After Audi unveiled the Artemis Project in May, the possibility that it will translate into a future luxury electric saloon that will emerge never before 2024 takes on substance.
According to information advanced by Autocar, the new member of the e-tron family may be renamed the A9 e-tron, positioning itself in the same segment where the A8 resides, but assuming the contours of a five-door saloon with a fastback profile , in the image of what we see in the Audi A7 Sportback.
The new electric luxury saloon would thus be a natural rival for the new Mercedes-Benz EQS and also for the new Jaguar XJ, which will also become 100% electric.
Audi Aicon, introduced in 2017.
The development of the project code-named E6 is still in its initial phase, but it aims to be the electric standard-bearer not only for Audi but also for the entire Volkswagen Group.
Little is yet known about the new model, but given its positioning, there is a strong chance that it will be based on the future PPE electric platform, half-developed with Porsche. This will be launched next year, with the new electric Macan, but will also be the basis for other electric cars in the German group.
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The J1, used by the Taycan and in the future by the Audi e-tron GT, will, it seems, be reduced to these two models — PPE will take its place — while the MBE will be focused on developing more affordable electric models.
Project Artemis, what is it?
The Artemis Project is, essentially, a working group that aims to accelerate the development of new models with a high technological content — a kind of skunk works.
This working group now has access not only to the internal development team, but also to members of the development teams (engineers and software specialists) from the rest of the German group in order to “accelerate and reduce bureaucracy in the creation of technologies for electrical and driving highly automated”, as stated by Markus Duesmann, CEO of Audi.
Audi's CEO expects that the results of the Artemis Project can be extended to the development of all future models of the ring brand.
Considering the agility of car startups that don't have to deal with giant car groups and their complex bureaucratic structures, this working group should allow Audi to also be competitive at this level.
No wonder Markus Duesmann has gone to find Alex Hitzinger to lead this working group. He is currently head of autonomous driving development at the Volkswagen Group, but it is his track record in competition that makes him the right person for the job, a high-pressure work environment that forces rapid developments.
He was in charge of developing the winning Porsche 919 LMP1 and before that he went through Formula 1 through Red Bull Racing. Interestingly, he was also part of the development team for the Titan project, Apple's canceled electric car.
The practical application of Project Artemis will culminate in the unveiling of this new electric luxury saloon — there are rumors of other projects in parallel — which could debut not only new electrical technology, but also a “highly automated” driving system.
Also in charge of this team is the “development of an extensive ecosystem around the car itself, resulting in a new business model for the entire phase of vehicle use”.