Audi is planning to launch a new all-electric 4×4 SUV, aimed at competing with the Land Rover Defender and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, according to a recent report. The upcoming vehicle will feature a boxy design and will be built on the same ladder platform that is being used for the revival of the Scout brand.
As reported by Autocar, Audi executives are close to giving the green light for this new project, which will be separate from the Activesphere concept. The company’s Head of Design, Marc Lichte, has confirmed that the new SUV will not be built on the Porsche and Audi PPE platform, nor will it use the Ford Ranger chassis that is expected to be incorporated into a future Volkswagen SUV.
See also: This Land Rover Defender turns electric after receives 80kW electric powertrain
“If you think about the history of Audi – the rallying success in the ’80s with the Quattro and Sport Quattro – it’s easy to explain why Audi needs a car like this. And if we talk about Quattro 2.0, it matches even more. I think there is space” for a rugged SUV in Audi’s passenger car line-up, he said. “There is potential because there are only two premium players… and I think there is a space for a third one”.
The new all-electric SUV from Audi is expected to go into production by 2027, and it will not use the upcoming SSP platform. Instead, it will utilize the Scout EVs ladder chassis, making it a suitable fit for the vehicle’s off-road capabilities and design intention.
According to Autocar, Volkswagen is rumored to be partnering with Canadian components company, Magna, to manufacture Scout vehicles. Magna currently builds the Mercedes-Benz G-Class in Austria. Additionally, Audi is already collaborating with Magna on battery technology.
