The Artemis Project is Audi’s initiative aimed at developing new technologies for electric, highly automated automobiles with a concrete model reference. The concrete model reference is a go-to design that the rest of its electric vehicles ill be based off. That pioneering model has now been revealed. It’s called the Landjet, but the production version will likely be called A9. It is an extension of the Aicon concept project.
The car will have the 5G connectivity functions, including extensive use of ‘car-to-X’ features, over-the-air upgrades, and augmented reality, as well as top-of-the-line battery cell, electric drivetrain, and autonomous driving technology. It’s expected to offer a range of 650 km.
Artemis, which is being run by a group of 250 employees, is developing an extensive ecosystem around the Landjet, which will flow onto other EVs. The flagship sedan is set to be on the roads by 2024, and all the rest will follow suit. There are even plans to develop offshoots for Bentley and Porsche based on the Landjet.
The company’s goal is to push itself to the top of electric luxury car ranks. It intends to launch this new model as a counter-design to the next-gen Tesla Model S. Audi already has several electric platforms and models in the works. It plans to launch as many as twenty electric and ten plug-in hybrid models by 2024. It has set aside €12bn (£10.8bn) of its planned €37bn (£33.1bn) R&D spend to make it happen.
Once the Landjet (A9) is launched, it will serve as a technical showcase for as many as 75 EV and 60 hybrids to debut by 2029 by all the Volkswagen Group brands (Bentley, Audi, Lamborghini, Seat, Porsche, Skoda, and Volkswagen). The electrification strategy that includes all brands will cost €60 billion (£53.8bn).
The future holds fierce competition for automakers. Will Audi be ready by 2024 to compete with Tesla’s Model S and the growing number of new EV companies like Rivian, Lucid Air, and a host of new Chinese electric car start-ups? Only time will tell.
