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The Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept

Ingolstadt, July 7, 2020 – From a technical perspective, they are identical twins, but in terms of their shape, they each have their own unmistakable and characteristic features: The Audi Q4 e-tron concept gave visitors to the 2019 Geneva Motor Show a taste of the first compact electric SUV from Audi. With the Q4 Sportback e-tron, the brand is now presenting the second model of the product line that will go into production in 2021 as an SUV Coupé. This gives potential Q4 customers the opportunity to start thinking about which version they prefer roughly a year before the first vehicles will be delivered: the versatility and robustness of the classic SUV or the dynamic elegance of the Coupé variant. The dimensions of the two Q4 models are almost identical: With an exterior length of 4.60 meters (15.1 ft) and a height of 1.60 m (5.2 ft), the Sportback is one centimeter (0.4 in) longer and flatter. The Q4 variants are identical in terms of their width of 1.90 m (6.2 ft) and their wheelbase of 2.77 meters (9.1 ft).

Audi Q4 e-tron concept
Static photo, Color: solar sky
Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept
Static photo, Color: kinetic grey

  •  Audi presents Coupé variant of Q4 e-tron as a concept car
  •  Versatile efficiency technologies enable ranges over 500 kilometers (310.7 mi)
  •  Production version to be launched in 2021 as the Audi brand’s seventh electric model

The two concept cars, which are already offering a clear look ahead at the top-of-the-range engine line-up of the coming series production model, also have the same drive technology. Two
electric motors mobilize 225 kW of system output in the Q4 and Q4 Sportback e-tron concept.

As is typical for Audi, the driving power is brought to the road with quattro all-wheel drive. Thanks to excellent traction, both versions of the Q4 accelerate from zero to 100 km/h
(62.1 mph) in just 6.3 seconds. Top speed is restricted to 180 km/h (111.8 mph).

Audi Q4 e-tron concept
Static photo, Color: solar sky
Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept
Static photo, Color: kinetic grey

A large battery with a capacity of 82 kilowatt hours takes up almost the entire space in the underbody area between the axles. The range of over 450 kilometers (279.6 mi) – in line with the WLTP standard – sets the benchmark in its class. Versions with rear-wheel drive will offer a range of over 500 kilometers (310.7 mi) in accordance with WLTP. The technology of the Q4 etron concept is provided by the modular electrification platform (MEB), which will be integrated in numerous electric vehicles produced by the Volkswagen Group in the future, from the compact class to the superior medium-size class. The Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept offers an advance look at what will already be the seventh series production electric vehicle that the
manufacturer will introduce by 2021.

The silhouette of the Sportback slopes downward to the back in a subtle and dynamic curve. The roof line transitions into the significantly inclined D-pillars and ends in a horizontal spoiler at the
level of the lower window edge. As a result, the future Audi Q4 Sportback appears much longer than its sister model, the Q4 e-tron concept. The striking broad light band that connects the two lamp units on the rear end of the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept was incorporated to reflect an element of the Audi Q4 e-tron concept.

It is clearly visible even here that these two models belong to the same e-tron family, as the close relation to the e-tron Sportback* is obvious. This also applies to the inside of the lights, where the significant sweep of the LED segments is also reminiscent of an element of the older brother. The striking design of the bumper diffuser unit with its horizontal slats and the illuminated e-tron logo in the middle is an element that the two Q4 versions share.

When looking at it from the front, the Singleframe with the four rings brand logo identifies the Q4 Sportback e-tron concept as an Audi vehicle. And it will take no more than two glances to see
that this is an electric Audi: Like the first production Audi with electric drive, the new concept vehicle also features a structured closed surface within a broad, almost upright octagonal frame
in place of a traditional radiator grille.

The prominently modeled fenders of all four wheels are a further classic Audi design feature that has distinguished the brand since the legendary original quattro 1980. The widened features of
the Q4 e-tron concept and Q4 Sportback concept are designed to be highly organic and flowing, and they add a characteristic touch to the side view. The accentuation of the rocker panel area between the axles, where the battery and thus the powerhouse of this SUV is located, is a typical feature of the e-tron. Large 22-inch wheels leave no doubt as to the potential of the newest
member of the Audi family.

The Q4 Sportback e-tron concept is painted in the new kinetic grey color, a light metallic and pearl effect color that takes on a distinct greenish tinge depending on the angle of the light. In
contrast, the lower sections of the body are painted in a dark grey color. This segmentation emphasizes the width and horizontal orientation of the vehicle’s architecture.

Sense of spaciousness – the interior With its dimensions, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept also takes its position in the upper third of the compact class. Its road space requirements qualify the electric SUV as an agile allrounder.

In terms of the interior, by contrast, its wheelbase of 2.77 meters (9.1 ft) puts it at least one class higher. As there is no transmission tunnel restricting the space, the Q4 Sportback
e-tron concept offers unsuspected spaciousness and comfort, especially in terms of legroom at the front and even more in the rear.

Audi Q4 e-tron concept
Static photo, Color: solar sky
Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept
Static photo, Color: kinetic grey

The color scheme emphasizes the sense of spaciousness. While light, warm colors dominate the upper section of the cabin, the dark carpet in the floor section provides a contrast. The headlining, the window pillars and the upper section of the door rail and dash panel are fitted with white and beige microfiber textiles. Sustainability is the top priority not only in terms of the
electric drive in the Audi Q4 and Q4 Sportback: The floor covering is made of recycled materials. Instead of chrome-plated metal decor frames, the surfaces are covered with a high-quality multi-layer paint finish. The painted frosted Plexiglas on the applications creates an intensive depth effect. Four seats with integrated head restraints are upholstered with comfortable Alcantara material manufactured with exquisite workmanship. Double seams stitched with thick yarn adorn the upholstery.

The display of the Audi virtual cockpit with the most important display elements for speed, charge level, and navigation is located behind the steering wheel. The large-format head-up
display with an augmented reality function is a new feature. It can display important graphical information, such as directional arrows for turning, directly on the course of the road.

Control panels designed as touch elements on the steering wheel spokes can be used to select frequently used functions. In the middle above the center console, there is a 12.3-inch
touchscreen via which the infotainment and vehicle functions are displayed and operated.
It is tilted toward the driver for greater ease of operation. A strip of buttons for controlling the air conditioning is located below it. As the center console does not need to hold functional elements such as a gear lever or hand brake actuation elements, it is designed as a spacious stowage compartment that includes a cell phone charging cradle. There is a horizontal area in high-quality design into which the selector button for the transmission mode is integrated and that also serves as a cover for the front section of the console. In addition to the conventional lower storage compartment, the doors now provide the possibility to store bottles in the specially molded upper section, where they are
easy to reach.

Dynamic photo,
Color: kinetic grey

Efficient performer: drive system and suspension

The modular electrification platform (MEB) offers a broad range of drive variants and power levels. The performance version of the electric drive is installed in the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron
concept. The front and rear axles are each powered by an electric motor – this Q4 Sportback is a quattro. There is no mechanical connection between the axles. Instead, an electronic control
ensures that the torque distribution is coordinated optimally, and it does so in fractions of a second. That enables the SUV Coupé to achieve optimum traction in all weather conditions and on any type of surface.

In most cases, the Q4 Sportback e-tron concept mainly uses its rear electric motor, a permanently excited synchronous motor, in order to achieve the highest efficiency. For reasons
of efficiency, the drive torque is generally distributed with a rear-axle bias.

If the driver demands more power than the rear electric motor can supply, the electric all-wheel drive uses the front asynchronous motor to redistribute the torque as required to the front axle.
This also happens predictively even before slip occurs in icy conditions or when cornering fast, or if the car understeers or oversteers.

The electric motor in the rear end has an output of 150 kW and mobilizes a torque of 310 newton meters (228.6 lb-ft); the front motor supplies the front wheels with up to 75 kW
and 150 newton meters (110.6 lb-ft). The system output is 225 kW. The battery in the vehicle floor stores 82 kilowatt hours, which allows for a range of more than 450 kilometers (279.6 mi)
according to the WLTP standard. The battery is charged with a maximum of 125 kilowatts. It therefore takes little more than 30 minutes to reach 80 percent of the total capacity.
However, the recipe for this excellent range involves far more than just an energy storage unit with a large capacity. Just like the first member of the family, the Audi Q4 e-tron concept, the
Audi Q4 Sportback also presents itself as an efficiency virtuoso, starting with the low aerodynamic drag of the body, whose drag coefficient is 0.26 and therefore 0.01 below that of
the Q4 e-tron SUV. The compact electric product line also features a sophisticated recuperation strategy, leaving out no possibility for optimizing its range. The complex thermal management of the drive and battery, which involves a CO2 heat pump, also contributes to this.

Static photo,
Color: Kinetic grey

Sporty, precise handling
A key factor for the sporty character and outstanding transverse dynamics is the low and central position at which the drive components are installed. The high-voltage battery system is
optimally matched to the dimensions of the Audi Q4 Sportback and is located between the axles in the form of a flat, broad block beneath the passenger compartment. The battery system weighs 510 kilograms (1,124.4 lb). The center of gravity of the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept is therefore at a similar level to that of a sedan with a conventional drive system.
Axle load distribution is perfectly balanced at almost 50:50. The front wheels of the Q4 Sportback e-tron concept are guided on a MacPherson axle with adaptive dampers. In the rear,
there is a multi-link axle with separate springs and adaptive dampers.

The modular electrification platform MEB: the base
MLB, MQB – modular longitudinal platform and modular lateral platform: These component systems for vehicle development represent a great success story in all segments of Audi and the Volkswagen Group. Previous platforms were designed primarily for the use of combustion engines. What is new and different about the modular electrification platform: It was designed specifically and exclusively for automobiles with electric drive systems. Axles, drives, wheelbases and the interaction between all components are selected and adapted specifically for e-mobility.

The placement of the large-volume battery units and their geometry can therefore be optimized without having to make concessions to other drive concepts that must always be taken into
account in the MLB and MQB. At the same time, the MEB opens up a huge synergy potential. This platform serves as the basis primarily for electric cars in the high-volume A segment. It allows the best technology available to be developed jointly across brands and used in many different electric cars. The MEB thus also helps electric mobility to break through even in the particularly price-sensitive compact segment.

 

E-initiative: more than 20 electric drive models by 2025
The brand with the four rings launched its electric offensive with the world premiere of the allelectric SUV Audi e-tron* in September 2018. By 2025, Audi will offer more than 20 automobiles
with all-electric drive in the most important markets worldwide and achieve roughly 40 percent of its sales with electrified models. The SUVs within this portfolio include the e-tron* and the etron
Sportback*. In addition, there will be a range of models with classic body layout such as Avant and Sportback. The range will cover every relevant market segment from the compact
class to the luxury class.

Fuel consumption of the models named above:

(Fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures given in ranges depend on the equipment selected)

Audi e-tron 50 quattro
Combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km (62.1 mi): 26.6–22.4 (WLTP);
24.3–21.9 (NEDC)
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km (g/mi): 0
Audi e-tron 55 quattro
Combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km (62.1 mi): 26.4–22.4 (WLTP);
23.1–21.0 (NEDC)
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km (g/mi): 0
Audi e-tron Sportback 50 quattro
Combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km (62.1 mi): 26.3–21.6 (WLTP);
23.9–21.4 (NEDC)
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km (g/mi): 0
Audi e-tron Sportback 55 quattro
Combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km (62.1 mi): 26.0–21.9 (WLTP);
22.7–20.6 (NEDC)
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km (g/mi): 0
Audi
MediaInfo
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The specified fuel consumption and emission data have been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law. Since September 1, 2017, certain new vehicles are already being typeapproved according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), a more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Starting on September 1, 2018, the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) will be replaced by the WLTP in stages. Owing to the more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions measured according to the WLTP will, in many cases, be higher than those measured according to the NEDC. For further information on the differences between the
WLTP and NEDC, please visit www.audi.de/wltp.

We are currently still required by law to state the NEDC figures. In the case of new vehicles which have been type-approved according to the WLTP, the NEDC figures are derived from the WLTP data. It is possible to specify the WLTP figures voluntarily in addition until such time as this is required by law. In cases where the NEDC figures are specified as value ranges, these do not refer to a particular individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the sales offering. They are intended exclusively as a means of comparison between different vehicle types. Additional equipment and accessories (e.g. add-on parts, different tire formats, etc.)may change the relevant vehicle parameters, such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, and, in conjunction with weather and traffic conditions and individual driving style, may affect fuel consumption, electrical power consumption, CO₂ emissions and the performance figures for the vehicle.

Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures given in ranges depend on the tires/wheels used and chosen equipment level. Further information on official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the “Guide on the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption of all new passenger car models,” which is available free of charge at all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern, Germany, or
under www.dat.de.

The Audi Group, with its brands Audi, Ducati and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. It is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 16 locations in 11 countries. 100 percent subsidiaries of AUDI AG include Audi Sport GmbH (Neckarsulm, Germany), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor

Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).
In 2019, the Audi Group delivered to customers about 1.846 million automobiles of the Audi brand, 8,205 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand and 53,183 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. In the 2019 fiscal year, AUDI AG achieved total revenue of €55.7 billion and an operating profit of €4.5 billion. At present, 90,000 people work for the company all over the world, 60,000 of them in Germany. Audi focuses on sustainable products and technologies for the future of mobility.

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2020 TUATARA HYPERCARS

2020 TUATARA HYPERCARS DEBUT

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

The SSC Tuatara is a hypercar that alters reality on several automotive design and engineering fronts. The Tuatara project, code named “Exceed”, began in 2009, when SSC North America Founder and CEO Jerod Shelby began to look to the future for a successor to the company’s record-breaking SSC Ultimate Aero, which held the Guinness World Record for Fastest Production Car in the World from 2007 to 2010. From there, he assembled a collaboration of industry leading individuals and firms to enhance the SSC engineering team.

“The team had to reflect the achievements that we set out to accomplish, which is why we gathered the best in the industry to push the vision of the Tuatara forward. The team has not only achieved that original vision, but has surpassed it by an incredible margin.” – Jerod Shelby, CEO / Lead Designer

The body and aerodynamics of the Tuatara were designed in collaboration with world renowned automotive designer Jason Castriota. Penning the design of legacy brand automobiles such as Maserati and Ferrari, his insight into timeless and striking form would help move the SSC brand forward with a hypercar design that would endure the test of time. Likewise, the science of aerodynamics and thermal efficiency had to not only blend seamlessly into the artful exterior, but be pushed to new limits, ensuring an unparalleled coefficient of drag.

“The resulting aerodynamics package sets the Tuatara apart from our competitors. Not only does the car boast a class leading 0.279 drag coefficient, but also maintains an identical aero balance from 100 mph to well over 300 mph, resulting in an incredibly stable and predictable car that instills absolute confidence in the driver.” – Jason Castriota

Beneath the carbon fiber skin of the Tuatara is a robust carbon fiber monocoque, engineered with safety, durability, performance, and aesthetics in mind. The monocoque brings all of the critical sub-assemblies together into an aggregated form, as well as contours to the shape of the ergonomic cockpit surrounding the driver and passenger. Composed entirely of carbon fiber, the light weight frame provides uncompromising safety thanks to its systematic crash structures and durable design. The beautiful carbon fiber composition was not left to be unnoticed, as exposed areas of the monocoque are visible, both subtly and notably across the car. For over a century, Washington State has been a global leader in aerospace innovation. SSC North America tapped into this extraordinary potential by collaborating with aerospace design firms and suppliers based in Washington that could provide carbon fiber components that meet the strict aerospace standards. Further collaboration between the SSC engineering team and Nevada based Customs Factory bolstered the design, engineering, and development of the lightweight Tuatara skeleton, an all carbon work of art leading the hypercar industry for safety and performance.

Jerod and his team at SSC North America are founded on the pursuit of extreme performance. As such, the vision of the Tuatara embodied creating a hypercar with unprecedented power, speed, and versatility. Furthermore, the powerplant had to be as unique as the Tuatara itself and the driving experience it affords. SSC North America engineers started from the ground up, designing a bespoke engine in collaboration with Tom Nelson of Nelson Racing Engines. From a groundbreaking intake system, to a unique flat-plane crank configuration, to a form so exceptional it is designated as a work of automotive art, the SSC Twin Turbo V8 revolutionizes the potential of hypercar powerplants. Producing 1,350 horsepower with 91 octane or a massive 1,750 horsepower with E85, the SSC V8 pairs with a CIMA 7 speed transmission, integrated with a state-of-the-art Automac AMT system, providing sub-100 millisecond shifting capabilities in Track Mode.

After two decades of achieving top tier performance, one of the most underestimated goals and achievements of SSC North America is the diversity of drivability that SSC hypercars deliver. The aggressive capabilities of the Tuatara may be apparent through the astonishing aerodynamics and power it boasts, but the vision of the car was to achieve the rare ability for the car to transform its capabilities at the touch of a button. Integrated into the Tuatara are advanced automated systems, granting the driver the ability to completely alter the suspension, ride height, handling, acceleration, shifting, and overall drivability. Sport Mode, the default configuration, sets the car at 4.0″ front and 4.5″ rear ride height, as well as a transmission configuration to allow for docile shifting for ease of operation and city street environments. Track Mode lowers the ride height to 2.74″ front and 3.25″ rear, adjusts the geometry of the suspension for extreme track-level handling, substantially increased shift responsiveness, and dynamically activating a rear wing control surface, adjusting pitch and height based on speed to maintain deliberate airflow and balanced precision downforce. While braking, the active rear wing deflects accordingly, spoiling the airflow and delivering superior braking capabilities. Front Lift Mode offers convenience in situations that would otherwise limit the low ride height of the Tuatara. The front suspension is lifted an additional 40mm, allowing for clearance over speed bumps or other raised surfaces. Ease of transport is achieved through this adjusted ride height as well.

With an extreme level of performance at the driver’s disposal, operator and passenger comfort and connectivity is key to the unprecedented experience that the Tuatara has to offer. Dihedral opening doors offer both spacious cab egress and stunning curbside attraction, as well as ease of use. At the press of a button, the hydraulically actuated doors open effortlessly, welcoming the individual to a well appointed cockpit. Safety is immediately apparent as exposed carbon fiber encases the cab. Each and every detail of the pure and purposeful interior has been designed to maximize the ability to focus on the task at hand, redefining all paradigms of speed, distraction free. The driver is seamlessly connected to the car through a user focused digital HMI (human-machine interface) driver display, designed to provide crucial driving information to the driver in an easily navigable yet striking design. On the center console sits a readily available touch screen system, offering the driver all of the vehicle’s toggles, controls, diagnostics, and entertainment in a practical user interface. At the touch of the screen, the driver has access to the multiple driving modes, tire pressures, complete diagnostics, climate control, music, and more. At the center of the driver’s helm is the Tuatara steering wheel with custom paddle shifts, accessible buttons and toggles, and a shift light indicator to overtly prompt the driver during intense track handling situation. Passengers as tall as 6’5″ will fit comfortably in the cabin, even with sporting a race helmet.

The SSC Tuatara personifies over a decade of a methodical, passionate, and innovative undertaking to create a car that exceeds measure on all fronts. It is a truly bespoke American hypercar that involves the collaboration and efforts of hundreds of dedicated individuals on a global scale.

“I am extremely proud of our team. We have created the full package – looks, performance, and artwork all rolled into one. The last 10 years have been a journey to excellence making this February 7th public debut even sweeter and more rewarding. And it is only the beginning!” – Jerod Shelby.

SSC North America will produce one hundred (100) Tuatara hypercars, all manufactured at the company headquarters in Richland, Washington, USA. Manhattan Motorcars of New York is the exclusive Northeast United States Authorized Tuatara Dealership. An extensive options list gives customers a chance to make each Tuatara truly unique, with high speed and track-centered configurations available.

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LAGONDA REVEALS THE FUTURE OF THE LUXURY SUV

  • Lagonda All-Terrain Concept previews a development of the Lagonda design language first seen in the ‘Vision Concept’ revealed at the 2018 Geneva motor show
  • Concept gives first glimpse of the first production model from the luxury brand exclusively driven by zero emission powertrain technologies
  • Production of Lagonda vehicles set to begin at new St Athan facility in Wales in 2022

LAGONDA REVEALS THE FUTURE OF THE LUXURY SUV


Geneva, Switzerland: Aston Martin Lagonda is proud to present the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept, continuing the journey towards a new range of state of the art, luxury vehicles driven by zero emission powertrain technologies. Lagonda production is planned to start in 2022 at a new state of the art facility in St Athan, Wales – Aston Martin Lagonda’s ‘Home of Electrification’.

Built around near-future technologies such as its advanced Battery Electric drivetrain, the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept is an ultra-stylish, supremely luxurious, fully electric emission-free vehicle that can transport its occupants to remote and spectacular locations. It develops the designs and materials seen in last year’s widely acclaimed Lagonda Vision Concept, tailoring them for the new and challenging environments that an all-terrain vehicle is capable of reaching.


Lagonda aims to be the world’s first zero emission luxury brand. It will confound traditional thinking and take full advantage of the latest advances in both electrification and autonomous driving technologies, which amount to the biggest revolution in land-bound transportation since the invention of the car. Lagonda will show how true luxury and modern design, far from being diametrically opposed interests, can exist in total harmony and enhance each other’s most desirable characteristics.

Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive Officer said: ‘The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept adds a hugely exciting sense of adventure to the unique brand of luxury, emission-free vehicles that Lagonda is planning to produce. This is a car that would be at home whisking someone straight from a glamorous red carpet event to a remote scientific research lab. It shows the bold possibilities for Lagonda and demonstrates how the company will push to expand horizons in every area, whether it be technology, design or scope of travel.’


Lagonda All-Terrain Concept

The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept is a near future study that continues the evolution of a design language that could be seen in production Lagonda models as soon as 2022. Where the Lagonda Vision Concept shown at last year’s Geneva motor show was purely focused on road travel, this new vehicle broadens Lagonda’s horizons. It appeals to a pioneering spirit of adventure and such is its futuristic design that you could just as easily imagine it roaming the surface of Mars as a mountain in Scotland.


In the same way that the exterior design of the Vision Concept took some of its inspiration from Concorde, so the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept has taken some of its initial design language from the world of the super yacht. There is a relaxed elegance to the rear-leaning gesture of the belt line, but there is also an inherent robustness that is in-keeping with the terrains that the vehicle is designed to tackle. The surfacing is incredibly futuristic, with forms and shapes that look like they have been created by the huge, planetary forces of gravity fields.

Thanks to a large proportion of the vehicle’s stiffness coming from the floor where the batteries are stored, the designers have once again been able to fit rear-hinged back doors. These not only allow for a spectacular ‘red carpet’ moment as the interior and its occupants are revealed but, when combined with the sections of roof that open upwards, also enable wonderfully easy ingress and egress.

The sense of wonder continues at the rear of the car. Set into the very wide clamshell rear hatch, is a thin and elegant light strip that cleverly hides the source of its illumination. Light is beamed downwards and then reflected out, so that the actual LEDs are hidden from the viewer. This not only gives a very clean look to the light, but also lends an air of magic to its operation, turning the functional into the fantastic.

Another practical yet sleekly pleasing element of the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept’s design is the rear shelf, which slides out from the floor. Hidden, flush with the body when stowed, the shelf extends when required in order to offer a platform for occupants to perch on. Given the extraordinary views that the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept can transport its occupants to, it seems only right that it should offer somewhere for them to sit and survey the landscape.

The interior of the vehicle develops many of the bold design elements first seen in the Vision Concept, but while that possessed a rear-seat-biased limousine atmosphere, the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept has a more even-handed ambiance spread between all four seats. So, while there is still the option of rotating the two front seats to face the rear two during autonomous operation, there is a greater expectation that the vehicle will be controlled by the driver during the journeys that it will undertake.

Overall there is a darker, more nocturnal treatment to the colour and trim choices. When considering the materials and mood of the cabin, the intention was that it should feel like a seamless transition between the vehicle and the owner’s home. ‘We imagined that the owner would be a sort of pioneering yet environmentally conscious person’ said Aston Martin EVP and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman. ‘They may well have a luxury villa in a remote place that acts as their sanctuary. As such, the Lagonda brand is unconstrained by the traditional values of current luxury products, it is not about wood and leather, we tried to design the interior to feel very calm and quiet with soft, natural materials like Cashmere. Lagonda reflects a future that is full of unique materials that are not set in the past.’

Feelings of time and space are also attributes associated with luxury and as such the interior of the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept does its utmost to enhance those aspects. The lines and focal colours inside the car draw upon techniques known since the masters of the Renaissance in their ability to draw the eye and utilise perspective. Also, key is the view out, which is expansive in that it draws the eye not only to the front and sides but also upwards. This allows the occupants to look both along streets or valleys and up to the buildings or peaks surrounding them.

Technology is an important but subtle part of the interior. Thanks to clever and considered integration, there isn’t the usual punctuation of vents, grilles and speakers. However, that’s not to say that everything is hidden. While the technology exists in this day and age to allow the key to be removed altogether, Lagonda believes that it remains an important point of contact between the driver and the vehicle. As such, the key is celebrated and indeed elevated in the interior of the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept. Thanks to the wonder of electromagnets, the key floats when it is placed in position, levitating between the front seats.

‘We wanted the technology in the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept to bring a sense of personality to the vehicle’ commented Reichman. ‘Just as with the materials and the exterior design, the technology should be warm and involving rather than cold and impersonal. This is the future and it should be something that people are inspired and delighted by rather than perplexed and frightened by.’

Aston Martin St Athan: Home of Electrification

Although currently at the concept stage, it already has a home. When Lagonda’s first model reaches production, it will be produced at Aston Martin Lagonda’s brand new facility in Wales. The St Athan site, which started life as a series of Ministry of Defence ‘Super Hangars’, is currently being completely transformed into a state-of-the-art luxury manufacturing plant. This will be Aston Martin Lagonda’s second production facility and ultimately it will become the company’s ‘Home of Electrification’.

Over 70 Welsh employees have now joined the already 100-strong St Athan team, having spent the last two-and-a-half years at Aston Martin Lagonda’s Gaydon Headquarters. This core group of experts will train new employees at the St Athan plant. They’re sure to be busy with the workforce steadily increasing during the first half of 2019, then expanding rapidly to more than 700 by the first quarter of 2020.

Palmer commented: ‘As the St Athan facility nears completion, there is a very real sense this is the start of a bold new era for Aston Martin Lagonda. A second production facility is a critical step in delivering our Second Century Plan. The St Athan facility will initially commence with the production of the Aston Martin DBX but will ultimately be a global centre of excellence for the production of luxury high performance EVs, including Lagonda: the world’s first luxury electric automotive brand.’

Lagonda: The Future

The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept provides numerous clues to the exciting Lagonda models of the future. It embodies the vision for Lagonda to be a standalone marque that will break through long-standing boundaries and transform the way people perceive luxury transport. As demonstrated in the concept, this will be done through the use of cutting edge design, creating technologically radical, visually spectacular, thoroughly modern and ultra-luxurious vehicles that will overturn conventional thinking. Lagonda’s ambitions also go beyond automotive, it is a luxury brand which, although currently operating in the automotive sphere, can go anywhere and do anything that is consistent with the values of the brand.

Just like the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept, production Lagonda models will not only be supremely spacious, cosseting and exquisitely appointed, but also bold and forward thinking, bristling with creativity and innovation from the way they are designed to the engineering they contain. They will prove that the old conflicts – those between high performance and zero emissions, technological sophistication and the purest luxury – are conflicts no more. Lagonda believes the increase in new automotive technologies from efficient electrification to autonomous driving provides a unique opportunity for a new brand bearing one of the greatest names in motoring to rewrite a rulebook that has been allowed to stagnate for too long.

Above all, Lagonda will remain faithful to the forward thinking, ever adventurous spirit of Wilbur Gunn, the Anglo-American engineer and entrepreneur who founded Lagonda in a greenhouse at his home in Staines to the west of London in 1899. A man whose talents stretched from opera singing to riverboat building, he named his company after the Lagonda Creek river that ran through the town of Springfield in his native Ohio. His cars were always innovative: for example, the 16/18hp model that won the Moscow to St Petersburg trial in 1910 boasted not only trailing arm rear suspension but a form of monocoque construction, decades before its advantages were realised by the bulk of the world’s car manufacturers. He succeeded because he refused to accept that the current way was the only way. Lagonda went on to become not only one of the most coveted car brands in the world, but among the most versatile too. In its 1930s heyday Lagonda was capable of producing V12-powered limousines, and sports cars strong and quick enough to win Le Mans, which one duly did in 1935. Bought by Aston Martin in 1947, Lagonda continued to innovate, never more so than with the extraordinary Aston Martin Lagonda of the 1970s,1980s and 1990’s to this day one of the most audacious and strikingly styled cars ever designed.

Modern Lagonda products will be inspired by these pioneering designs and, like them, be steadfast in their focus on the future. ‘We see no limits for Lagonda,’ says Palmer, ‘it will be a brand for the restless, for those who are anything but happy with the status quo. It will produce cars that exploit technology, without being obsessed with it for its own sake. And It will enable Lagonda to redefine the concept of luxury within the automotive and other spheres.
 
‘The car has been the greatest liberating force humankind has invented, and at the time the journey was as important as the destination. All that has been lost over the last 100 years. Wherever you are in a Lagonda, whatever the journey and whichever seat you occupy, it will re-introduce you to the wonder of travel.’

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Fibonacci, the 200 kW electric super asymmetric catamaran
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Fibonacci, the 200 kW electric super asymmetric catamaran

Turin’s Icona Design last popped up on our radar with an insanely expensive, v8-engined supercar prototype called the Vulcano whose entire bodywork was fashioned from raw titanium. Now, it’s back with an electric yacht design inspired by “the numbers of nature.”

The Icona Fibonacci, a catamaran design out of Turin, Italy 

Icona Design

The Icona Fibonacci is an asymmetrical catamaran. Its chief nod to the Fibonacci sequence would appear to be a pair of sprawling ornamental staircases that wrap themselves around the sides giving access to the flying upper deck and the helm. It might have made more sense to call it the Steinway because its roof lifts off like the lid of a grand piano and the overall shape reminds us more of that than of a seashell.

Still, this 55-footer (16.7 m) is a beauty to look at in the renders, reasonably compact but with defined areas for socializing, sunbathing and below-deck privacy.

The Fibonacci is a 55-foot asymmetrical catamaran concept with 400 kW of electric propulsion
Icona Design

It would be powered by a pair of 200-kilowatt (270-hp) electric motors, running off a pair of 340-kWh battery packs that make it suitable for weekend cruises with around 12 hours of cruising and another 12 hours of sitting about enjoying yourself. Pure range would be about 150 miles (240 km) when cruising at 10 knots (11.5 mph, 18.5 km/h). Charging could supposedly be accomplished in 20 minutes according to the company, but that seems like a ludicrous miscalculation to us.

Extending the range may be possible using a polymer electrolyte hydrogen fuel cell arrangement that keeps things relatively eco-friendly while seriously upping the energy density – although you’ll have to give up some space below deck to go that way.

Will this one make it to the prototype stage, or will it merely serve as a portfolio piece for Icona and its partners Hydrotec, Terra Modena, ASG Power and Studio RPR? It’s hard to say, but it sure is a nice thing to look at.

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ZENVO REVEALS LATEST COMMISSION TSR-S HYPERCAR
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ZENVO REVEALS LATEST COMMISSION TSR-S HYPERCAR

• Danish hypercar manufacturer unveils latest commission of 1177bhp twin-supercharged TSR-S model
• First example to feature latest carbon fibre innovations from Zenvo including full fragmented carbon fibre wheels and bespoke weave design to exposed carbon fibre body sections
• Constant development within Zenvo has also seen the creation of a hybrid gearbox, increasing drivetrain capabilities for future models
• Latest TSR-S was due to be unveiled at Geneva International Motor Show, but Zenvo will now be hosting a private media event at its Denmark HQ
• Zenvo builds five cars per year by hand from its factory in Præstø, Denmark, with every car built to exacting customer specifications

Zenvo has today revealed its latest commission TSR-S alongside further developments from the Danish hypercar manufacturer.

ZENVO REVEALS LATEST COMMISSION TSR-S HYPERCAR

ZENVO REVEALS LATEST COMMISSION TSR-S HYPERCAR

This example of the 1177bhp twin-supercharged V8 TSR-S model, the street legal variant of the TSR track car, has received numerous bespoke touches and is the first car to receive full fragmented carbon fibre wheels designed, developed and built in-house by Zenvo as well as individual weave designs within the exposed carbon fibre body sections.

Following Danish design ideals of innovation and creativity, the geometric pattern carbon fibre visible within the blue tinted central stripe is a further evolution of Zenvo’s class leading carbon fibre technology and personalisation options, such as the bespoke ‘watermark’ carbon fibre graphics featured on previous TSR-S models.

ZENVO REVEALS LATEST COMMISSION TSR-S HYPERCAR

ZENVO REVEALS LATEST COMMISSION TSR-S HYPERCAR

This technique has also been used on the exposed carbon fibre side pods, with the Zenvo logo emblazoned within the material in an opposing herringbone pattern. These new weave patterns, which can be tailored to the client’s specification, are formed within the carbon fibre and are hand-laid by Zenvo’s craftsmen.

So too are the new fragmented carbon wheels, with each minute fragment hand-cut and expertly layered to create the special finish and weigh some 15 kilograms less than the aluminium variants.

As with all carbon fibre work at Zenvo, from the body panels to the floor mats, these components are created in-house using a combination of cutting-edge technology and human craftsmanship with countless personalisation options. Each wheel takes two technicians roughly one week to create. All visible carbon on the car can be colour tinted, including the wheels, and clients can specify individual sections in differing carbon finishes.

Also unveiled today is the latest drivetrain development from Zenvo, a hybrid variant of the 7-speed sequential gearbox with helical-cut dog gears that has become a trademark of the brand.

This gearbox offers the driver two changeable modes, Road and Race, controlled by tactile aluminium switchgear on the steering wheel. In its Road setting, the changes are electronically assisted to remove the usual harshness of a traditional ‘dog-box’ while Race mode allows for exceptionally fast and direct mechanical changes usually only offered in fully fledged race cars. The latest development of this innovative gearbox is the addition of a hybrid module which yields a power boost, further traction control and even the addition of an eighth forward gear with the electric motor providing reverse drive.

Zenvo is constantly developing, and this gearbox is the latest innovation designed and undergoing development entirely in-house which will increase the usability and performance of both current and future models.

The TSR-S is Zenvo’s flagship model, combining the road-going capability of the TS1 GT with the track-derived performance of the TSR and is powered by a 1177bhp twin-supercharged flat-plane V8. 0-62 mph is achieved in 2.8 seconds and 0-124 mph in just 6.8 seconds, aided by a super lightweight carbon fibre construction and exceptional aerodynamics including Zenvo’s patented Centripedal rear wing which reacts to steering inputs to create high levels of downforce while cornering.

The TSR-S is priced at €1.45m and Zenvo production is limited to five cars per year, offering unparalleled exclusivity in a hypercar sector.

Originally destined for the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show, Zenvo will now showcase these developments during a private media event at its HQ in Præstø, Denmark and at further locations around the world. Interested parties should contact jb@zenvoautomotive for further information.

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The Mint Concept The Electric Luxury City Car.

 Seoul, Korea., February 6, 2020 — Today, Genesis announced that the 2020 G90 and Mint Concept won 2019 GOOD DESIGN® awards in the Transportation category. Genesis has been a GOOD DESIGN® award winner for five consecutive years including the G90 in 2015, the Vision G concept in 2016, the GV80 concept in 2017 and the Essentia concept & G70 in 2018.

2020 GENESIS G90 AND MINT CONCEPT NAMED GOOD DESIGN® AWARDS WINNERS

2020 GENESIS G90 AND MINT CONCEPT NAMED GOOD DESIGN® AWARDS WINNERS

2020 GENESIS G90 AND MINT CONCEPT NAMED GOOD DESIGN® AWARDS WINNERS

“As a relatively new brand, Genesis has introduced a design that greatly resonates with the luxury car market,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice President, Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group. “The G90 is the embodiment of flagship transportation while the Mint reinterprets what a luxurious, city-focused runabout could be. The GOOD DESIGN® awards are a high water mark we aim for each time we put pen to paper.”

The GOOD DESIGN® awards, which began in 1950 and marked its 69th anniversary in 2019, are recognized for its legitimacy and authority, and selects award-winning works in each field with a focus on comprehensive evaluations of products such as aesthetic, innovative, new technology, form, concept, function, utility, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness.
The 2019 GOOD DESIGN® awards were selected among about 900 entries from 38 countries worldwide.

The 2020 G90 incorporates new-car-level design changes on the exterior and interior, further enhancing its presence as the brand’s flagship sedan through the themes of Athletic Elegance and Horizontal Architecture. G-Matrix, a Genesis design hallmark inspired by light reflecting from an illuminating diamond, is applied to the headlights and taillights to emphasize refined proportions and balanced architecture. The 2020 G90 introduces multiple technology firsts for the Genesis brand, including a 12.3-inch display navigation system with touchscreen controls, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an unparalleled level of standard active and passive safety systems as part of a brand-level commitment to passenger security and comfort. All Genesis vehicles, including the 2020 G90, offer complimentary Service Valet: the exclusive, no-cost, consumer-focused service program that elevates the luxury vehicle ownership experience.

The Mint Concept introduces an all-electric luxury car for the city and represents a new vehicle typology, featuring organic design and an innovative in-car experience. The lightweight runabout reimagines the iconic shape of the city car, tailored to the needs of modern lifestyle. Mint is both highly manoeuvrable and exhilarating to drive. The overall motif skews to the sportier side of Athletic Elegance while the G-Matrix pattern serves a functional purpose, used for efficient cooling and airflow circulation around the battery floor. It is also the basis for the Mint Concept’s aerodynamic wheel design and several interior structures and flourishes. In lieu of a conventional trunk and rear hatch, the Mint Concept features a parcel shelf accessed via scissor-style side openings.

Like a carefully furnished city dwelling, its interior takes advantage of every cubic inch. The cozy space is made to feel expansive, through the use of lightweight textiles, cognac leather and mullion-free windows. Ingress and egress are made easier, thanks to the automatic swivelling of the instrument panel and bench seat. The versatility of the Mint Concept extends to the engineering of its high-density, battery-electric powertrain, which is capable of an estimated 200 miles per full charge and 350-KW fast recharging.

About Genesis

As a design-focused brand, Genesis produces fascinating models that embody Athletic Elegance, including the G70 sport sedan, the G80 and G80 Sport executive luxury sedans, and the flagship G90 luxury sedan. Genesis recently introduced GV80, its first luxury sport-utility vehicle. Based in South Korea, Genesis has launched its brand in the U.S., Canada, Russia, the Middle East and Australia. Genesis is one of the highest-ranked brands in the automotive industry by respected, third-party experts including North American Car of the Year, Consumer Reports, J.D. Power and Auto Pacific. For more information about Genesis and its new definition of luxury, please visit

https://www.genesis.com.

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LEXUS CREATES MOON MOBILITY CONCEPT SKETCH FOR LUNAR DESIGN PORTFOLIO

LEXUS CREATES MOON MOBILITY CONCEPT SKETCH FOR LUNAR DESIGN PORTFOLIO

Joining an elite group of design industry luminaries, the luxury automaker was selected to contribute a suite of design concept drawings to Document Journal’s prestigious portfolio

For Document Journal‘s issue No. 15, the art & fashion magazine invited a selection of the culture’s most compelling architects and designers to find their inner Major Toms and imagine human life on the moon for The Lunar Design Portfolio. How shall we live? What will it look like? What will we wear? What will we drive?

ED2, the European Advanced Design Studio for Toyota and Lexus dedicated to advanced concept proposals and groundbreaking design, was selected to contribute a lunar mobility concept.  Drawing on the just-released LF-30 Future Concept vehicle, the studio created a series of 7 concepts from 5 different designers, a full lineup of space vehicles ready to tackle the lunar landscape.

”When Document Journal approached us about the Lunar Design Portfolio, our team was working on the LF-30 Concept, which represents the “Lexus Electrified” futuristic vision for Lexus. The design team was already looking beyond near-term production and ahead to how advanced technology will change the way we interact with vehicles,” said Ian Cartabiano, President of ED2.  “The lunar project came at the right time, half way through the LF-30 development. It gave the team a chance to dream further out, and then apply some of the design language from the LF-30 interior to their lunar proposals.”

Zero Gravity, the concept sketch selected to appear in the print issue of the magazine, is a single rider vehicle that evolves the LF-30’s “Lexus Electrified” vision to incorporate Magnetic Levitation technology.  The design reinterprets the signature Lexus spindle grille and uses the motorcycle-style of driving to employ the new concept of Tazuna (which mean “reins” in Japanese): the fundamental human-centered philosophy.  Inspired by how a single rein can be used to achieve mutual understanding between horse and rider, the steering control provides active driving enjoyment created by the direct communication between human and machine.

Lexus Lunar, by Yung Presciutti

Lexus Lunar is a massive transport vehicle designed to explore and discover the moon safely. The vehicle is divided into two parts: the bottom consists of a platform with 6 rugged wheels to give the freedom to go wherever you want. The upper part holds the living area. The two components of the vehicle can be also divided, with the upper portion detaching to create the start of a lunar colony.

About Document Journal

Launched in 2012, Document is a unique, biannual journal of American and global culture featuring the pre-eminent voices of arts and letters. The editors scoured the globe to select the most compelling and visionary thinkers and designers to participate in the Lunar Design Project. Complementing Lexus’s revolutionary and futuristic designs, Document invited leading architects Shohei Shigematsu of OMA, Dan Wood and Amale Andaos of WORKac, Kulapat Yantrasast of wHY, and Lyondon Neri and Rossana Hu to envision the built lunar world, resulting in a thought-provoking collection of both practical and esoteric approaches; inspired by the potential enlightenment found in liberation from gravity, artist Mariko Mori submitted an ethereal original work; industrial design powerhouse frog and Nike contributed ideas for revolutionary consumer goods; leading writer and sociologist Steve Fuller, author of Humans 2.0, explored the historical, social, and philosophical implications of a lunar colony; and world-class DJ Honey Dijon created the soundscape through an exclusive playlist. Document Issue 15 also features Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James and Queen & Slim star Daniel Kaluuya in conversation on the creation of a black mythology; cultural critic Roxane Gay, women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred, and writer Siri Hustvedt on a reimagining of the law according to women; and an intimate and playful feature on groundbreaking musician King Princess in conversation with Mj Rodriguez, star of Ryan Murphy’s hit show Pose.

Additional Design Concepts of the Lunar Design Portfolio:

OMA (architecture) – Orbit City

frog (industrial design) – LEAP Scooters; BLAST MAX

wHY (architecture) – Transcending Gravity

Mariko Mori (art) – Radiant Being I

Nike Design Team (footwear design) – Nike

Steve Fuller (sociology) –­ The Moon as Hotel California

Neri&Hu (architecture) – The Mooncake Longing for a Home It Never Knew

WORKac (architecture) – WORKac

DJ Honey Dijon (music) – Lunar Playlist

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Highlights of CES 2020 – Mercedes-Benz VISION AVTR

This highlight video will give you a short impression of the presence of Mercedes-Benz at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 in Las Vegas. Subscribe to Mercedes-Benz. At CES, the inventor of the automobile will be giving an outlook on the sustainable mobility of the future with the Mercedes-Benz VISION AVTR. The concept vehicle connects human, machine and nature in an unprecedented way.

Mercedes-Benz VISION AVTR

#MBvisionavtr #MBces2020 #mercedesbenzTV

Highlights of CES 2020 – Mercedes-Benz VISION AVTR

Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, presented the visionary concept vehicle in his keynote speech to around 2,000 spectators at the Park Theater of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) together with the Academy Award winning director and creator of AVATAR, James Cameron. The VISION AVTR is the result of an unprecedented global partnership between Mercedes-Benz and the AVATAR films.

Mercedes-Benz VISION AVTR

 

Credits: ™ & © 20th Century Fox Film Corp.

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Aptera Solar Charging Vehicle

¿Cuál es tu misión? ¿Incluye la preservación de la Tierra para su familia, su comunidad y el mundo?

Entonces nuestra misión, entregar el vehículo más eficiente del planeta, ES su misión.

Vehículo de carga solar Aptera

Nuestra misión
El problema es la ineficiencia

Anhelas hacer más con menos.

Más de 50 millas por galón o 200 millas por carga. Pero no puede porque seguimos haciendo las cosas como siempre se han hecho.

La solución es la eficiencia.

Fusionada con el poder del sol, la eficiencia te permitirá hacer más con menos: más millas con menos carbono, menos material, menos energía de la red.

Puedes ayudarnos a hacer las cosas de manera diferente.

Eficiencia Ejemplificada

Nuestros vehículos disfrutan de una eficiencia sin igual, utilizando poco menos de 100 Wh por milla para la conducción diaria. Y pueden recorrer más de 40 millas por día con energía solar, cinco veces más lejos que otros vehículos eléctricos con el mismo sistema solar.

Solar eficiente

El Aptera es el primer vehículo eléctrico que nunca se carga.

La mayoría de los conductores nunca tendrán que cargar su Aptera porque no viajan más de lo que su sistema solar puede producir por año.

Seguridad eficiente

El Aptera es un nivel completamente nuevo de seguridad para los pasajeros.

La seguridad a través de la ciencia avanzada abarca una celda de seguridad compuesta para pasajeros más fuerte que la de cualquier otro vehículo en la carretera actual.

Efficient Construction

The Aptera has only 10 key structural parts.
(Typical EVs have 300.)

Fewer Parts → Easier Build → (way) Lower Capitalization

Efficient Ease

1,000+ miles of range plus our advanced CoPilot
will make long journeys a breeze.

Aptera’s autopilot-system hardware, developed in conjunction with a large Japanese OEM, means it can quickly compete in the autonomous-driving arena with Tesla, BMW, and Audi.

Bringing Efficiency to Market

By 2040, electric vehicles will account for 35% of all new vehicle sales. Aptera will introduce its commitment to efficiency with the production of 10,000 units by 2022 and 40,000 by 2024

Why Now?
The commoditization of the EV space is reaching critical mass.
The auto industry is poised for radical reinvention.
The time for efficiency is NOW.
Efficient Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing has stymied the stranglehold of steel stamping. (Capitalization for stamping dies — $1b — has traditionally kept margins low.)

We can now scale production and launch new models with previously unimaginable speed.

Lightness = Efficiency

Generative part design allows A.I. to optimize for the greatest strength with the least amount of material and weight.

Our resin-infused sandwich-core construction
produces exceedingly lightweight composite structures that are
many times stronger than their steel counterparts.

There is no mass-produced, 100% composite vehicle like the Aptera — and nothing similar on the horizon.

Competing On Efficiency

Range is Aptera’s superpower!

With its 1,000+ mile range, the Aptera has 4 times that of the average competition. Even the Tesla Model 3 Long Range has only 325. The BMW I-3 manages a mere 114.

The Aptera can travel 4 times the distance of EVs with battery packs of the same size.

The Rivian, for example, needs a pack 5% larger than Aptera’s to go a quarter of the distance.

Most of our competitors have only a 200-300-mile range, and it takes a pack of 55-105kWh to achieve even that.

Efficient Mobile Distribution

Distribution costs reduce margins. That’s why Aptera’s using:

Direct-to-consumer sales.

Online promotion/test-drive scheduling & events in key markets; SoCal rollout – where else?

Service house calls (a model proven globally by Tesla).

Efficiency-Driven Revenue

With an innovative mobile-distribution and service model, we expect uncommon margins!

Our initial target price is $36k-$59k. Our initial target cost is $22k-$36k. By 2022, we expect to realize margins of 35%. (This return is unheard of. By comparison, margin champ BMW has just over 6%.)

The Efficiency Experts

Steve & Chris are devoted to helping people do what’s right for the environment.

Convinced that any industry can be made cleaner and more efficient through smart engineering, they’ve developed technologies to reduce carbon and manufacturing emissions and curtail the use of chemical pesticides, among other eco-friendly interventions. Each has earned a reputation for setting ambitious goals and meeting them quickly and cost-effectively.

Timeline Of Efficiency

2019

Production Plan Funded; Tooling and Factory Buildout Starts

Expanding pre-order list based on progress toward delivering first Aptera

Begin Raising Development Money

Inviting previous followers, deposit holders, and investors to join us

2020

First New Prototypes Shown and Driven Proven capability attracts investment to fund production plan

Pre-Production Vehicles Begin Testing; Beta Deliveries

Started Less than 9 months after funding, delivery of first vehicles; begin refining and scaling production

6-Passenger Aptera Design Begins

Ideal for ride-hailing services and autonomous delivery, fully autonomous vehicle sets new standard for large-vehicle efficiency

2021

Production Run Rate of 2,000 Per Year Achieved

Sufficient to start realizing economies of scale

6-Passenger Aptera Production Begins

2022

Run Rate Increased to 10,000 Per Year Increased profit margins stabilize company and demonstrate manufacturing bona fides

Funding Efficiency

Between Launch of Crowdfunding Campaign and Production Start

Raise $2.5m for pre-production vehicle builds and the engineering required to launch our first production lines

Crash, crush, and FMVSS-certify the Aptera for production

Educate people about how Aptera can fulfill their desire to Do More

Our Vision For The Future…

We believe efficient transportation is crucial to managing our natural resources. Aptera can inspire people to do more with their cars than just drive and build an efficiency-obsessed brand offering an array of safe, comfortable, fun-to-drive vehicles that will enjoy explosive growth.

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The Audi AI: TRAIL quattro concept

Ingolstadt/Frankfurt, September 10, 2019 – Audi is completing its quartet of visionary vehicles and will be at IAA 2019 to showcase an electric off-roader for the future of road transport: the Audi AI:TRAIL quattro, a comprehensive concept for sustainable mobility off the beaten track. All four visionary use case vehicles—the Audi Aicon, AI:ME, AI:RACE and AI:TRAIL will be on show together at Audi’s stand in Hall 3 throughout the whole of IAA 2019.

At IAA 2019, Audi is showing the concept study for an electrically driven off-roader of the future. With this premiere, the brand with the four rings is completing a quartet of visionary automobiles, which started in 2017, also at the IAA, with the debut of the Audi AICON. All four studies can be seen at IAA 2019 at the Audi stand in Hall 3.

CONCEPT – The Off-Roader of the Future – the Audi AI: TRAIL quattro

Ingolstadt/Frankfurt, September 10, 2019 – Audi is completing its quartet of visionary vehicles and will be at IAA 2019 to showcase an electric off-roader for the future of road transport: the Audi AI:TRAIL quattro, a comprehensive concept for sustainable mobility off the beaten track. All four visionary use case vehicles—the Audi Aicon, AI:ME, AI:RACE and AI:TRAIL will be on show together at Audi’s stand in Hall 3 throughout the whole of IAA 2019.

  • Emissions-free driving in the great outdoors
  • Four electric motors and a quattro drive
  • Aicon and friends: Audi bringing all four visionary vehicles to the IAA

Static photo
Color: Solar sky

The four-seater Audi AI:TRAIL quattro combines the capacity for automated driving with superb off-road capabilities. The glass surrounding the cabin extends all the way to ground level, providing unrivaled all-round visibility. The ample battery capacity ensures sufficient range even away from dense networks of charging stations.

Audi AI:TRAIL quattro

The “Trail” part of the name evokes the idea of exploring nature. That is why there are no big screens on board for streaming TV series or videoconferencing; instead, broad glass surfaces provide a clear view of the surroundings. This is how Marc Lichte, Audi’s Head of Design, describes the use case: “With the AI:TRAIL, we are showing an off-road concept with an emissions-free electric drive for an innovative driving experience away from paved roads. Consistent with this, we designed a monolithic basic vehicle body with maximum glazing to create an intense connection to the surroundings. A concept for sustainable mobility on demand.”
Audi’s visionary vehicles

Static photo
Color: Solar sky

The Audi AI:TRAIL quattro is the fourth entrant in the series of concept cars with electric drive systems, which began with the presentation of the Audi Aicon at the 2017 iteration of the IAA.

Static photo
Color: Solar sky

Following this luxury-class vehicle very much intended for highly automated long-distance driving, an emissions-free monoposto designed for the race track, the Audi PB18 e-tron, made its debut in Pebble Beach in 2018. It has been given a new name in time for IAA 2019, gaining the shared “AI” prefix to indicate that it, too, is part of the family. It is now known as the

Audi AI:TRAIL quattro

AI:RACE, which leaves no illusions as to the purpose of the electric sports car.

The third in the series, the Audi AI:ME—introduced at the 2019 Auto Shanghai show—is an autonomous city car aimed at megacities all over the world. It allows its passengers to stop worrying about the stop-and-go traffic that is inevitable in urban areas, offering them perfect connectivity and a comprehensive range of infotainment services, helping them to spend their time in the vehicle as usefully and as relaxed as possible.

Design sketch

Finally, with the AI:TRAIL, Audi is now opening up the potential applications for its visionary vehicles to include off-road terrain. The car is equipped with four electric motors, systems for assisted and automated driving and—typically for Audi—quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

Design sketch

The Aicon, AI:ME, AI:RACE and AI:TRAIL are united by more than just the concept of sustainable drive systems and a body line that will run far into the future. They also embody an entirely new mobility concept for the brand with the four rings. Unlike the cars of the present, such vehicles will no longer have to compromise between a wide range of uses and scenarios. Instead, it will be possible to design tomorrow’s cars for much more specific use cases. In the future, customers will be able to order any of these specialist Audi models from an Audi on demand vehicle pool to suit their personal preferences and requirements and to lease them for a limited period.

In the process, they will not have to miss out on the high level of customization that is taken for granted in the premium segment nowadays. That is because it will be possible for all the user’s available data and preferences to be taken into account in the process of configuring and equipping the vehicle for lease.

Detail

Customers who book a vehicle will then not only get their desired vehicle but also can have it configured to suit their personal preferences as far as possible. The color, interiors, and technical options can be pre-configured online with the app or via the driver details stored in the myAudi system. Even drivers’ preferred interior temperature, the perfect ergonomic seat adjustment, and their personal music library will already be activated when they get into the car.

Detail

This offer is accessible and easy to use via a simple app that connects the vehicle order, personal preferences of the user, and numerous options that can be used while on the road.

Interior

Reduction as a principle of style – the interior

The interior of the Audi AI:TRAIL is tidy and spacious, and it has just a few visible control elements. There are two comfortable-looking, almost delicate seat shells in the front row, both equipped with four-point seat belts. Light colors dominate the upper interior area down to the level of the seat cushion and the low dashboard. The openness to the outside world appears all the more present; the occupant’s eye is drawn to the large glass areas in the front and side sections and guided through the almost fully glazed roof.

Detail

Pedals, a yoke for a steering wheel, a few buttons, and a smartphone attached to the steering column as a display and control center for vehicle functions and navigation—those are all the elements there are for the interaction between the driver and the vehicle.

Interior

The whole color concept with its blue and gray surfaces and earthy tones emphasizes the connection between the interior and the surrounding nature. The sense of touch adds to this perception, with rough, granular surfaces indicating functional qualities. Smooth wool felt in the luggage compartment provides a cozy contrast. Like in previous concept cars, the Audi designers also use recycled materials in the AI:TRAIL. The carpet is made of reprocessed wool with recycled leather, both of which are sustainable and durable, and feature excellent acoustic and climatic properties.

Interior

There is storage space between the seats and also under the windshield. Tensioning straps secure any stowed objects, which can also be loaded from the outside through the upward-folding windshield. Seat belt retractors ensure that the tensioning straps always have optimum tension.

The second row features a novelty in the form of two seats designed like hammocks. When taut and tensioned in a transportable tubular frame, panels of fabric form a comfortable seating surface and backrest, and the backrest that is drawn around to the side even provides lateral support. These seats are good for relaxation in more ways than one, as they can even be taken out of the AI:TRAIL and used as mobile outdoor chairs.

https://www.audi.es/es/web/es.html

 

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