Audi has been working on a couple of important new electric vehicles, including a “tougher all-electric luxury 4×4, and a new concept off-roader that looks more like a small truck.
The new luxury 4×4 is set to hit the roads in 2027, and was hinted at in an interview between Audi’s head of design, Marc Lichte, and Autocar UK.
In the interview, Marc Lichte stated that there isn’t enough competition in the luxury 4×4 space:
“I think there is space [for a rugged SUV in Audi’s lineup]. There is potential because there are only two premium players, and I think there is space for a third one.”
The two brands that Audi will compete against with this 4×4 all-electric vehicle would include Germany’s Mercedes Benz with its G-Wagon and the British, Land Rover’s Discovery series.
No further details were shared about what this particular 4×4 model could look like or where it would fit in the Audi lineup.
Audi’s new activesphere Concept
Audi has also recently announced another upcoming concept car that it calls Audi activesphere concept.
The concept car is designed by Audi’s Design Studio in the US. The studio manager, Gael Buzyn, described the new off-roader’s design as:
“The activesphere is unique. It is a new type of crossover that cleverly combines the elegance of an Audi Sportback, the practicality of a SUV and true offroad capabilities.”
This concept offers large 22-inch wheels with high ground clearance, ideal for offroading adventures. It also makes the most of the latest AR (Augmented Reality) technology to provide the driver with an immersive driving experience.
Scout pick-up design possibly underpinning the new 4×4 Model
The new 4×4 model is likely to be based on Volkswagen’s electric Scout pick-up truck concept which was unveiled in 2022. The relaunch of the Scout brand was to help the Volkswagen group increase its presence in the US market.
At the time of the announcement, Herbert Diess was the Group’s CEO and he called the relaunch as an ‘historic opportunity to enter the highly attractive pick-up and R-SUV segment as a group” and that it will “further strengthen our position in one of the most significant growth markets for EVs.”
The Scout-branded vehicles are likely to be built in the US with reports last year confirming that Volkswagen was looking at a manufacturing facility site in the US.
The changes in Inflation Reduction Act EV incentives since that report highlights that there is now competition from other auto-makers who are building larger electric trucks and SUVs.
The upcoming Audi would also benefit from the growing interest in electric 4×4 and trucks in the US and Australia.
With the growing competition in the coming years and the planned production of Tesla’s Cybertruck just around the corner, we just hope the production of the tougher all-electric SUV commences earlier than 2027.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.