Audi lists AI-infused future product plan

AUDI has confirmed the functions of its Autonomous Intelligence (AI) technology will trickle down to all future models, including the new A1, Q3, A6, A7 and E-tron electric SUV due next year.

The Audi AI function, which debuted as a button on the fourth-generation A8 this week, will also make its way to a duo of high-performance dedicated electric vehicles (EVs) to follow by 2020. So far it helps in driverless functionality and remote reverse-parking, among others.

Speaking at the international reveal of the Audi A8 in Barcelona this week, Audi AG chairman of the board of management Rupert Stadler and Audi AG member of the board of technology development Dr Peter Mertens said that the technology behind the button would flow to every other model the brand debuts.

“When it comes to mobility technology, we strive to be one of the leading technology companies,” Mr Stadler started.

“Our future cars will manage (driving) in defined zones in the city, as well as on the highway all by themselves. And, they will leave it up to you to drive or to be driven. Audi AI supports you and thinks for you and AI increases your level of independence.

“The world is ready for this next level of mobility (and) we will continuously increase the power of this Audi AI button.

“Following the Audi A8, there are quite a few models in the pipeline for 2018 – the Audi A7 and A6, the Q3, the A1 and … the Audi E-tron, which raises electric mobility to the next level. This is the starting point of a large product initiative.”

Dr Mertens further added that the E-tron electric large SUV, “provides a preview to our second electric car, which is due to come in 2019.”“It will be even more intelligent because we will increasingly implement Audi AI in all of our future models,” he continued.

“Audi AI is a trademark of our brand. It uses deep learning to take a proactive approach to the human machine interface.”

Called the E-tron Sportback, the new model will offer a coupe-shaped SUV body style in 2019, followed by another all-electric high-performance model in 2020.

Audi AG chief digital officer and chief strategy officer Dr Roland Villinger revealed that “Audi is so committed to the electrification of our vehicles in fact, we’re planning by the middle of the next decade to have one-third of vehicles electrified”.

“In 2018, so next year already, we’ll introduce to the market our E-tron – the first high-performance, fully electric SUV by a premium-OEM with a 500km range.

In 2019, so one year later already, we’ll introduce our E-tron Sportback.

“One later already in 2020, we’ll introduce the third all-electric, high-performance vehicle from Audi.

“Subsequently after that, we will electrify all our vehicle series, all our models including hybrid solutions.”

Curiously, it seems Audi does not believe Tesla is a “premium-OEM”.

Mr Stadler also spruiked the benefits of Audi AI, further teasing that the brand would reveal an extension of the technology at September’s Frankfurt motor show.

“There is a lot more to come from Audi,” he said.

“Future premium means taking back control of your time, because time is one of the most valuable goods. Just imagine, you get out of the car into a comfortable lounge and the car already knows when you want to spend more quality time with your kids.

“All of this and much more will be made possible by Audi AI – not in the far future, we start with this right now in the new-generation of Audi cars to come.

“Stay tuned for what we are going to reveal, for example, in Frankfurt in eight weeks’ time. These two letters – AI – and the idea behind it will present a companion into our new era.”