Walk-through landmark installation at the entrance to the fair AudiQ4e-tronconcept at the center of an LED show Head designer Marc Lichte: “New opportunities through digitalization and electrification”
Audi is the headline partner of the Design Shanghai trade fair for the first time. At one of the leading design platforms, the automobile maker presents itself with themes for the future. The trade fair takes place from 26 to 29 November 2020 in the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center.
“For automotive designers, the present day is an incredibly exciting period,” says Marc Lichte, head of Audi Design. “Digitalization and electrification are transforming mobility and opening up completely new design opportunities.” Henrik Wenders, senior vice president for Audi Brand adds, “Design marks the identity of the Audi brand through characteristics typical of the brand. It is an expression of our philosophy and our progressive thinking. In view of this, I am delighted that we have a strategic partnership with Design Shanghai, a stage that allows us to express this philosophy.” Audi is represented at Design Shanghai with various highlights. In front of the entrance to the fair, a walk-through landmark installation in the shape of a cube will be erected. This “window into the future” provides a glimpse of the future of Audi Design with all of its progress and innovations. Werner Eichhorn, president of Audi China, underlines the importance of this appearance at the trade fair: “Our cooperation with the design fair is an excellent fit for Audi. With the Audi Design Center in Beijing we are showing how important design is for the Chinese market and thus for our customers. We can present this to customers at Design Shanghai.” On the trade-fair stand the AudiQ4e-tronconcept takes center stage in an LED installation. By means of a change of perspective, seemingly unconnected views combine to a single whole, relating to Audi’s perspective on the future.
Visibly Audi, visibly e-tron: the exterior The Q4e-tronconcept is identifiable as an Audi at first glance by the Singleframe with the brand logo, the four rings. And it will take no more than two glances to see that this is an electric Audie-tron: 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. Air is supplied via large inlets that extend from below the two matrix LED headlights all the way down to the front apron. The prominently modelled fenders of all four wheels are a further classic Audi design feature that distinguishes the brand. The widened features of the Q4e-tronconcept 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 about the potential of the Audie-tronconcept. Its roof line slants down slightly toward the back, giving the silhouette a particularly dynamic look. The striking broad light band that connects the two lamp units on the rear end of the AudiQ4e-tronconcept was incorporated to reflect an element of the Audie-tron. The relation within the e-tron family becomes visible even here. 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. Finally, the body paint in “Solar Sky,” a shade of blue that changes depending on the angle of the light, is a sustainable innovation in two senses: The paint, which was developed specifically for the AudiQ4e-tronconcept and produced under environmentally friendly conditions, effectively reflects a short-wave fraction of sunlight, near the infrared spectrum.
The technology of the Q4e-tronconcept 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 AudiQ4 Sportback e-tronconcept offers an advance look at what will already be the seventh series production electric vehicle that the manufacturer will introduce by 2021. Sexy back: the exterior 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 AudiQ4 Sportback appears much longer than its sister model, the Q4e-tronconcept. The striking broad light band that connects the two lamp units on the rear end of the AudiQ4 Sportback e-tronconcept was incorporated to reflect an element of the AudiQ4e-tronconcept. 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-tronconcept 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.
With the AudiQ4e-tronconcept, Audi gave visitors to the 2019 Geneva Motor Show a taste of the brand’s first compact electric SUV. With the Q4 Sportback e-tron, the brand has now presented the second model of the product line, which will go into production in 2021 as an SUV coupé. Both models will be important cornerstones of the electric strategy. Customers can look forward to another major highlight coming next year. The four rings will be launching the Audie-tron GT. Performance and an expressive design are the most important ingredients for the e-tron GT. It thereby emphasizes the sportiness of the brand and continues the success story of the Audie-tron together with the electric Q models.
Audi will also present the latest innovations in the area of lighting technology at CES 2020. Should the driver get tired, special light can provide a remedy: Blue, cool white light, for example, has a stimulating and invigorating effect. The Audi project “Human-Centric Lighting” illustrates how the way you feel can be influenced by targeted light colors to support the passengers’ concentration and memory, for example. The portfolio of the exhibits shown at the Audi booth at CES range from the Audi AI:ME vision vehicle and the near-production-level show car AudiQ4e-tronconcept with a 12.3-inch touchscreen all the way to the Audie-tron Sportback (combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km*: 26.0–21.9 (WLTP); 22.7–20.6 (NEDC); combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 0) with digital matrix LED headlights, which will already be available in the spring of 2020. * Information on fuel/electric power consumption and CO2 emission figures given in ranges depend on the equipment selected for the vehicle