Less-Expensive Audi Models are Coming — and That Could be Amazing
Smaller, less-expensive electric vehicles could be game changers for urban environments and be loads of fun to boot.
This week, Audi held its annual media conference, and CEO Markus Duesmann had plenty of interesting things to say about the future of the Four Rings. One big takeaway was that Ingolstadt plans to launch roughly 20 new models by 2025, half of which will be EVs. Of course, while manufacturers can be coy about what exactly a “new” model is, 2025 is just two years away. So that’s still a full dance card, particularly since some high-profile projects are years behind schedule.
But as our friends at Reuters pointed out, “less-expensive” Audis are also on the way. And that’s exciting.
Now, before we get too carried away, Audi certainly isn’t going to start a race to the bottom, and undercut brands like Mitsubishi. According to Duesmann, one new offering will be an entry-level EV priced less than the current Q4 e-tron, which makes perfect sense. It’s also reasonable to expect that buyers will be able to find cheaper versions of the current A3 and A4 models on showroom floors, since the global pandemic and chip shortage have — mercifully — begun to wane. Meaning Audi no longer has to triage, and only crank out its profitable models.
But when I think about new cheaper Audi EVs, I always come back to remarks that Duesmann made back in February of 2021, about how in the future, range will go down.
When you think about it, it’s not a wild concept. Because while charging on the fly is still challenging, that won’t be the case forever. As the infrastructure for electric vehicles increases, and drivers become more accustomed to how much range they actually need, they’re less likely to be scared away from vehicles offering “only” 250 miles between charges.
Hopefully, that shift in mindset will open the market up for smaller, cheaper, short-range vehicles that can serve as city vehicles — like the Urban Concept Audi revealed over a decade ago. Because not only is it small and efficient, it also looks like it would be an absolute hoot to drive.
The electric two-seater was designed to be light and maneuverable, and as the press release explains, fun is built into its DNA:
The Audi urban concept technology study is a 1+1 vehicle for urban and metropolitan areas. The electric powered show car has four wheels, but does not fit into any current automobile category. Weighing just 480 kilograms (1,058.22 lb), the Audi urban concept combines elements of a racecar, a roadster, a fun car and a city car into a radical new concept. It has the potential to become the trendsetter for a new form of mobility.
Now, there weren’t any power figures in the documentation. But at just over 1000 pounds, it’s around half the weight of a first-generation Lotus Elise, and only about 100 pounds heavier than a Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Ultra. So you could probably bolt the motor from a Vitamix to the chassis and call it good.
All kidding aside, as a car enthusiast and longtime urban dweller, this is exactly the kind of electric vehicle I want to see happen. There’s enough room to hold some groceries, a takeout order, and — on at least one version — a roof to keep the elements out. Since I don’t particularly enjoy off-roading, that’s what I think about when I think about the future of the hobby, and I hope that someday, manufacturers will produce practical EVs build around the joy of driving. Audi has already shown them the way.
Image Source: Audi