| Make
|
Audi
|
| Model |
Avatar |
| Concept
year |
2009 |
| Production
year |
2032
(theoretical) |
| Engine |
in-wheel
electric motors |
|
The Avatar is powered by 4 in-wheel
electric motors which provide 544 hp |
 |
|
The Audi Avatar is a concept vehicle which was created
by Edwin Conan (Yi Yuan), a graduate of RMIT (Royal Melbourne
Institute of Technology) University in Australia. The
Avatar was developed during Edwin's final year at the
university as part of his degree project.
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.
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.
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