The all-electric Audi AI:TRAIL quattro, a sneak peek into the future of Audi SUVs, is the fourth AI branded concept. The automaker has created the AI concept car along with the previously revealed AICON, PB 18, now called AI:RAC, and AI:ME.

The AI:TRAIL quattro made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show and is the last of four ‘AI’ branded concepts. Like the other three models, the concept has been designed as an Audi off-roader. At 4,015mm in length, the car is shorter than a Q2 but wider and taller than Audi’s compact crossover. The AI:TRAIL has more interior space as a result of its all-electric structure and features parts of two VW platforms — MEB and PPE. The vehicle includes an electric motor that powers each wheel and a battery under the floor. The AI:TRAIL delivers 429bhp with 1,000Nm torque, and has a maximum range of 310 miles on the road and 155 miles on rougher terrain, as well as an electronically limited top speed of 81mph.

The AI:TRAIL has been built with a combination of high-tensile steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber, and weighs 1,750kg. According to Audi design chief Marc Lichte, the vehicle represents the brand’s unlimited potential. “A few years ago we thought about how the future Audi portfolio could look like,” said Lichte. “In the future, not everything will be about owning. Some people may want to buy a car like this, but others will just want to have access. They’ll want the perfect car for each use case. If you can order your car for a specific use case, this will change the design of our cars. This is what we imagine a future Audi SUV could look like when designed without any compromise.”

The AI:TRAIL has a monobox shape and 22-inch exposed wheels clad in 33.5-inch off-road rubber. The tires include variable, sensor-controlled air pressure regulation, which instinctively adjusts the amount of air in the tire according to the surface requirements. The SUV has no front or rear overhangs, while the large glasshouse is a feature intended for future Audis.

“In many details, these cars show our future design language as well”, Lichte said. “The break in the window, for instance, I can promise you it will be seen in production cars. This is inspired by the 70s - there were a few concept cars like the Ferrari Modulo and the Stratos show car, for example. It makes sense to create more interior space. This car is definitely ten, maybe 15 years ahead. But we wanted to give you a vision, a picture.”

Like the rest of the line-up, the AI:TRAIL concept is expected to be self-driving with level-four autonomy, which means it can drive itself although a steering wheel and a set of pedals will still remain to allow drivers the choice of driving or being driven. As for technology, the car will be limited to a pair of driver information displays on both sides of the steering wheel and a smartphone holder. Off-road extras include removable torches, binocular, and first aid kits, while the two rear seats are removable hammocks.

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The cabin will also feature large storage areas in the front and rear, and a separate compartment in the trunk for outdoor gear and boots. As for headlights, the concept has five rotorless electric drones equipped with matrix LED elements on the roof rack that can be used as pathfinders. The vehicle displays a new Audi badge on the tailgate, as well as the traditional four-rings on the nose and wheel hubs.