Nearly three years have passed since Audi’s former design chief hinted at a possible rival to the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Although the rugged off-road icon continues to enjoy strong sales, Audi has not yet introduced a competing model.
That could change soon. Although little has happened since 2023, Audi boss Gernot Döllner recently said Coach not to ‘give up’ on that dream of a cool branded off-road SUV. Although Döllner has talked about simplifying the Audi range, this does not mean that niche models will be eliminated.
He told the publication:
‘It works perfectly to have a more focused line-up at the core, and also have some niche models to build the brand and also bring new ideas from a niche segment to the core products. That works perfectly and this is part of our strategy.’
50
Such a model would serve as a flagship and allow Audi to demonstrate new technology while competing in a popular and profitable segment.
When Marc Lichte said there is room for such a model in 2023, he added that the SUV, which was supposed to be electric, would not look like a G-Class or Land Rover Defender. It would be ‘something different’.
That something else could be a Scout-based offering, and that Audi could use it for more than just its bones. The tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump pose a problem for Audi, which builds its vehicles outside the country.
A Scout-based Audi could allow the automaker to build its G-Class competitor here in America, without paying the tariffs, but nothing has been decided yet. According to Döllner, the question is whether Audi should have a dedicated factory in the US or not, which is a decision that “depends on how we align with the US government.”
Either way, Döllner says we should “stay informed.”
#Stay #Tuned #Audi #MercedesBenz #GClass #Rival