Eco Factor: Concept car powered by a diesel/electric hybrid engine.
Developed as a student project by a team from Domus Academy, the Audi Panzerspahwagen could be the newest craze in the ecofriendly SUV market. The car is being touted as the next-gen Audi Q7, making sustainability, speed and robustness the key components of the car. The car is designed to be powered by a plug-in hybrid platform with R10 based twin-turbo 6L bio-diesel V12 TDI diesel engine and four independent 100KW electric motors mounted in each wheel.
Together with a lightweight aluminum chassis and carbon-Kevlar composite bodywork, the car is designed to have a higher range at high speeds. Energy is also reabsorbed in the car by the built-in regenerative braking mechanism. The Panzerspahwagen design can suit multiple scenarios from urban to military purposes.
Giving it a high-tech look, the car has been designed with wing doors that take up less space and are hydraulically operated for convenience. Read mounted cameras replace the traditional rear-view mirrors, which project the scene on the rear to the dashboard.
The engine receives air from the snorkel air intake, which combined with the raised exhaust ensures complete functionality even under heavily flooded situations. The headlights and taillights will be an array of powerful LEDs that use less energy from the car’s electric drive.
For overcast or foggy days the car carries a motion sensing VR headset combined with completely articulated bifocal infrared night-vision camera that provides an alternate mode of vision.
