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Audi Shows Off Sleek Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Concept

 & Stephanie Mlot Contributor

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Audi wowed audiences at the Detroit Auto Show this week with a new hydrogen fuel cell-powered concept car.

Nextcar Bug artThe h-tron quattro (pictured)—named for its hydrogen technology and all-wheel, all-electric drive—can travel up to 372 miles before refueling.

The vehicle's hydrogen tanks can be refilled in just four minutes. Plus, the SUV accelerates from zero to 60 in under seven seconds, making that cross-country road trip you're planning even quicker.

The car also features two electric motors on the front and rear axles, providing 90 kW and 140 kW of power, respectively. According to Engadget, Audi included a heat pump for interior AC and a solar roof that adds 620 miles of annual driving.

As this is a concept, don't expect to take a trip in the h-tron any time soon. But attendees at the Auto Show were presented with a taste of Audi's piloted driving and parking technology, set for integration into new vehicles starting next year.

"Piloted driving at Audi revolves around the central driver assistance controller," the company said. Like other similar programs, the function builds a real-time model of the car's surroundings, then feeds that information to the autonomous systems. The vehicle can then take over certain parking and driving tasks, including infuriating stop-and-go traffic at speeds of up to 37.3 mph.

Audi isn't the only hydrogen fuel-cell maker on the block: In the summer of 2014, Hyundai debuted its green Tucson Fuel Cell CUV with free hydrogen refueling. Toyota, meanwhile, is expected to release its hydrogen-powered Mirai sedan this fall. A Mirai concept with satellite connectivity tech is on display at the show this week.

Also on tap is Audi's A4 allroad quattro, with powerful-but-efficient 272 horsepower engines and the option to add a virtual cockpit and other connected technology.

About Our Expert

Stephanie Mlot

Stephanie Mlot

Contributor

My Experience

  • B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
  • Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)
  • Reporter for PCMag and Geek.com (RIP) (2012-present)

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