Audi’s Potential Entry into the True Off-Roader Market
Audi could be moving closer to creating a serious off-roader that can actively utilize the resources of the Volkswagen Group. The company is exploring the idea of a vehicle with a body-on-frame construction, potentially borrowing developments from the American brand Scout Motors. However, management emphasizes that a final decision has not yet been made.
For decades, Mercedes-Benz has offered the G-Class, and today it sells in greater volumes than ever. Audi has never had a direct competitor to this model. This could change, as the brand confirmed it is considering the possibility of creating a rugged all-wheel-drive vehicle, which would undoubtedly generate interest among its enthusiasts.
If the project is approved, it would be a significant expansion beyond Audi’s current model range, which consists of unibody SUVs, and would place the new model alongside classic body-on-frame off-roaders like the Defender, Land Cruiser, and G-Class.
Executive’s Words and the Possibility of a Quick Launch
Speaking about a potential competitor to the Land Rover Defender, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner did not deny the rumors. “Of course, we are thinking about something like that,” he said, before adding: “the decision has not been made yet… but it is definitely within our considerations.”
However, before Audi begins work on such a model, it needs to ensure there is a suitable technical base for it. Developing an entirely new platform from scratch would be too expensive, so the body-on-frame chassis for the Scout Traveler and Terra models would be the most obvious choice to start with.
Currently, the Scout’s body-on-frame construction is the only suitable separate-frame platform under development within the Volkswagen Group, essentially making it the primary candidate.
“You need a platform that is authentic in this segment, otherwise it doesn’t make sense,” Döllner explained. “The positive thing about the Audi brand is that almost every segment can be considered. The range from a compact A-segment car to a large D-segment car or an off-roader—all of that is possible under the Audi brand.”
Döllner also noted that for a quick launch of a body-on-frame SUV in the new era of “Chinese speed” development, where new cars are brought to market in just two to three years from concept, “you need some kind of platform to build on.”
Technical Advantages of the Scout Platform
Another advantage of the Scout platform for Audi is that it was designed from the outset to support fully electric powertrains and range-extender hybrids. The latter option, it turns out, is the most popular for Scout and will include a small engine serving as a generator, located behind the rear axle.
Scout also developed the platform with true off-roading in mind, claiming a ground clearance of over 300 mm, a fording depth of approximately 900 mm, a towing capacity of up to 4500 kg in the electric version, and a payload of around 900 kg. It will also feature locking center and inter-wheel differentials, as well as dual electric motors for permanent all-wheel drive.
The rugged off-roader market remains a prestigious and profitable segment that Audi has not yet entered. Utilizing the ready-made Scout platform could significantly accelerate the process and reduce costs, which is crucial in modern conditions. Such a step also demonstrates deeper integration of brands within the Volkswagen Group and their ability to quickly respond to market opportunities. The success of such a vehicle will depend not only on technical specifications but also on whether Audi can create its own distinctive design and image that sets its model apart from others.