Audi shows second self-driving concept

Audi has revealed a second version of its luxurious Prologue concept at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas – one that features more advanced sensors than a Collins class submarine, allowing it to navigate real-world traffic without any input from the driver.

A stylised preview of the next-generation A8 limousine, the Prologue concept was first revealed at the 2014 Los Angeles motor show in November, when we even got to drive it.

The updated Prologue concept, which some wags are calling version 2.0, brings several key features to the table – most notably a high-tech suite of laser scanners, radar sensors, video cameras and ultrasound sensors designed to give the car more awareness than a human driver.

Throw in a powerful computer brain, dubbed zFAS or zentrales Fahrerassistenzsteuergerät, that deciphers all the sensory information and an advanced vehicle control system and you're looking at a car that can drive itself – much like the autonomous Audi A7 Sportback that successfully completed an 855km road trip from Silicon Valley to Las Vegas in a pre-CES publicity stunt.

The Germany prestige car company says it will commercialise autonomous cars by 2017, most likely with the new A8, but there's talk that initially it will only be able to drive autonomously at speeds of up 60km/h, due to technology, infrastructure and legal issues.

Nevertheless, the buzz words surrounding Audi's exhibit at the world's most important electronics fair was car communication and digitisation, as Audi's technical boss Dr Ulrich Hackenberg explained.

"Digitalisation and networking in all areas are the megatrends of the present. The car is becoming a mobile device on four wheels. Connectivity is the key to the future and a crucial area of our development work. We have continually pioneered the use of electronic technologies for years now," he stated.

Once seated in the Prologue concept, passengers are met by an "electronic butler", to use Audi's terminology. The butler software will recognise occupants via wearable technology, such as a smartwatch, and adapt the seats and heating/cooling to suit their pre-programmed tastes.

It also features a mechanical arm that will "draw in" smartphones and automatically sync them with the vehicle and charge them.

Apple Car Play and Google Android Auto are also supported so if an iOS or Android smartphone is connected, the car can mirror the device on its main screen.

Although the autonomous driving software and hardware is the cornerstone of the updated concept, Audi has also seen fit to update its powertrain. The 445kW 4.0-litre biturbo V8 of its predecessor has been augmented with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery, which makes the vehicle more efficient and faster.

It uses fuel at a rate of 7.9L/100km yet rockets to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds – two-tenths quicker than the first Prologue concept, thanks to an extra 60kW of power.

Vital statistics are an astonishing 505kW and 950Nm of torque, while CO2 emissions are 185g/km, which is outstanding for a two-tonne cruiser.

Audi also showed off four vehicles at the CES, some featuring technologies we've seen before, such as matrix laser lighting on the Audi R8 LMX and the high-tech infotainment technologies of the all-new Q7, including its iPad-like removable rear seat tablets.

But there was also a very cool version of the A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid (also due on sale here early next year), which can be charged via induction – that is, wirelessly. Audi says its new contactless e-tron charging technology will be dubbed Audi Wireless Charging, or AWC.