Audi Q6 e-tron 2018

Audi's first All-electric SUV

Audi is expected to reveal 2018 Q6 e-tron at the Frankfurt show in September. The Q6 e-tron will share its platform with the 2016 Q7 e-tron and upcoming 2017 Volkswagen Cross-Blue SUV.

The biggest news is that the e-tron will have approximately 310 miles of all electric range. Audi will have a system of wireless recharging technology that will eliminate the need to plug-in its car entirely.

According to reports the C-BEV will lift its motor and 92kWh batteries from the latest R8 e-tron supercar, but instead of two rear-mounted motors, the Q6 will have additional third motor encased within its gearbox. Q6 e-tron will generate even more power with third motor, and the concept is expected to have a combined total of 375kW per 700Nm.

The influence of Audi's earlier Prologue concepts can clearly be seen, particularly through the fattened rear quarters. Slender LED tail lights reach into the tailgate, to emphasis width. The company expects to make the new SUV a proper high-volume model, hitting at least 10,000 global sales annually.

SMART CARS TECH

1. V2V Communication

Vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication technology for light vehicles. This technology would allow to "talk" to each other and ultimately avoid many crashes altogether by exchanging basic safety data, such as speed and position, ten times per second, to improve safety.

It uses "ad hoc network", where every car is free to associate with any other car available in the network and share equal status. V2V which is also known as VANET (Vehicle ad hoc network), is a variation of MANET (mobile ad hoc network). Many automobile manufacturers including BMW, Audi, Honda, General Motors, Volvo and Daimler are working and developing this technology to improve safety, overcome blind spots and avoid accidents.

2. Pre-collision Technology

Top car-makers such as Ford and Hyundai have developed a pre-collision assist and pedestrian detection technology. Besides helping the driver detect blind spots, this technology also alerts the driver when he/she is not paying attention on road and if the driver falls asleep and does not respond to the warning, then the system applies the brakes on its own. Its collision mitigation braking system delivers an audio and visual warning when there is a risk of head-on collision.

The driver assist system has two types of sensors:-

1. Millimetre-wave radar located inside the front grille.
2. Monocular camera mounted on the upper, inside part of wind-shield.

If the driver fails to react, the car will automatically begin breaking itself to prevent or reduce the severity of crash. This technology will debut in 2015 with Ford Mondeo in Europe. Hyundai would introduce it in the new Genesis sedan.

3. Smart Cars

• Google launched its "Android Auto", a telematics software that can be connected to car dash board for infotainment. It also enables the driver to access GPS, maps, streaming music, weather and a host of other applications. A slew of car-makers including Abarth, Acura, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Maserati and Volvo will offer Android Auto in their cars.

• Earlier, at the Geneva Motor Show in March, Apple announced its "CarPlay" software, which allows device running on the iOS operating system to function with built-in display units of automobile dashboards. Carmakers like BMW, Daimler, JLR, Honda and Hyundai have installed it in their cars. Infotainment manufacturers like Pioneer & Alpine too have shown interest in Carplay from Apple.

BMW's Electric truck

The BMW Group will be the first automobile manufacturer in Europe to use a 40 ton electric truck for material transport on public roads. It was launched on 7th July at the BMW Group Plant in Munich by Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs, IIse Aigner. 

"With our electric truck, we are sending another strong signal for sustainable urban mobility," said Hermann Bohrer, head of the BMW Group Plant in Munich, in a press release. "We are proud to be the first automotive manufacturer in Europe to use an electric truck of this size to transport materials on public roads."

The electric truck by the BMW Group and the SCHERM group will be exclusively charged with electricity from renewable sources. The combination of its and the alternative driveline means the 40-ton truck helps the environment while it is on the road - it's CO2 free, quiet and generates almost no fine pollution. Comparing to diesel engine truck, the electric truck will save 11.8 tons CO2 annually.

The truck battery takes 3 to 4 hours to charge. The vehicle has the range of about 100 kilometres when fully charged.

"With this project we will gain valuable information on what will be possible with electric trucks in the future for city logistics," said Jürgen Maidl, head of logistics at BMW Group. "The BMW Group, along with our partner the SCHERM Group, is once again bravely embarking on a new journey and delivery pioneering work."