► Concept from last year
► Basis for a fleet of cars
► Set to release in 3 years
The Audi Aicon model unveiled last year at the Frankfurt motor show will be the basis for the German brand’s first pilot fleet of level 5 Autonomous cars – and they’ll be here by 2021. The news was confirmed by company boss Rupert Stadler at the launch of the Q8 SUV, and is set to commemorate the 50 years of the ‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’ phrase.
What are the levels of autonomous car?
The concept car is 5,444mm in length, making it 20cm longer than the company’s A8 L limousine, and with an expected charge life to last for huge 500 miles. The vehicle also has an extremely tight turning circle of just 8.5 metres, even though its its 3470mm wheelbase is 20cm longer than the same A8.
The power specs are yet to be revealed, but the interior certainly looks futuristic. Inside the Audi features an unbroken wrapp-around dashboard and panels that light up when passengers enter. Audi thinks it’s leading the way into the future of cars, and we’ll find out in 2021 if its right.
Like most car makers, Audi wants to be a leader in autonomous technology as well as EVs – and the Aicon may help it do both. However, the extent of the fleet, and exactly whether the law will even allow for level 5 autonomous cars is still unknown. We’ll update this article when we know more.