Alien: Covenant Rover Will Actually Go On A Space Mission

04/27/2017 01:31 pm EDT

The Moon rover -- Audi Lunar Quattro -- will celebrate its film debut in Ridley Scott's sci-fi blockbuster, Alien: Covenant this May. A group of Audi experts developed the rover in cooperation with the German start-up "Part-Time Scientists," and it is expected to embark on a future mission to space -- possibly making it one of the coolest movie props ever.

Scott has integrated the Audi Lunar Quattro into Alien: Covenant, a new chapter in his groundbreaking Alien franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imaginations, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

In its film debut, the Audi Lunar Quattro is an integral part of the Covenant mission and is deployed to help Faris (Amy Seimetz) navigate and assess the challenging, unknown terrain of a new planet.

Incorporating the ALQ into the film is part of the collaboration between Twentieth Century Fox and Audi.

"The 'Alien' franchise is the best way for us to garner suitable attention for the Moon rover developed by Audi, and to showcase Audi's intelligent technologies in a visionary environment," explains Giovanni Perosino, Vice President International Marketing Communication at Audi.

"Fox's partnership with Audi on 'Alien: Covenant' is an opportunity to bring to the forefront the innovative work Audi is doing in exploration," said Zachary Eller, Senior Vice President Marketing Partnerships at 20th Century Fox. "We're happy to continue our long relationship with Audi that has allowed our filmmakers to incorporate authentic, leading-edge technology into their futuristic worlds."

As part of the collaboration, a short film created by Twentieth Century Fox, 3AM and Audi was captured on one of the movie's biggest sets.

It shows the ALQ patrolling the Terraforming Bay when it detects an unidentified lifeform and goes to investigate what lurks in the dark.

The ALQ is preparing for an actual mission to the Moon.

Since 2015, the premium manufacturer from Ingolstadt has worked with a team led by Robert Böhme, founder and CEO of Part-Time Scientists, on developing the rover. Audi experts have supported the Berlin-based start-up, in particular with Audi's all-wheel drive expertise (quattro technology), expertise in lightweight construction, experience in developing vehicles with electric and plug-in hybrid motors (e-tron), and with design optimization.

By selecting the finest materials, the developers have managed to reduce the weight of the exploration vehicle to just 30 kilograms. The Audi lunar quattro is 85 percent aluminum, produced by the 3D metal printer at Audi's headquarters in Ingolstadt. A pivoting solar panel supplies the rover with energy. On top of that, you have intelligent quattro drive technology and the efficient e-tron motor.

The car manufacturer's lunar rover project is nearing completion: In the future, we can expect to see the advanced Audi lunar quattro set its course for the Moon.

In Alien: Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world — whose sole inhabitant is the "synthetic" David, survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.

Alien: Covenant stars Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England and Benjamin Rigby.

MORE ALIEN: COVENANT NEWS: Ridley Scott Reveals Name Of Next Alien Film After Covenant

* Alien: Covenant Cast Celebrates 'Alien Day' With Live Q&A

* No End to the Alien Franchise After Covenant

Disclosure: ComicBook is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of Paramount. Sign up for Paramount+ by clicking here.