Audi is gearing up to launch an electric off-roader to rival the Mercedes G-Class

According to Autocar, which revealed the news this weekend, Audi is working on an electric off-roader to compete with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the Land Rover Defender. These two premium off-road benchmarks are the main vehicles in this segment and will soon have electric versions to adapt to new markets.

But by the time that happens, they will face Audi’s proposal: a SUV with off-road capabilities that, apparently, will arrive around 2027. This project is separate from the Audi Activisphere project, which has just been unveiled. It will be an electric off-roader that, as far as is known, will not use a known platform. This means a new base will be developed to create this vehicle.

This rules out the PPE platform developed in collaboration with Porsche, as well as elements of the Ford Ranger that were to be used for a Volkswagen SUV in the near future. The use of the upcoming SSP platform, which will soon replace the MEB platform present in many vehicles across the Volkswagen group, is also ruled out.

The platform that will serve as the basis for this new off-road model is believed to come from the upcoming launch of the Scout brand. Volkswagen acquired the rights to this brand in 2021, and under it two electric off-roaders are planned to launch to compete against the Rivian models.

Initially, Audi was going to build the two Scout models at its Ingolstadt plant, but apparently these two new vehicles will instead be manufactured by the Canadian company Magna. The future Audi off-roader could be assembled on that same production line.

The capacity of this plant could produce 100,000 units a year of the Scout off-roaders, but also up to 50,000 units of the Audi model. To position itself against its two rivals, this model will need cutting-edge technology and outstanding off-road capabilities, like its rivals. The Scout platform is precisely aimed at that, so the result could be very interesting.

Audi believes that in this segment there are only two competitors and that the market can absorb one more, so it does not want another brand to steal its ground before its proposal is ready.