Audi plans to show an electric crossover with a range that rivals the Tesla Model S, stepping up pressure on the electric-car maker as it prepares to add an SUV of its own.
The e-tron Quattro concept, which will be unveiled next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show, can drive more than 500 kilometers before needing to recharge, the Ingolstadt, Germany-based carmaker said Wednesday in a statement. That beats Tesla’s stated 420-kilometer range for the base version of the Model S but trails behind the 528 kilometers of the 85D variant.
Expect cutting-edge infotainment in Audi’s Tesla Model X fighter, such as full OLED displays and gesture-controlled interfaces.
Handout, Audi
The display car is equipped with three electric motors and includes movable components at the front, side and rear to improve aerodynamics and extend the driving range. The e-tron Quattro Concept is a precursor for an electric sport-utility vehicle that Audi plans to start producing in 2018.
Tesla, run by CEO Elon Musk, is seeking to sell about 2.7 million shares to gain breathing room as it prepares to start shipping the Model X SUV, its second vehicle. The company, increasingly a threat to larger luxury-car brands like Audi because of the allure of its vehicles, hasn’t said how far its electric SUV will be able to go on a single charge.
Audi’s upcoming e-tron Quattro Concept.
Handout, Audi
