Audi released one of the most wave-making concepts in recent history back in 2019 and has even made a working prototype, usually a good indication of the future of a concept car. The AI:TRAIL (a.i.) is made to be the first in a new future of electric off-road cars and it has some gizmos that make techies and car fans squeal with excitement! It overshadowed its road-going counterparts, the AI:ME SUV and AI:RACE supercar by standing out from the off-road and electric car crowds alike. In fact, the closest concept to this that we can recall is a little Toyota FT4X.
Unlike the Cybertruck or even Rivian, it's not a workhorse. Unlike the Model X, it's not just an SUV-sized street-going car. The closest comparison in our current non-future timeline is the new Ford Bronco (not sport) or Jeep. Still, the Audi Al:TRAIL is so far removed even for a concept car that we can't help but really scratch our heads and say, "is that for reals?" And not a soul is immune from imaging buying one for their own garage!
10 Removable Hammock Seats
The rear seats are hammock-style with what we assume to be highly-weight-tolerant webbing. Though this might be an NHTSA and DOT nightmare safety-wise, it has a lot of logical aspects to it. You may ask, what about swinging and bumping around. In a video by Supercar Blondie we see her sit in one and remark that it's quite comfortable. At the same time, it hardly moves except for the cloth seat parts.
The straps are clipped in only from above and below and presumably double as seatbelt/harnesses or worst-case will just be extra seating for when parked. Either way, Audi has shown us the practical side of this with a removed hammock seat suspended between the ground and a tree branch, acting as a hammock/seat wherever you could string it up, which doesn't seem to be too limited.
9 Drone Lights
The real eye-catcher that put the AI:TRAIL on the map was its lighting. While it does come with a fancy, triangular gear basket (we will get to that) it also has a lightbar built-in that conceals five triangular drones. The idea demonstrated is that the drones pop out of the roof position and fly around the car for added visibility on the trails at night.
It seems that the hidden triangles might be an added option and that they can also double as mobile camping lamps and even emergency signals, a potential issue in the U.S. with the whole impersonating a police officer thing. Still, the tripod lamps that pop out of the door and the built-in lighting is a major stride ahead of existing cars, and not an expensive upgrade (minus the drone part). Drones with live video feed for off-roading have also been teased, but with 360° cameras how they are today, that might not be necessary.
8 High Visibility Windows
While many speak concern as to the shrinking visibility of cars that opt for sportier looks and more comfort inside, Audi is opening it back up! The visibility is so great that it seems to give the sensation of flying when you drive the AI:TRAIL. You can see right up to your pedals with a front-ground window, the back is equally open, and the side windows protrude.
By protruding the side windows you actually create a zero-blindspot effect where the only possible remaining blindspot would, in theory, be directly behind you where the ...C? pillar is, but even this is negated by inboard side mirror screens.
7 Built-In Off-Road Lights
We did touch on this, but it's really a future we hope is pushed in trucks and off-roading. Built-in off-road lights are the future. It's somewhat shocking that with LEDs as bright, small, and cheap as they are that cars don't just glow all around inside and out. Another irk we have is that the addition of off-road lights is almost always a cheap and hacky look. Even well-done lights require a bulky car or bracket, drilling into the body, and some sort of wire you have to hide.
The Audi AI:TRAIL is shown to have clean, subliminal LEDs built directly into the gear basket as well as some classy ambient lights. It's doubtful they will keep the glowing logo on the steering wheel, and with Telsa Model S Plaid getting so many complaints about its non-circular wheel this will most likely change altogether.
6 Gear Basket
If you're looking for an off-road going vehicle and you're very lucky, it will already have cross-bars on it. Audi is offering this gear basket with no charge, which while it could potentially interfere with things like a ski or bike rack, the concept designers have you covered! Clips and handles make it so you can grab and lift the rack off entirely, and four protruding points allow you to mount cross-bars on.
The handles double as straps so you could put the gear up top if the back wasn't enough space, and if you wanted to block off the right-to-left full panoramic sunroof. The side handles also appear to be made to fit crossbars if you didn't want to compromise your light bar for your skis or bike.
5 Simplicity
It would be a shorter list to explain what Audi plans to keep with the AI:TRAIL instead of what they are doing without, but it's important to point some things out. For one, there is no gauge cluster of any kind in the concept, but that's another point on this list. There are no visible controls for windows or climate, so how they plan to deal with it...we don't care! We just love the cleanliness of the interior! Voice control, hand motions, we'd prefer any of it to the old-fashioned button.
The chairs aren't cluttered to the floor with gadgets, and the doors don't even have handles on them! The stop and go are just buttons on the ground with no lever arm holding them, and only a tiny glovebox, seatbelts, and hidden speakers exist to resemble the cars of clear back in 2021. We just have one question: how do you roll down the windows? (So far, you don't)
4 Massive Airless Tires
The tires look very weird and possibly quite expensive, but if this is the case they won't make it to production. In the meantime, the size and shape are what matter. All four tires are airless, and will presumably have a convenient PSI equivalent for off-roading as well as daily driving. If you're wondering if the tread pattern on the AI:TRAIL is any good for grip the answer is no, it's also just for show but wouldn't go to production.
What we do love, however, is the way the rims interact with the tire. What a design! It gives the illusion that the tire is just one rubber donut held by six spikes, a design that plays well with the whole car. You can still see through to the disk brakes, and we can only imagine how red Brembos would look underneath! Plus, there's the obvious appeal of never having to check your tire pressure again.
3 Phone Replacing Gauge Cluster
First: the ugly. Since 2012 cars have had to accommodate over 14 different technological advancements in progression up to things like Apple CarPlay and wireless charging, and 9 iOS updates alone would've crippled this idea buuut... If there's an app or Audi-specific phone that can reliably display your gauge cluster and navigation, well then this might just be brilliant.
With a new iPhone, you can easily use it as a key to turn on the car, get your personal settings up, and start playing music. And Audi app would give you a customizable gauge cluster that could be as simple as the speed or as complicated as the range and kWh, and even the power going to each wheel! Naturally, you also won't be able to get distracted by your phone while driving, a bonus for safety reasons.
2 New Seatbelt Format
If you look closely you will notice the two seatbelt straps on each of the front chairs. What is that about? What it is is a blessing to anyone who's ever torn a rotator cuff or needed a steroid injection in the shoulder. Now, instead of performing tai chi to reach your seatbelt, you can simply do a little twisting motion with both of your arms and give it a click in the middle!
The four-point seatbelt system isn't like race cars in that it isn't as tight, wide, or secure, but it does have some unforeseen advantages.
Now, both hands must be freed up to buckle: no distractions! More importantly, it's a simpler and smaller motion to scoop your arms into. Third of all, it feels more comfortable. The straps are held above your shoulders for both safety and comfort reasons, and far apart enough that you won't get collarbone rub. Lastly, it's far more comfortable off-road. Even been going over bumps so the seatbelt locks up and stays too tight? The four-point doesn't rest right on the bladder making you have to pee and restricting leg movements, so you feel like you're wearing a vest rather than a belt that's too tight.
1 Questioning: Subscription Idea
A beta version of this has already come from Tesla and is being considered by Rivian. The Audi Select program already is being run in Dallas, Texas. Basically, you get your pick of seven Audi models and some free rental car options for your payment of $1,395 a month. The AI version will presumably mean that you can summon the charged cars from a nearby lot of AI series cars to your doorstep and trade them out at your wish for the compact AI:ME, efficient AI:CON, or even the sporty AI:RACE.
The issue we have is what red-blooded Americans call the pride of ownership. While one payment opening the door to a sports car, off-roader, and SUV is a great concept, the idea of paying new car prices for a shared car isn't great for most people who prefer to own, modify, damage, and care for one car in their own way. Problems will inevitably arise in the vein of "who smoked in here?" and "The tires aren't even aligned!" Hardly worth the $1,000 a month it would take to just own your EV outright, and one step closer towards what some might dare to call communism. Politics aside, you won't be able to get any EV rebate or write off the car as a business expense. But since that doesn't seem to be a mandatory feature of the AI:TRAIL, we will still be keeping our ear peeled for the first release that we can drive home!