When asked by an Autocar reporter whether Audi was working on a flagship off-roader to rival the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, company CEO Guernot Döllner didn’t deny it and essentially hinted that such a car was, in fact, in development.
He declined further comment, only pointing out that introducing niche products helps manufacturers by improving their public image and expanding their available pool of technical know-hows to use in future products. When asked directly whether the company was intent on creating a G-Wagon rival, he replied that “one shouldn’t abandon one’s dreams.”
It’s still too early to speculate about the details. Volkswagen Group is resurrecting the Scout nameplate in the United States, best known for its SUVs and trucks, so Audi might want to join forces with that company to develop a serious body-on-frame overlander.
Also, as Carscoops rightfully points out, Volkswagen currently only has one frame-based architecture at its disposal – that of the first-generation Amarok pickup still lingering in production in South America. Since the Scout brand is supposed to be much more modern and electrified, it will be using a different architecture that’s still in development. Audi may benefit from borrowing it for its own SUV project.
The first Scout vehicles – an SUV called the Traveler and a pickup known as the Terra – are scheduled for production sometime in 2027. We suppose Audi could share the U.S. factory capacities with these two.
