[volkman10]

Audi today released a teaser picture and some details of an all-electric SUV that it will launch to rival the upcoming Tesla Model X.



Audi will preview the SUV, likely to be called the Q6, with the e-tron quattro concept that will debut at next month's Frankfurt auto show.

The SUV will have a range of more than 500km (310 miles) and will go into production in 2018 as the brand's first volume electric car
The four-seat SUV has a length between that of the Q5 and the Q7
The SUV will be powered by three electric motors – one on the front axle and two on the rear axle - used on the electric variant of the R8 sports car, which has a 450km range.The underbody is completely closed and it has movable aerodynamic elements at the front, on the sides and at the rear improve the air flow around the car, helping the model to achieve a drag coefficient value of 0.25, a new record in the SUV segment.

http://europe.autonews.com/apps/pbcs...arams=Itemnr=2

[GTO]

Electric + SUV = USA market. USA is not only open to electric vehicles, but also the Q7's biggest market worldwide (overtook Europe 2 years back). Last year, Audi sold a whopping 20,000 Q7s in North America alone (including Canada).

Tesla better know it's USP isn't going to last too long. The big guys are coming with their EVs. In the shorter term though, Tesla's charging network will remain a major strength - that was a master move.

[VW2010]

@GTO add to that the benefits offered for owners of EV's specially in california. Heck you will see more Teslas than probably a Audi in california.

Companies are building charging stations and providing special parking and what not. Nissan leaf is so famous there.

Americans are crazy about BIG SUV's. And no wonder Q7 enjoys a sale rate higher than any place. And leasing one is not so costly for long settled folks and makes more sense with German cars to lease and forget after 3 years. Net - Net it will work out cheaper as well instead of spending on repairs which is a different affair in the US with parts and labour so high for even an air filter replacement.

[charlessuresh]

People seemed to be carried away with the dream of clean electric cars and while replacing combustion engined cars with clean electric cars is laudable, no one seems to realize that the electricity to power these cars come from fossil fuels such as coal and oil that are heavily heavily polluting fuels in themselves. The electricity is then transmitted to charging points using cable where losses in energy occur from point A to point B further adding to the inefficiency.
Looking at the cars themselves, many are made of plastic or carbon fibre such as the BMW i3 to keep them light and help extend range, which are not biodegradable or recyclable.
Then there is the question as to how you deal with huge chemical batteries. Think about your struggle to find a throw away you empty AA battery and multiply by a million. Will these end up in a land fill to pollute our water table?
Compare this to a heavier steel and aluminium cars, where a very high percentage of the car can be scrapped and recycled. There are also no dangerous chemicals. The petrol is burned off.
In fact, petrol engined cars are probably still the most efficient way of getting around.
If electricity came from renewables or nuclear, then I could understand the rush to make more electric cars, but right now we are putting the cart before the horse and need to invest in cleaner power generation first. It seems that politics has taken a front seat over common sense and many of are being taken in.

[volkman10]

Audi Q4 and S Q4 Trademark Applications.

One of the most heavily anticipated models that will see the light of day in the near future is a compact-sized crossover with coupe styling cues based on the TT, which may be called Q4.

fresh application came barely 24 hours before Korean technology giant Samsung SDI confirmed that it will invest 400 billion won (£273M) in a new battery factory in Hungary. The facility is scheduled to open in the second half of 2018 and will be able to produce enough batteries for 50,000 EVs per year

Considering that the jaw-dropping Audi TT Offroad Concept is based on the VW Group MQB platform, and because it prides itself on an electrically driven rear axle, chances are a variant of the Q4 will be plug-in hybrid. Because the 2018 Audi Q3 is expected to debut in late 2017, the Audi Q4 is highly likely to make its first public outing in late 2018 for the model year 2019

Source

[Anup25]

Originally Posted by GTO

Electric + SUV = USA market. USA is not only open to electric vehicles, but also the Q7's biggest market worldwide (overtook Europe 2 years back). Last year, Audi sold a whopping 20,000 Q7s in North America alone (including Canada).

Tesla better know it's USP isn't going to last too long. The big guys are coming with their EVs. In the shorter term though, Tesla's charging network will remain a major strength - that was a master move.

The demand for the Tesla and the long waiting period indicates the demand is huge enough for more than one large player .... hopefully everyone benefits.

[volkman10]

The "Landjet" is expected to become a flagship model for the entire VW Group from 2024. The development planning is carried out by the subsidiary Audi.

If the "Landjet" goes into series production in 2024 as planned, there will be much more to it than just one Audi variant. In addition, a Porsche and a Bentley derivative are planned in Wolfsburg. The VW brand is not included, because the new flagship model is intended to cover only the luxury and premium sectors.

The Volkswagen plant in Hanover will become the new flagship project for the electric offensive of the world's largest car manufacturer. The new luxury electric flagship of the group, which will operate under the project name "Landjet" in the current development phase, is expected to be produced at the VW transporter factory in the state capital of Lower Saxony from 2024.

As announced by company circles, the Hanover-based VW factory will produce the top electric model for three different Group brands.

The development planning for the "Landjet" project lies with the premium subsidiary Audi in Ingolstadt, which has set up its own special unit under the name "Artemis". The new luxury electric car is to be located as a "Tesla hunter" above the previous top model A8. With the electric sedan, Audi wants to launch a counter-design to the next generation of Tesla's Model S.

At the same time, the "Artemis" developers in battery technology and software are supposed to make up for the lead of the US competitor, which is currently technologically well ahead of the Wolfsburg-based car company. Currently sold E-models such as the ID.3 of the VW brand are not technically as far as comparable Tesla vehicles. "Artemis" is to become something of a beacon project for the entire Group.

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