On the outside the Audi Elaine concept looks familiar, since it debuted a few months ago at Auto Shanghai in China as the E-Tron Sportback concept, but now the concept is being used to showcase Audi’s autonomous technology.
What sets the Audi Elaine concept apart from the Shanghai concept are numerous functions that push the envelope for piloted driving and assistance systems. The Audi Elaine can drive itself on the highway with its new highway pilot autonomous system. The highway pilot is an extension of the traffic jam pilot in the A8 and allows piloted driving at speeds from 37.3 to 80.8 mph.
When the highway pilot is active, the Audi Elaine changes lanes automatically without any involvement of the person behind the wheel. If the driver does want to intervene, they can do so spontaneously at any time.
The Audi Elaine concept is powered by two electric motors, one at each axle, that generate a total 430 horsepower or 496 horsepower with the boost function turned on. The concept can reach 62 mph in 4.5 seconds and its 95 kWh lithium-ion battery gives it a driving range of 310 miles on the European cycle.
Audi has already confirmed that the E-Tron Sportback concept will enter production in 2019, a year after the E-Tron electric SUV debuts.
Source: Audi
