The Audi h-tron quattro concept vehicle is an example of how the company plans to combine hydrogen power with the iconic Audi four-wheel drive technology to continue to chart a new future in sustainable transportation. But at the 2016 North American International Auto Show last month, the h-tron quattro concept was recognized for another kind of trail-blazing: exterior design.
The 5-door h-tron quattro won the EyesOnDesign Award for the best Concept Truck at the Detroit auto show. It was selected by a panel of design leaders representing worldwide auto manufacturers and design chiefs from top design schools around the country. The awards honor the best production and concept vehicles that make their worldwide auto-show debuts at NAIAS.
The Audi h-tron concept is positioned between the Audi Q5 and Audi Q7 SUVs but, at 5-feet-1-inch tall, it’s much lower in height than the two production models. The greenhouse is particularly low, and the roof line drops quickly, and the D-posts are correspondingly flat, giving the body shape traits that are remarkably like a coupe.
Under the hood, a 110-kW fuel cell combines with a compact lithium-ion battery, which acts like a turbocharger to supply extra power during hard acceleration. A drag coefficient of just 0.27 allows the h-tron quattro to cut through the wind with ease and boosts the car’s range to up to 373 miles.