Audi E-Tron – the shape of things to come
AUDI has revealed the shape of things to come in the shape of the all-electric concept PB18 e-tron, a radical vision for the high-performance sports car of tomorrow.
Visibly inspired by the wind tunnel and the race track, its very presence signals that it is destined to push boundaries.
Its concept and exciting lines were created in the new Audi design studio in Malibu, California – where the brand’s design is consistently being updated for the future. The team at Audi Sport, with many years of expertise winning at Le Mans are behind the technical concept of the PB18 e-tron. The abbreviated name ‘ PB18 e-tron’ refers both to the Pebble Beach venue for its premiere and to the technological DNA it shares with the successful LMP1 racing car Audi R18 e-tron.
The creators of the PB18 e-tron designed it as a radical driving machine for the racetrack and road. Parameters like propulsive power, lateral acceleration and perfect ergonomics determine each detail. Driver-orientation is in a completely new dimension.
A mix of aluminium, carbon and multi-material composites ensures the body of the Audi PB18 e-tron has a low basic weight. Not least thanks to the innovative and comparatively light solid-state battery, a total weight of less than 1,550 kg can be expected.
The dimensions of Audi’s concept is of a classical sports car. Viewed from the side, the eye is drawn to the gently sloping roof line which is pulled far to the back and features massive C-pillars. Together with the large and almost vertical rear window, this design is reminiscent of a shooting brake concept – the synthesis of a coupé with the rear of a station wagon.
A flat red band of lights extends across the entire width of the rear and underscores the horizontal orientation of the vehicle body. The cabin, placed on the broad shoulders of the wheel arches, appears almost dainty from the rear. The rear diffuser air outlet has been raised high – another functional feature borrowed from motorsport. The diffuser can be moved downward mechanically to increase downforce. The rear spoiler, which is normally fixed, can be extended rearward for the same purpose.
The widely extended wheel arches located opposite the central cabin are noticeable from every angle. They emphasise the extremely wide track of the PB18 e-tron and thereby illustrate the lateral dynamic potential of the car and the obligatory quattro drive. The large 22-inch wheels, each with eight asymmetrically designed spokes are reminiscent of turbine inlets – together with the air inlets and outlets of the wheel arches, their rotation ensures excellent air supply to the large carbon brake discs.
The front is dominated by the familiar hexagon shape of the ‘Singleframe’ grille, with an emphatically wide and horizontal cut. The brand logo is placed above at the front of the hood, in the typical Audi sports car style. Large air inlets to the left and right of the ‘Singleframe’ supply the necessary cooling air to the brakes and the front electric motor. Wide and flat light units with integrated digital matrix technology and laser high-beam headlights complete the face of the PB18 e-tron.
The laser high-beam headlight with its enormous range is especially emblematic of the transfer of know-how from motorsport: This technology made its debut in the Le Mans R18 racing car, where the maximum light output at speeds above 300 km/h offered a crucial safety advantage at night.
The Audi designers have taken a new tack for air flow through the front hood. The hood dips deeply and acts as a lateral bridge running across the nose, connecting the two emphatically accentuated fenders and also doubling as an air deflector. A design that is thoroughly familiar from racing prototypes.
The concept uses three powerful electric motors – one up front and two in the rear. The latter are centrally located between the steering knuckles, each directly driving one wheel via halfshafts. They deliver power output of up to 150 kW to the front axle and 350 kW to the rear – the Audi PB18 e-tron is a true quattro, of course. Maximum output is 500 kW, with boosting, the driver can temporarily mobilise up to 570 kW. The combined torque of up to 830 newton metres allows acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in scarcely more than 2 seconds – a speed that differs only marginally from that of a current LMP1 prototype.
The focus is on not just powerful performance but also maximum efficiency. While being driven, the Audi PB18 e-tron recovers large amounts of energy: up to moderate braking, the electric motors are solely responsible for decelerating the vehicle. The hydraulic brakes only come into play for heavy braking.
The liquid-cooled solid-state battery has an energy capacity of 95 kW. A full charge provides for a range of over 500 kilometres in the WLTP cycle. The Audi PB18 e-tron is already designed for charging with a voltage of 800 volts. This means the battery can be fully recharged in about 15 minutes.