Audi PB18 e-tron concept makes Pebble Beach world premiere
29 Aug 2018|1,519 views
The all-electric Audi PB18 e-tron represents a radical vision for the high-performance sports car of tomorrow. Conceived and created in the new Audi design studio in Malibu, California, with the benefit of extensive experience gained in the wind tunnel and on the race track, its very presence signals that it is destined to push boundaries.
The technical concept behind the PB18 e-tron has been devised using expertise gained during the phenomenally successful Audi Le Mans racing programme, and the realisation of that concept was the responsibility of the experts at Audi Sport GmbH, the Audi high-performance subsidiary.
The abbreviated name PB18 e-tron refers both to the Pebble Beach venue for the premiere and to the technological DNA it shares with the Audi R18 e-tron LMP1 racing car.
At first sight, the Audi PB18 e-tron shows its kinship with another spectacular concept car from the brand - the Audi Aicon from 2017. This holds true not only for characteristic design elements like the side windows that angle inwards and the significantly extended wheel arches, but also in terms of their all-electric drivetrains using advanced solid-state battery technology for energy storage.
This, however, is where the similarities end. While the Aicon was designed as a fully automated, long-distance luxury vehicle - a business jet for the road - the creators of the PB18 e-tron designed it as a radical driving machine for the race track and road. Dynamics and emotion top its list of specifications. Parameters like propulsive power, lateral acceleration and perfect ergonomics determine each detail. And driver orientation is in a completely new dimension.
The Audi PB18 e-tron package follows the traditional architecture of a mid-engine sports car with a cab that is positioned far forward. The car's centre of gravity is located behind the seats and in front of the rear axle, which benefits the driving dynamics. This does not involve the engine-transmission unit, as in a car with a conventional drive system, but rather the battery pack.


Viewed from the side, the eye is drawn to the gently sloping roof line, which is pulled far to the back and features massive C-pillars. Together with the large and almost vertical rear window, this design is reminiscent of a shooting brake concept - the synthesis of a coupe with the rear of a stationwagon.
The result is not only a distinctive silhouette but also a clear bonus in terms of cargo space, which is usually at a premium in sports cars. 470 litres is available, and can be fully exploited using the exclusive customised luggage designed to fit the cargo space - even if the luggage in this car frequently consists of nothing but a helmet and racing overall.
The internal working title at Audi for the showcar project was 'Level Zero' - as a means of explicitly differentiating its development focus from other Audi projects that are currently working towards bringing Levels 3, 4 and 5 of autonomous driving to the road. In the Audi PB18 e-tron, the driver is the absolute centre of attention. There are therefore no complex systems for piloted driving on board and no comfort features to add weight.
In their place are a driver's seat and cockpit that are integrated into an inner monocoque shell that is moveable laterally depending on how many occupants are on board. When driven solo, the monocoque can be positioned in the centre of the interior as in a monoposto. This is made possible not least by the by-wire design of the steering and pedals; a mechanical connection of the control elements is not needed.
The concept uses three powerful electric motors - one up front and two in the rear. The latter are centrally located between the steering knuckles, each directly driving one wheel via half-shafts. They deliver up to 150kW (201bhp) of power to the front axle and 350kW (469bhp) to the rear - the Audi PB18 e-tron is a true quattro, of course. Maximum output is 500kW (670bhp), but with boosting the driver can temporarily mobilise up to 570kW (764bhp).
The combined torque of up to 830Nm allows acceleration from 0-100km/h in scarcely more than 2 seconds - a speed that differs only marginally from that of a current LMP1 prototype.
The all-electric Audi PB18 e-tron represents a radical vision for the high-performance sports car of tomorrow. Conceived and created in the new Audi design studio in Malibu, California, with the benefit of extensive experience gained in the wind tunnel and on the race track, its very presence signals that it is destined to push boundaries.
The technical concept behind the PB18 e-tron has been devised using expertise gained during the phenomenally successful Audi Le Mans racing programme, and the realisation of that concept was the responsibility of the experts at Audi Sport GmbH, the Audi high-performance subsidiary.
The abbreviated name PB18 e-tron refers both to the Pebble Beach venue for the premiere and to the technological DNA it shares with the Audi R18 e-tron LMP1 racing car.
At first sight, the Audi PB18 e-tron shows its kinship with another spectacular concept car from the brand - the Audi Aicon from 2017. This holds true not only for characteristic design elements like the side windows that angle inwards and the significantly extended wheel arches, but also in terms of their all-electric drivetrains using advanced solid-state battery technology for energy storage.
This, however, is where the similarities end. While the Aicon was designed as a fully automated, long-distance luxury vehicle - a business jet for the road - the creators of the PB18 e-tron designed it as a radical driving machine for the race track and road. Dynamics and emotion top its list of specifications. Parameters like propulsive power, lateral acceleration and perfect ergonomics determine each detail. And driver orientation is in a completely new dimension.
The Audi PB18 e-tron package follows the traditional architecture of a mid-engine sports car with a cab that is positioned far forward. The car's centre of gravity is located behind the seats and in front of the rear axle, which benefits the driving dynamics. This does not involve the engine-transmission unit, as in a car with a conventional drive system, but rather the battery pack.


When the driver's monocoque is moved into the side position, the PB18 e‑tron can be steered in everyday driving like a conventional road vehicle
Viewed from the side, the eye is drawn to the gently sloping roof line, which is pulled far to the back and features massive C-pillars. Together with the large and almost vertical rear window, this design is reminiscent of a shooting brake concept - the synthesis of a coupe with the rear of a stationwagon.
The result is not only a distinctive silhouette but also a clear bonus in terms of cargo space, which is usually at a premium in sports cars. 470 litres is available, and can be fully exploited using the exclusive customised luggage designed to fit the cargo space - even if the luggage in this car frequently consists of nothing but a helmet and racing overall.
The internal working title at Audi for the showcar project was 'Level Zero' - as a means of explicitly differentiating its development focus from other Audi projects that are currently working towards bringing Levels 3, 4 and 5 of autonomous driving to the road. In the Audi PB18 e-tron, the driver is the absolute centre of attention. There are therefore no complex systems for piloted driving on board and no comfort features to add weight.
In their place are a driver's seat and cockpit that are integrated into an inner monocoque shell that is moveable laterally depending on how many occupants are on board. When driven solo, the monocoque can be positioned in the centre of the interior as in a monoposto. This is made possible not least by the by-wire design of the steering and pedals; a mechanical connection of the control elements is not needed.
The concept uses three powerful electric motors - one up front and two in the rear. The latter are centrally located between the steering knuckles, each directly driving one wheel via half-shafts. They deliver up to 150kW (201bhp) of power to the front axle and 350kW (469bhp) to the rear - the Audi PB18 e-tron is a true quattro, of course. Maximum output is 500kW (670bhp), but with boosting the driver can temporarily mobilise up to 570kW (764bhp).
The combined torque of up to 830Nm allows acceleration from 0-100km/h in scarcely more than 2 seconds - a speed that differs only marginally from that of a current LMP1 prototype.
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