Audi Trimaran Photo Gallery

From time to time, automakers like to take their minds off the business of the day and engage in all sorts of more or less successful, but always non-automotive related projects. While some, like GM, believes charity is the way to relieve some pressure, or BMW, who launches, time and again, different life style items for the MINI brand, Audi decided that this year the best way to take a break from car design is to embrace sailing.

An official partner of the Kieler Woche now, Audi has developed a soft spot for everything that travels on water. Back in April, the German automaker released the first sketches of a trimaran, drawn by designer Stephanie Behringer. Now, a more comprehensive gallery has been released.

As we already told you, the trimaran, Audi's Trimaran, is 15m long and 6.40m wide. The jet ski drive which underpins the concept allows access to shallow water, because of the 58 cm draft. The boat can accommodate 12 people on the deck or up to six under.

Under the hood of the trimaran, sort of speak, the Trimaran has been designed with a pair of Audi TDI engines in mind, that are to be paired to the electrically driven jet skis. When needed, the diesel engines can be used to recharge the batteries in the two jet skis. Combined, they would allow for the vessel to a top speed of 30 knots.

Passionate as it may feel about sailing in particular and water in general, Audi says it has no plans to actually manufacture the concept. Then again, we keep hearing this from auto makers...