Audi promises an all-electric SUV in 2018
If you want an all-electric SUV, you don't have many options right now, although Tesla's Model X is on the horizon. Audi will have an answer if you're willing to wait, though. The company's engineering lead, Ulrich Hackenberg, has revealed that the company is planning to launch an electric "sports activity vehicle" in 2018. He didn't say much about it, but he briefly showed a conceptual drawing of the from-scratch design (above) and vowed that it would have a long range of more than 500 kilometers, or 313 miles. Even a Model S P85D is only expected to manage 270 miles, so this might be the EV of choice for taking the family on a drive through the back country.
A lot could change in three years' time, of course. However, it's safe to say that Audi doesn't think hybrid SUVs based on recycled designs will cut it in the future. It's now designing big people carriers with electric power in mind, and it's easy to see other luxury automakers following suit.
