Audi needs a large rugged SUV to tackle untapped demand in the USA.
It’s no secret that Audi and much of the VW Group is suffering right now. In China, they’re facing stiff competition from domestic makes. In the USA, they’re facing tariffs that would make their vehicles too expensive at the lower end. The solution seems to be to design a new full-sized off-road capable SUV along the lines of the Land Rover Defender or Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Right now, they’ve got the Q7 and Q8, but those don’t have the rugged charm of some of the rivals named.
Besides addressing this niche, the new SUV will give Audi the opportunity to move production to the USA in order to avoid the worst of the tariffs and maybe even qualify for federal and state incentives. The company currently exports vehicles to the USA from Europe and Mexico. VW Group, of which Audi is a part of, has a major stake in the new Scout Motors plant in South Carolina and this could be the facility Audi uses for its own large off-roader.
The Scout connection might go beyond the use of their facilities – Audi may even use the body-on-frame architecture engineered by Scout to build this vehicle. This would be a first for Audi, but it would give their off-roader the torsional rigidity and strong towing potential necessary for such a vehicle.
It’s also likely there will be some electrification in the mix and this too is something they may lean on Scout Motors for. Instead of a full electric vehicle, they may use a range-extender system. It would propel itself with pure electric power, but recharge a small battery with a petrol engine. This addresses a couple of problems – the cost of large batteries and the American preference for long range vehicles. A range-extender would enable upwards of 800km of driving range and quick fuel ups at a station.
While it seems like a viable plan, a rugged off-roader isn’t exactly in Audi’s genes. The brand’s first SUV was the Q7 back in 2006. Unlike Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover, Audi cannot reach further back into its history for genuine off-roader genes… Unless an NSU Kettenkrad is on the table.
Autoevolution first broke news of this story. Photos are of the Audi Q6 e-tron offroad Concept.
