We still have to wait another month to see the production version of Audi’s first next-gen all-electric, the e-tron quattro, but the German automaker is still giving us a glimpse at its electric future today. Audi is unveiling a new all-electric supercar prototype with solid-state batteries, 570 kW power and 800-volt charging system. It’s the all-electric ‘Audi PB18 e-tron’, which the company presents as “a radical vision for the high-performance sports car of tomorrow.” The automaker says that the vehicle is built on their years of experience in the Le Mans racing series and it is designed around the driver. By that, they mean that there’s no autonomous driving system in the vehicle or ‘complex systems for piloted driving’. It is also equipped with a by-wire design for the steering and pedals and it enables a configurable monocoque position in the center of the interior as in a monoposto. Gael Buzyn, Head of the Audi Design Loft in Malibu, where they designed the vehicle, commented: “We want to offer the driver an experience that is otherwise available only in a racing car like the Audi R18. That’s why we developed the interior around the ideal driver’s position in the center. Nevertheless, our aim was to also give the PB18 e-tron a high degree of everyday usability, not just for the driver, but also for a potential passenger.” Here you can see the transition between the two driving modes: As for the performance specs of the car, Audi went with next-generation everything. They say that the battery pack is equipped with solid-state batteries and total energy capacity of 95 kWh, which they claim is good enough for 500 kilometers (310.7 miles) in the WLTP cycle. Audi apparently also borrowed Porsche’s 800-volt battery architecture to enable a 350 kW charging capacity. As for the motors, there are 3 of them – one up front and two in the rear. The automaker explains: “The latter are centrally located between the steering knuckles, each directly driving one wheel via half-shafts. They deliver power output of up to 150 kW to the front axle and 350 kW to the rear – the Audi PB18 e-tron is a true quattro, of course. Maximum output is 500 kW, with boosting, the driver can temporarily mobilize up to 570 kW. The combined torque of up to 830 newton meters (612.2 lb-ft) allows acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in scarcely more than 2 seconds – a speed that differs only marginally from that of a current LMP1 prototype.” The company said earlier this month that the e-tron quattro will also have a similar ‘boost’ mode. In the Audi PB18 e-tron, they claim it would enable a 0-60 mph acceleration in about 2 seconds. Some of the technology from those concept vehicles eventually trickles down to production models, but Audi is not talking about bringing this actual design to production right now. Dynamic photo Colour: Curcuit grey Static photo Colour: Curcuit grey Static photo Colour: Curcuit grey Interior Interior Static photo Colour: Curcuit grey FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.<doc-sep>Who says a supercar needs to growl? Not Audi. The German luxury automotive brand revealed an electric supercar prototype at Pebble Beach Automotive Week in Monterey, California. The Audi PB 18 e-tron debuted late Thursday with a splash, aiming for the same rarified air as ultra-luxury supercars with wickedly powerful engines and sleek designs. Unlike sports cars, electric vehicles don't have engines and thus don't make window-rattling noise as they whip down the street. The concept car's reveal comes ahead of the official debut of the Audi e-tron electric production SUV in September — which is viewed as a serious competitor for Tesla in the luxury electric vehicle space. Unlike the Audi e-tron, the PB 18 e-tron won't be coming to dealerships anytime soon. But it's nice to dream once in a while. Audi described the PB 18 e- tron as part of "a new family of visionary automobiles" that serve "as a preview for the next decade." As a concept car, the vehicle uses a powerful battery and three electric motors to go 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (62.1 miles per hour) in just over 2 seconds. That blisteringly fast acceleration would place it among the world's fastest cars. With a full charge, its battery would be capable of enabling 310 miles of distance. And it can theoretically be fully charged with an 800-volt connection in 15 minutes. While that technology is not currently available widely, it's on its way. Or the vehicle can be charged wirelessly using charging pad induction technology. This car's interior is designed to empower track driving. Frankly, it's made to go obscenely fast. Audi designed a cockpit paired with a "monocoque shell that can be slid laterally," so that the driver can sit in the center of the vehicle for optimal vision and control. When the driver's seat is pushed to the side, there's room for a passenger. The vehicle also gets laser high beams, 22-inch wheels, carbon disc brakes, adaptive magnetic ride shock absorbers. Since this is a prototype car, there's no pricing to speak of. Which is probably for the best. That would just ruin the dream. Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.<doc-sep>Audi showed up to this year’s Pebble Beach with a bunch of objectives, including making hatchbacks cool, making electric cars cool, and making centered driving positions cool (again), and it did it all with the Audi PB18 E-Tron super hatchback thing. Advertisement Audi claims the PB18 concept has a mid-mounted 95 kWh battery pack good for around 670 horsepower and 612 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, the car gets three electric motors—one powering the front axle and one each for the rear wheels—and the car can temporarily boost power to as much as 764 hp. Audi claims this concept could go from zero to 62 mph in around two seconds, and has an estimated range of 310 miles on the European WLTP cycle, charged by the same 800-volt charging technology that the upcoming Porsche Taycan and Aston Martin RapidE are said to use. Inside, the entire monocoque including driver’s seat and controls can move positions, either locking into a central position for driver-focused piloting, or moving back over to a traditional position to make way for a passenger. Audi also made sure to point out this car doesn’t have any of that autonomous bullshit. You, in theory, just drive it.<doc-sep>
Audi Audi Audi Audi Audi Audi Audi Ferdi Kräling Motorsport-Bild GmbH Audi Earlier on Thursday, we took a look at an all-electric concept from Infiniti that just broke cover. Now, it's Audi's turn. The car maker has chosen Monterey Car Week to make a statement about the future, and that statement is called the PB18 e-tron. This is the first time Audi has unveiled a concept at Pebble Beach, and it's quite something—an electric sports car that leverages Le Mans-winning technology from the mighty Audi R18 e-tron quattro race car. If we needed a clue as to the motivation behind the PB18 e-tron, consider its internal codename. The project's working title was Level Zero, a reference to SAE levels of automation; this is meant to be a driver's car, not a driverless car. To that end, the cockpit and driver's seat can be moved laterally in the car; if you're at the track or don't have any need to cart a passenger around, you can center yourself in the car. (As with the Infiniti Prototype 10, the steering wheel and pedals are all drive-by-wire to make this possible.) "We want to offer the driver an experience that is otherwise available only in a racing car like the Audi R18," said Gael Buzyn, head of the Audi Design Loft in Malibu. "That's why we developed the interior around the ideal driver's position in the center. Nevertheless, our aim was to also give the PB18 e-tron a high degree of everyday usability, not just for the driver, but also for a potential passenger." The exterior styling of the PB18 e-tron is no less striking. It's almost a Shooting Brake, a little-used form factor that is in essence a two-door station wagon coupe. Under the aluminum and carbon body are three electric motors—one for the front axle and one apiece for each rear wheel. Together, they give the PB18 e-tron 500kW and 830Nm (612ft-lbs), with a boost function that adds an extra 70kW when you need to go really, really fast. Audi says that the PB18 e-tron should be able to go from a standstill to 62mph (100km/h) in just over two seconds. That should put the PB18 on par with the dearly departed R18 race car. The R18 also inspired the PB18's suspension with a push-rod arrangement at the front and a pull-rod setup at the rear. While most of this sounds plausible, it's the battery specs that give the game away. At first glance, I thought the 95kWh pack would have been donated by the e-tron SUV that Megan Geuss drove in recently. A closer look at the specs reveal this isn't the case, however. Audi says the pack is actually a liquid-cooled solid state pack, designed to charge at 800V. Sadly, that kind of battery is still mainly theoretical at this point. Audi's corporate parent, Volkswagen Group, on the other hand, is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into making it a reality some time in the near future. Listing image by Audi