Audi will launch three all-new, all-electric Audi e-tron models before 2020, in addition to two recently announced new conventional SUVs, the Q4 and Q8.
The announcements were made at the brand's annual general meeting in Neckarsulm, Germany. The three models will all be launched within the next three years, after which Audi's core models will be gradually switched over to electric power. Audi aims for a third of its sales to be of fully or partially electric cars by 2025.
Five core models in Audi's portfolio will also be replaced within the next 12 months; these are likely to be the Audi A1, Audi A6, Audi A7, Audi A8, and Audi Q3.
The A8 will be first to be revealed; we'll first see it at the Audi Summit in Barcelona on 11 July. The A8 will have electrified powertrains as standard.
The three new EVs will be production versions of the E-tron SUV concept, the E-tron Sportback SUV concept and another model.
Unlike today's Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, which uses a version of the same powertrain used in Volkswagen's Passat GTE and Golf GTE models, these new models will be battery-electric vehicles, rather than plug-in hybrids, according to Audi.
This factors in with Audi's agreement to work with fellow Volkswagen Group brand Porsche on vehicle platforms, including those for EVs, meaning the new models could share their platform with the much-anticipated electric Porsche Mission E.
It also means that Audis could switch to rear-wheel drive; currently, its non-quattro cars have front-wheel drive.
Topics also covered at the meeting included Audi's aim to spearhead the Volkswagen Group's autonomous driving efforts. The brand aims to have a small series of city-based autonomous cars ready for production by 2021.
Another was MyAudi, Audi's online services platform. With this, Audi plans to rope in existing service providers to offer mobility services worldwide.
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Is every second article about VW Group "plans"
Hedonist wrote:
Just another symptom of the corporate arrogance that led to their unethical antics in the past. They think this tsunami of propaganda that Autocar seem keen to promote will make people forget. It won't, of course.
AudI 3L diesel
And Argos to sell hovering