Automotive Technology

The Avatar is an electric powered supercar concept which is designed for about 20-25 years in the future. The shape was inspired by the 1937 Auto Union Type C Streamline racing car, and both cars – even though they are separated by a century – share the same clinical lines and pronounced wheel arches.

2009 Audi Avatar concept Car

There are no conventional doors to the Avatar, instead the vehicle utilizes a three-part canopy which opens upward to provide entry and exit. The main canopy opens forward together with the steering wheel and the dashboard, while two smaller canopies above the passenger seats open backwards. At the same time a panel in the bodywork drops down to act as a step.

The interior of the Audi Avatar features a three-seat layout with the driver sitting in a central position forward of the passenger seats. The driver is met with a futuristic dashboard which consists of a transparent LCD display which provides all essential driving data. In the center of the steering wheel is another screen which provides navigation information. Additional information can also be projected onto the canopy to provide a heads-up-display similar to those found in high performance aircraft.

Thanks to a drive-by-wire system the Avatar’s steering wheel can be swapped out quickly and easily in favor of a joystick or even a keypad depending on driver preferences.

Powering the Audi Avatar is an all-electric drivetrain which comprises of four individual electric motors (one for each wheel), and a pair of high-performance battery packs. The battery packs are split in two to provide better weight distribution, one is located at the front and one at the rear. In total the projected output is 544 horsepower, and 4,500 Nm (3,319 lb-ft) of torque. This gives the car a theoretical top speed of 223 mph (360 Km/h), and a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 2.9 seconds.

The wheels of the Avatar are housed inside the car’s four ‘legs’. The legs are constructed from a deformable material which allows it to change shape when the wheel is turned. To increase the vehicle’s agility and handling, the Avatar features a four-wheel-steering system. The front wheels provide most of the steering, while the rear wheels can turn up to 10 degrees.