This year’s Frankfurt Motor Show is all about electric cars.
Audi in particular is making a big electric push at the event. The German automaker has unveiled two electric concepts at Frankfurt, both of which showcase Audi’s vision for autonomous driving. Here, we focus on Audi’s electric coupe, the Aicon.
Scroll down for a closer look:
The Aicon is a four-door, 2+2 electric concept. It has a curved, glass roof and angular ridges along the body — a unique design you don’t see on present day models.
Audi says the car is designed to achieve a range of 435 miles. It has four electric motors over each wheel that produce 405 lb-ft of torque. Regenerative braking and a lightweight design help extend the car’s range, Audi says.
The Aicon also supports wireless charging, allowing for a faster charge time. Audi says the battery can be charged to 80% capacity in just 30 minutes.
Naturally, this is just a concept, so it’s important to take those specs with a grain of salt. Even if the range estimate were accurate, it would likely be a lot lower in the US. The New European Driving Cycle estimates are often higher than Environmental Protection Agency estimates.
Still, Audi is showcasing how battery tech is bound to improve in future models. Wireless charging could also become a reality sooner than we think.
Daimler, Mercedes’ parent company, has partnered with Qualcomm to explore wireless charging of phones and electric cars.
The Aicon is also meant to showcase how interior design is subject to change with advents in autonomous driving. The seats can slide back and forth and even swivel. The rear seats have been transformed into a continuous, comfy bench.
Audi says passengers can control the features using voice control. It can even track eye movement so you can look at a setting and then select it using your voice or by pressing the touchscreen.
The curved glass roof can change transparency to block out more sunlight. That could be helpful for conducting video conference calls or watching shows, which would show up on the front windshield as the car drives autonomously.
The rear features a continuous LED light strip as opposed to two tail lights. Audi says the Aicon also has a projector so it can communicate with pedestrians since no one would be driving the car.
The Aicon concept provides a unique look at how car design, inside and out, is bound to change as owners become passive passengers.
Audi plans to launch two electric SUVs in the next two years.
