{"id":128312,"date":"2018-07-30T17:03:37","date_gmt":"2018-07-30T21:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=128312"},"modified":"2018-07-30T17:25:27","modified_gmt":"2018-07-30T21:25:27","slug":"audi-set-to-reveal-pb-18-e-tron-concept","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2018\/07\/audi-set-to-reveal-pb-18-e-tron-concept\/","title":{"rendered":"Audi Set to Reveal PB 18 e-tron Concept"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
For now, Audi is billing the PB 18 as a concept, but could it be working up a challenge to the planned Tesla Roadster electric supercar?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With its first long-range battery-electric SUV set to make its launch later this year, Audi is setting the stage for its entry into the emerging market with the upcoming debut of the PB 18 e-tron Concept.<\/p>\n

The name is a bit of code, though one not difficult to figure out, as the electric supercar will be unveiled during this coming month\u2019s series of classic car events capped off by the Aug. 26 Pebble Beach Concours d\u2019Elegance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Electrifying!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt also recalls the LeMans-series winner Audi R18 e-tron, whose technology inspired the solutions for various details,\u201d the German automaker says in a statement accompanying this teaser image, adding that, \u201cThe Audi PB 18 e-tron was conceived and designed by the new Audi Design Loft in Malibu, California.\u201d<\/p>\n

While there\u2019s not much that can be made out from that image \u2013 even using some Photoshop magic \u2013 what we can say is quite intriguing. The PB 18 e-tron Concept sits low and wide, with bulging wheel arches, a large rear spoiler that barely peaks over a slim cabin, and the Audi logo framed by slit-like LED headlamps that angle back into the fenders.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Audi will be among the first to introduce a large battery-electric SUV this fall, adding to the e-tron line-up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

(Audi rolls out all-new 2019 Q3. <\/em>Click Here<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for the story.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

From the carmaker\u2019s terse description, meanwhile, we\u2019re betting that the PB 18 borrows liberally from the R18 but, rather than the racer\u2019s hybrid drivetrain, it goes all-electric.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmotion instead of emissions,\u201d Audi says in its release, revealing it goes with a \u201cpowerful electric drive\u201d aimed at the \u201cperformance enthusiast driver.\u201d<\/p>\n

That would almost certainly require a twin, perhaps even a triple or quad, motor system punching out well north of 500 horsepower considering what key competitors, such as Porsche, Jaguar, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are looking to do in the performance electric space.<\/p>\n

In fact, you can expect to see a flood of all-electric and plug-in hybrid models positioned as the pinnacle of performance for these manufacturers. Alfa Romeo, for example, is developing a new PHEV version of its 8C and sibling Maserati will soon offer electrified versions of all its models which, brand boss Tim Kuniskis recently told TheDetroitBureau.com, will be positioned as the highest performance option packages, a step up from turbo-eight models.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The new Tesla Roadster, which is not expected to arrive for a few years, could be the fastest car in he wold.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As for Audi, we know that it promises to have three battery-electric vehicles in showrooms by 2020, part of the flood of BEVs being developed by parent Volkswagen Group.<\/p>\n

(<\/em>Click Here<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for details about Audi\u2019s new partnership with Hyundai.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The first model to roll out will be an e-tron alternative to the latest-generation Q5. Specific power and performance numbers haven\u2019t been released but it will use a 95 kilowatt-hour battery to drive twin motors, one on each axle. Using the new European WLTP rating system it is expected to deliver 248 miles per charge, though it will come in slightly lower under the EPA test.<\/p>\n

The e-tron crossover is expected to debut this autumn, though Audi reportedly pushed the date back slightly. Advance orders, requiring a $1,000 deposit, were set to begin in September.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The newly renamed Porsche Taycan gives the German brand another competitor in the EV market.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Audi\u2019s commitment to electrification comes as the automaker tries to dig itself out from under the mess created by its diesel emissions scandal \u2013 which recently resulted in the jailing of its CEO. The company has gone so far as to abandon Le Mans after a decade of dominating the granddaddy of the endurance racing circuit. It is now focusing on the Formula E series which is, more broadly, gaining traction with a diverse array of automakers.<\/p>\n

Audi\u2019s entry into the electric vehicle market spells potential problems for Tesla, particularly its quality-challenged Model X battery-SUV. Indeed, within the next two years, the California carmaker will be facing a broad mix of new competitors in both the mainstream and luxury segments.<\/p>\n

Tesla isn\u2019t rolling over, of course, and not only plans to bring out the Model Y, a compact electric SUV, and an all-electric pickup, but a second version of its original Roadster model. Could the PB 18 e-tron Concept mean that Audi is picking up the challenge with a battery supercar of its own?<\/p>\n

(For a first look at the new Audi Q8,\u00a0<\/em>Click Here<\/a><\/span>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Perhaps we\u2019ll find out more when the concept model debuts on the Monterey Peninsula.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Audi is setting the stage for it’s first entry in to the electric SUV market with the new PB 18 e-tron Concept. Set to debut at the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach, the coded name reveals a bit about the model, borrowing a bit from the R18, but all-electric. Find out more about the new model at TheDetroitBureau.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":128313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8,5,9],"tags":[],"make":[35],"post-state":[],"category_old":[286,215,150,151,123,287,319,289,155,163,132,284,139,290,128,278],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128312"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=128312"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128312\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/128313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=128312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=128312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=128312"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=128312"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=128312"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=128312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}