Audi H-Tron Quattro Concept, mobility of the future

Audi h-tron quattro concept

Audi continues to back alternative mobility with cars powered by other types of energy: batteries, plug-in hybrids or fuel cells. The Audi h-tron quattro concept adopts fuel cell technology and is closely related to the electric SUV, Audi e-tron quattro concept, which the brand presented at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Its platform is the second generation of the modular longitudinal platform (MLB evo). It is the fifth generation of this type of drive system, which, combined with lightweight materials, delivers improved performance and responsiveness. The fuel cell is made up of 330 individual cells and is housed in the front structure.

Beneath the cabin and the boot are three hydrogen tanks with enough capacity to hold enough hydrogen for a range of up to 600 km. A full refuelling of the hydrogen tanks takes about four minutes.

The fuel cell is complemented by a lithium-ion battery that generates up to 110 kW of power, ideal for a powerful boost when accelerating. When braking, this battery stores the recovered energy. Its design is compact and it weighs just 60 kilograms. It is also positioned beneath the passenger compartment to optimise the centre of gravity.

Audi h-tron quattro concept

The Audi h-tron quattro accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under 7 seconds and has a top speed limited to 200 km/h. The Audi h-tron quattro consumes 1 kilogram of hydrogen per 100 km. It also produces zero polluting emissions. The fuel cell and the battery power two electric motors. One is located on the front axle and delivers 90 kW, while the other, located on the rear axle, delivers 140 kW. This provides electric quattro all-wheel drive.

An intelligent management system controls the interaction between the motors, so that optimum performance is achieved in every situation. A heat pump handles the air conditioning system efficiently, and a large solar panel on the roof generates up to 320 watts, enough to provide a range equivalent to 1,000 km per year.

Propulsion technology is not the only novelty in the prototype: autonomous driving is also very much present in this concept. It is equipped with all the technologies the brand has developed for this type of driving: radar sensors, a new type of video camera, ultrasonic sensors and a laser scanner. In 2017, Audi will bring this technology to a production vehicle for the first time in the next generation of the Audi A8.

Interior of the Audi h-tron quattro concept

If the technology generates excitement when we pay attention to the details, the design is no less impressive. It features fluid, aerodynamic lines. The Audi h-tron quattro concept measures 4.88 metres long, 1.93 metres wide and 1.54 metres high. It has a large glazed area, and at the rear the roofline drops away, giving it the look of a coupé.

The front has an aggressive character, with a large grille topped by the four rings that are the brand’s trademark from Ingolstadt. The wide wheel arches and angular sills accentuate the car’s robust character. It achieves a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.27, a result aided by its streamlined lines and the replacement of the exterior mirrors with cameras.

The lighting of the light units in the concept combines technologies already present in the brand’s production models: the new high-resolution Matrix laser technology, flat OLED elements (organic light-emitting diodes) and Matrix LED technology.

Audi tablet

The spectacular exterior carries over into the interior design. The Audi h-tron quattro concept has a spacious, comfortable cabin for four people and 500 litres of boot capacity. For the latter, intelligent software provides assistance by showing, on a monitor in the rear, the optimal loading order. Two small sensors are responsible for scanning the luggage items for this purpose.

It has three large OLED screens in front of the driver. There are also two touchscreens in addition to the Audi curved OLED virtual cockpit in the centre. The lights and the autonomous driving systems are controlled from the left-hand screen. The right-hand screen is used to manage the information sources and navigation data, as well as showing the status of the propulsion system.

Rear passengers have, in addition to two comfortable seats, the option of sharing data with the driver via the Audi tablets, which also feature OLED screens. These are designed as an entertainment system for the rear seats.

Source | Audi