Audi AI:Trail: This Electric Off-Roader Is Like Nothing You’ve Seen Before

Audi’s electric concept car
Catches the eye with off-road elements

Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz play a vital role in the German premium car market. Between 2017 and 2019, they unveiled four electric concept cars showcasing their vision: the Aicon, AI:Race, AI:Me, and AI:Trail.

Today, we’re going to talk about the AI:Trail. As the fourth concept car in the AI series, the AI:Trail was developed with off-road driving as its core theme. But what makes it unique? Let’s find out together.

Off-road driving is a key theme
Strong yet lightweight body

The Audi AI:Trail was unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. Each of the four vehicles in the AI concept car series has its own core driving theme, and the AI:Trail, as mentioned earlier, focuses on off-road driving as its core theme. The design alone feels much more robust compared to other concept cars while maintaining the sophistication of a future electric vehicle.

The dimensions of this concept car are 4,150mm in length, 2,150mm in width, and 1,670mm in height (163.4 inches in length, 84.6 inches in width, and 65.7 inches in height). It has 22-inch 850mm tires (33.5 inches), securing a ground clearance of 34cm (13.4 inches) and ensuring off-road capabilities. The body is made of high-tech steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber. This makes the car incredibly light, and despite the high-capacity battery, its gross weight is only 1,750kg (3,858 pounds).

Uses drones instead of headlights
The eco-friendly interior also catches the eye

One of the biggest features of the AI:Trail is its headlights. Amazingly, this concept car does not have headlights on the body. So, how does it light up the road? The answer lies in drones. The AI:Trail is designed so that drones, called Audi Light Pathfinders, autonomously fly around the vehicle, illuminating the road. Thanks to the drones, the light can shine in front and on both sides, which is a huge advantage. When not in use, the drones are docked on a wireless charger on the car’s roof and can be summoned when needed.

The interior of the AI:Trail is filled with eco-friendly materials. Every visible and touchable part is finished with natural, eco-friendly materials like wood and wool. They used recycled eco-friendly leather where leather is needed, embodying the value of future cars ‘sustainability. The second row features fabric seats, which Audi compares to hammocks. These seats can be detached and used as outdoor seating when removed.

Full-time four-wheel drive, Quattro applied.
Air pressure adjustment according to road surface

The AI:Trail features four electric motors and Audi’s unique full-time four-wheel drive system, Quattro.
The overall design of the vehicle is geared towards level 4 autonomous driving. The lithium-ion battery installed allows for a minimum of 400km to a maximum of 500km (248.5 to 310.7 miles) of driving when fully charged. Of course, considering the rough off-road driving conditions that require constant wheel slip, it is designed to reach a top speed of 130km/h (80.8 mph).

As the AI:Trail was presented with the theme of an off-road electric car, it features a sensor-controlled variable air pressure adjustment function in its tires. This function uses optical sensors and electronic stability control (ESC) to detect the condition of the road surface and adjust the tire pressure accordingly. When driving on a sandy surface, the pressure reduces, and the contact surface increases to aid traction. Conversely, the pressure is increased when driving on asphalt roads to ensure superior driving safety.