An All-Wheel Drive Pioneer
Audi may be going through a bit of a tough time right now, but let’s not forget that it’s a pioneer in all-wheel drive technology. If it weren’t for the Quattro – both the car and the system – all-wheel drive wouldn’t be as democratized today.
The German automaker has fitted pretty much everything it makes with Quattro. Heck, even the versions from the ’80s came with a center-locking diff, giving it some off-road capability limited only by ground clearance. Ironic, then, that Audi was late to the SUV game, only unveiling the Q7 in late 2005, many years after BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus had rolled out their first SUVs. Still, better late than never.
Quattro Squared
These days, Audi makes a crossover in every size, shape, and price bracket. The upcoming Q9 is a further expansion of that range, but the company is mulling the idea of something more, well, rugged.
Speaking to CarBuzz, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner floated the idea of an off-road vehicle. While the Q9 is expected to have some off-road capability, it’s not exactly the kind of SUV one would take dune-busting or rock-crawling. It’s not that its target market would actually take it to places more challenging than a curb.
Döllner told the publication that Audi is exploring its options in both sports cars and off-road vehicles. He also added that the company is “specifically listening to the US market in these directions.” In other words, people who really want one and can actually buy one better start speaking up now.
Audi via CarsWP.com
What About Scout?
It’s an interesting proposition from Audi, but it clashes with a brand the Volkswagen Group is trying to get off the ground. We are, of course, talking about Scout Motors. At the moment, it’s already had its fair share of battles because of its direct-sales route, well before the first batch of models had even reached customers.
Building an Audi off-roader carries the risk of overlap with Scout Motors’ products. At the same time, Audi doesn’t have a body-on-frame platform to work with in the first place. It could utilize the frame used by the Scouts, but that just opens up even more internal in-fighting within the Volkswagen Group.
Hurdles and Challenges
With that in mind, Döllner did tell CarBuzz that Audi is ‘not ready to commit to help from other brands’ within the VW Group. Should the plan actually get going, it appears that Audi wants to take on the project on its own. It is, however, easier said than done.
Remember, Audi and Porsche have had to deepen their collaboration following a disastrous 2025 for both brands. The two will have to play nice and share more platforms and technologies moving forward to return to healthy profitability. If Audi really wants a G-Class rival, it has to help build a Porsche version to spread costs and hope that economies of scale work in its favor. At the same time, we have to ask ourselves if there’s a place for a truck-based Porsche in the first place.
Still, the idea is there, and the CEO isn’t closing the door on that possibility. Admittedly, it’s a long shot, although Audi has a better chance of bringing back some sports cars, presumably with Quattro all-wheel drive.
