Volkswagen Group brands are collaborating on the development of the modular electrification platform (MEB), which serves as the basis for a series of Audi e-models, particularly in the high-volume A segment – with one of these being developed specifically for the requirements of China, the single most important market. 

The future is undoubtedly electric and is not only fast approaching, but very much here now.