Audi has revived the concept of an integrated bike rack with a more compact and space-efficient design, according to a recent patent filing with the European Patent Office. Unlike Opel/Vauxhall’s solution from 20 years ago—offered on the European Corsa D—Audi’s system concertinas out from the rear bumper, avoiding the bulkiness of the previous design, which extended from behind the number plate and nestled under the car while carrying two bicycles.
A Smarter, Cleaner Approach to Integrated Bike Racks
Audi’s newly patented bike rack is designed to seamlessly integrate within the rear bumper, eliminating the drawbacks of older designs. Using articulated connecting rods and pivots, the rack remains flush within the bumper like a collapsed concertina when not in use. Once unlocked and pulled outward, it extends just enough to hold two bicycles securely with built-in tire guides.
Opel’s Flexfit bicycle rack retracted underneath the trunk, deleting the spare-wheel well, and was exposed to the road, collecting grime as you drove, so it took up a lot of space and was always dirty whenever you needed to touch it. Audi’s approach keeps the rack contained within the bumper molding, making it both more compact and cleaner to use.
Audi Perfects the Integrated Bike Rack
Integrated bike racks are nothing new, but Audi now seems to have finally nailed the formula by eliminating all their traditional drawbacks. You now no longer have to choose between a spare wheel and a bike rack, and it integrates smoothly with the vehicle’s styling. What makes it unique is its particularly compact design and the fact that it stays clean while not in use. Audi’s innovation is not just for its own models as the automaker plans to license the technology to other manufacturers, making it easier for more vehicles to adopt a sleek, space-saving bike transport solution.
