Volkswagen's emissions scandal put fellow automakers on notice — perhaps now more than ever — letting them know that they should consider forward-thinking drivetrains for cleaner or even zero emissions output, altogether, in the near future.
That especially holds true for Audi, an automaker under the Volkswagen umbrella. The luxury automaker used part of its press conference time slot at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on Monday to roll out its all-new Audi H-Tron Quattro concept.
What does the 'H' stand for? The hydrogen powering it, of course.
Calling the H-Tron Quattro its latest in benchmark innovation, Audi also boasted having upward of a decade of experience in working with fuel-cell technology. In fact, the automaker called Detroit the "perfect" place to reveal its fifth-generation fuel-cell technology, giving off 110 kWh of performance.
The concept's lithium ion battery delivers a boost of up to 100 kWh, while the combined power of its fuel cell and battery are driven by two electric motors — one in the front axel, one in the rear axel.
Audi promises the H-Tron Quattro to be as sporty as it is efficient, taking "only four minutes to refill its tanks" just like a gasoline-powered car.
That and it's modern, with the concept touting digitization and connectivity via perks such as LTE Internet access, OLED interface displays, tablets in the back for entertainment and even a smart butler software for luggage arrangement in the trunk.
