Audi vs Defender and Denza! Body-on-frame 4WD model “in the framework”, says global CEO

Audi chief executive officer Gernot Döllner is on a mission to reinvigorate the four-ringed brand’s skill to compete, and his plans encompass pushing the head rate Volkswagen Community marque into weird and wonderful contemporary segments.

Speaking with Chasing Cars, Döllner acknowledged the logo modified into mad by a rugged, physique-on-frame four-wheel-drive mannequin as phase of the unconventional transformation belief.

Chasing Cars artists procure imagined a production version of the Audi off-roader.

Presumably known as the Q Extreme, the 4wd would build apart on the ‘Radical Simplicity’ form language Audi will introduce in 2027 with a production version of the Notion C sports automobile.

CEO says Audi brand can toughen an off-aspect toll road mannequin

“Practically every section is thinkable for the Audi brand,” acknowledged Döllner.

“The unfold from an entry, low-floor A-section to a D-section or an off-aspect toll road automobile — that is all possible with the Audi brand, which reveals how solid that brand is.”

An enticing quirk of Döllner, a platforms expert who managed the Porsche 718 hypercar project, is that he slightly likes to be interviewed whereas the journalist drives one of his creations.

Our discussion about an Audi off-roader took space on a twisting route in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, end to the place Audi campaigned the RS Q e-tron in 2023’s Rallye du Maroc.

Audi requires a pre-existing platform, and Scout Motors has one

Döllner is a automobile fanatic nonetheless he is identified for rational product planning choices that ranking deliver of pre-existing platforms, slashing building time and charges for the logo.

Potentially the best trendy ladder-frame platform inner the Volkswagen Community for the time being is the electrified 4wd chassis developed by Scout Motors in North The United States.

The utilization of this platform would give Audi a rival to excessive-margin 4WDs such because the Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus GX and Mercedes-Benz G-Class, besides as Chinese language rookies such because the Denza B8.

So, would the Scout platform be the premise of a rugged Audi off-aspect toll road mannequin?

“If we might end something enjoy [the ladder-frame 4WD], it is miles simplest thinkable to end it on a platform that is already there,” Döllner agreed.

“All I will relate is that after all Volkswagen Community has big opportunities for a variety of brands, especially for Audi as we, as I acknowledged, are ready to behave in so many segments.”

Pushed on the space of a probable 4wd project, Döllner provided us with simplest hints.

“Sure, after all — we’re desirous about something enjoy that, nonetheless no decision has been taken but, nonetheless it completely is undoubtedly in the framework that we’re desirous about.”

Authenticity key to competing in the section

Scout Motors is on the purpose of launch two American-constructed objects — the Traveler wagon-bodied SUV, and the Terra opt-up — in the US in slack 2027.

At the coronary heart of the Traveler and Terra is a brand-contemporary ladder frame with electrified entrance and rear axles.

The Scout pair is fully electric by default with round 550km fluctuate.

Nonetheless, a ‘Harvester’ fluctuate-extender hybrid powertrain will even be on hand, stretching total fluctuate to about 800km.

Claimed capabilities are worthy. Scout says the off-roaders will have the chance to towing as a lot as 4500kg in BEV originate, though the fluctuate-extender slashes this to appropriate 2270kg.

Ground clearance is alleged to be more than 300mm with wading depth of round 900mm.

Döllner stressed out that serious skill would be a pre-requisite for entering the section.

“You wish a platform that is respectable on this section — in some other case it would now not ranking sense,” he acknowledged.