BLOC MAGAZINE WINTER 18-19

T he Audi PB18 e-tron's concept and exciting lines were created in the new Audi design studio in Malibu, California – where the brand’s design is consistently being updated for the future. The technical concept of the PB18 e-tron has benefitted fromAudi's many years of winning the Le Mans racing series. The experts at Audi Sport GmbH, the high-performance subsidiary of Audi, were responsible for implementation. The abbreviated name “PB18 e-tron” refers both to the Pebble Beach venue for the premiere and to the technological DNA it shares with the successful LMP1 racing car Audi R18 e-tron. The internal working title at Audi for the showcar project was “Level Zero” – as an explicit way to differentiate it from the Levels 3, 4 and 5 of auton- omous driving currently in focus at Audi. In the Audi PB18 e-tron, the driver is the one steering and stepping on the accelerator or brake pedal. There are therefore no complex sys- tems for piloted driving on board and no comfort features to add weight. In their place are a driver’s seat and cockpit that are integrated into an in- ner monocoque shell that can be slid laterally. When driven solo, the mono- coque can be positioned in the center of the interior as in a monoposto – the perfect location for the racetrack. This is made possible not least by the by- wire design of the steering and pedals; a mechanical connection of the con- trol elements is not needed. The Audi PB18 e-tron package fol- lows the traditional architecture of a mid-engine sports car with a cab that is positioned far forward. The car’s center of gravity is located be- hind the seats and in front of the rear axle – which benefits the driving dy- namics. This does not involve the engine-transmission unit, as in a car with a conventional drive system, but rather the battery pack. A mix of aluminum, carbon and mul- ti-material composites ensures the body of the Audi PB18 e-tron has a low basic weight. Not least thanks to the innovative and comparatively light solid- state battery, a total weight of less than 1,550 kg (3,417.2 lb) can be expected. The PB18 e-tron is 4.53 meters long, 2 meters wide and just 1.15 meters tall. These dimensions alone speak of a classical sports car. The wheelbase is 2.70 meters (8.9 ft) and the overhangs are compact. Viewed from the side, the eye is drawn to the gently sloping roof line which is pulled far to the back and features massive C-pillars. Together with the large and almost vertical rear window, this design is reminiscent of a shooting brake concept – the synthe- sis of a coupé with the rear of a station wagon. The result is not only a distinc- tive silhouette but also, with 470 liters (16.6 cubic ft), a clear bonus in terms of cargo space – usually a deficit in sports cars. An exclusive luggage set customized to fit the cargo space helps to make optimum use of the luggage compartment – even if the luggage in this car frequently consists of nothing but a helmet and racing overall. A flat red band of lights extends across the entire width of the rear and under- scores the horizontal orientation of the vehicle body. The cabin, placed on the broad shoulders of the wheel arch- es, appears almost dainty from the rear. The rear diffuser air outlet has been raised high – another function- al feature borrowed from motorsport. The diffuser can be moved downward mechanically to increase downforce. The rear spoiler, which normally is fixed, can be extended rearward for the same purpose. The widely extended wheel arches lo- cated opposite the central cabin are noticeable from every angle. They emphasize the extremely wide track of the PB18 e-tron and thereby illustrate the lateral dynamic potential of the car and the obligatory quattro drive. The large 22-inch wheels, each with eight asymmetrically designed spokes are reminiscent of turbine inlets – to- gether with the air inlets and outlets of the wheel arches, their rotation en- sures excellent air supply to the large carbon brake discs. The front is dominated by the famil- iar hexagon shape of the Singleframe grille, with an emphatically wide and horizontal cut. The brand logo is placed above at the front of the hood, in the typical Audi sports car style. Large air inlets to the left and right of the Singleframe supply the necessary cooling air to the brakes and the front electric motor. Wide and flat light units with integrated digital matrix technology and laser high-beam head- lights complete the face of the PB18 e-tron. The large-format cockpit itself is de- signed as a freely programmable unit and can be switched between various layouts for the racetrack or the road, depending on the scenario for use. WWW.BLOCHOTELS.COM // 57