This suitably futuristic-looking thing is the Audi AI:TRAIL quattro, the fourth in a series of four, er, futuristic concept cars that Audi has cooked up in the past two years. Following on from the Aicon, the AI:RACE (formerly known as the PB18 e-tron) and the AI:ME, the AI:TRAIL is the off-roader of the group, all four of which are on display at this year's Frankfurt IAA. Capable of Level 4 self-driving and equipped with four electric motors in each wheel hub (conjuring up 320kW, or 435hp, and 1,000Nm between them), the AI:TRAIL has a minimalist interior with lots of glass panelling so that the occupants can better see nature outside. It has 340mm of ground clearance and absolutely minimal overhangs front and rear, while the 22-inch wheels are shod with 33-inch all-terrain tyres and are suspended by springs and dampers which have up to 60mm of travel. Lightweight construction techniques keep the AI:TRAIL's mass down to 1,750kg, while funky features like five triangular, bladeless drones - which string out ahead of the AI:TRAIL and light the safest off-road path ahead, meaning the car itself doesn't really need powerful lights of its own - and variable, sensor-controlled air pressure regulation for the tyres (the car scans the surface ahead with sensors and monitors its own ESC to determine if air needs to be let out of or pumped into the tyres, and then does such a thing itself) make sure this concept vehicle feels like it is something a long way off becoming a production reality. One thing there's a noticeable dearth of in the wilderness is 350kW charging points, so the AI:TRAIL's 248-330 miles of EV range should be useful, although it's only likely to do about 155 miles off-road as the wheel-slip of travelling on loose terrain will drain the floor-mounted battery quicker.
Matt Robinson - 10 Sep 2019