Audi previews all-electric SUV

Previewed by the Audi e-tron quattro concept due to debut at next month’s Frankfurt motor show, it will be the first large-scale production electric vehicle (EV) to come from the German brand.

Three electric motors – one on the front axle and two on the rear – will be used to provide four-wheel drive, while a large lithium ion battery back will be positioned low between the axles to aid weight distribution.

Audi says the car has been designed from the ground up as an EV. The concept features movable aerodynamic elements on the front, the sides and the rear to control the airflow – presumably to balance cooling requirements with drag. It also uses a completely flat underfloor, helping to reduce the coefficient of drag to just 0.25, setting a new record for the SUV segment.

The e-tron SUV’s battery will use cells from South Korean manufacturers LG Chem and Samsung SDI. Both firms are investing heavily in new cell technology and are expected to supply Audi from their European plants.