FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Audi AI:TRAIL blazes new path to the future

An electric off-road design study has capped off a colourful presentation on the Audi stand at today's Frankfurt motor show.

The Audi AI-TRAIL has been developed to canvas future design directions for an EV that can go anywhere any conventional all-terrain vehicle can.

Powered by four electric motors – one for each wheel – and measuring under 4.2 metres in length, the AI-TRAIL is the final piece of Audi's EV concept jigsaw puzzle, following the AI-CON urban EV, the AI:ME long-distance touring EV and the AI:RACE electric GT car.

Everything about the AI-TRAIL screams bush-bashing potential, from the chunky tyres on 22-inch wheels to the 340mm ground clearance.

And the innovative cabin design provides a commanding field of vision. Audi draws a parallel between the large front window of the AI:TRAIL and a 'bubble' cockpit of helicopter, such as the original Bell 47.

Audi has constructed the body from a mix of high-strength steel, aluminium and carbon-fibre for an all-up weight of 1750kg – including the high-capacity battery pack, which is tucked up inside the bodywork, out of harm's way when the vehicle is crawling over rocks.

Off the beaten track, the AI:TRAIL can run 250km between recharges, but doubles that range in normal on-road operation. Total combined power is rated at 320kW and the torque from all four motors peaks at 1000Nm.

The rear suicide doors afford easy access to the interior, which is an example of minimalist design ethos. Rear seats resemble hammocks suspended within a tubular frame.

Possibly the most intriguing example of Audi's unconventional approach to the design of the AI:TRAIL are the LED lights below the A-pillars.

In addition, five drones can lift off from the roof of the vehicle to shine lights further ahead, like a dynamic high-beam facility. These drones can recharge inductively from the vehicle. Audi refers to these drones as 'Audi Light Pathfinders'.

The AI:TRAIL is a Level 4 autonomous vehicle on mapped roads, but retains standard controls like steering wheel and pedals for the driver to operate on unsealed roads.

While the Audi RS 7 Sportback took pride of place on the company's stand at Frankfurt, the media pack swamped the AI:TRAIL, which may never see production in its show-car form, but Audi is committed to an electric future nonetheless.

Just before the formal debut of the off-road EV, the German car-maker’s board member responsible for sales and marketing, Hildegard Wortmann, told the media scrum that “Vorsprung will be redefined”.

And building on an earlier remark that “the future has already started, with e-tron”, Ms Wortmann announced that Audi will roll out the e-tron GT, the Q4 e-tron and e-tron Sportback before the end of next year.

These three vehicles will be numbered among the 30 new electrified models Audi will be building by 2025. Of those, 20 will be full battery-electric vehicles.