Audi is weighing a rugged flagship SUV to rival the G-Class. Scout underpinnings could make an electric off-roader possible. Concept C design language suits a squared-off body far better. Audi meant it when it said the Concept C from last year would shape the design of future models. First out of the gate was the Lamborghini Temerario-powered Nuvolari, which takes that concept and turns it into something you can buy, but more are coming, and one of them may be a rugged SUV built to take on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. That would be new territory for a company whose off-road ambitions have historically stopped at a raised Allroad wagon. As recently as this March, the German brand confirmed it was weighing a rugged flagship SUV, opening up a new market the car manufacturer hasn’t previously shown much interest in. Should that machine borrow from the Nuvolari the way the supercar borrowed from the Concept C, the result might land somewhere near this render from Nikita Chuyko for Kolesa. Read: Audi Boss Admits A Tough 4×4 Is On The Table, One Shared Platform Makes It Possible We remain unconvinced that the flat shapes on the Concept C and Nuvolari suit a low-slung, two-door sports car, particularly next to the old Audi TT and R8. Stretch the same design language over an SUV, though, and Kolesa’s renderings make a far stronger case for it. Illustrations Nikita Chuyko / Kolesa The vehicle depicted in these renderings looks similar in overall stance and proportions to the Lexus GX, which is a massive compliment. The front looks especially imposing thanks to the slim LED headlights, the square central grille, and the two large blacked-out intakes below the headlights. Other key elements of the design include a brutish front bumper and skid plate, suggesting this vehicle has serious off-road intent. The model also sits on large silver-and-black wheels with all-terrain tires. A squared-off roofline further adds to the model’s overall stance. Spin around to the rear, and there are a pair of LED taillights, a spare wheel carrier, and a rear diffuser which, admittedly, looks a little out of place on a vehicle like this. Scout Underpinnings? Should Audi commit to a vehicle like this, it could share underpinnings with the Scout brand. That would open the door to all-electric and range-extender versions of the four-ring brand’s G-Class rival, while carrying over the hardware that makes the Scouts credible in the rough, front- and rear-locking differentials included, along with serious ground clearance. Audi may not be the only German brand circling this segment. BMW has its own G-Class rival in development under the G74 codename, expected to ride on a reworked version of the CLAR platform that underpins the X5. Both projects could end up being built in South Carolina, BMW at its existing Spartanburg plant and Audi alongside Scout in Blythewood, which would put two of Mercedes’ biggest rivals assembling rugged flagships in the same state. Illustrations Nikita Chuyko / Kolesa
