3/19/2015
Audi, audi concept, Audi Prologue, Audi Prologue Avant, Concept, concept coupe, Coupe, GENEVA MOTOR SHOW, LA Motor Show, Prologue Coupe, shooting brake
The Prologue Avant Concept from Audi gives us an idea of how the brand's new styling language can be applied on a more practical five-door body that blurs the lines between hatchbacks and estates. Mercedes would call this body style a Shooting Brake, in case you were wondering.
To be revealed at next week's Geneva Motor Show, the Prologue Avant study is a follow up to last year's Prologue Coupe from the LA Motor Show, with both models featuring the same design and similar footprint.
Speaking of dimensions, at 5,110mm (201.2 in) long, 1,970mm (77.6 in) wide and 1,400mm (55.1 in) tall, the Prologue Avant is only a tad longer (10mm or 0.4 in), wider (20mm or 0.8 in) and taller (10mm or 0.4 in) than the Coupe, with which it shares a 2,990mm (117.8 in) wheelbase.
“With our show car for Geneva, we now translate the design language of the Audi prologue into a new, dynamic and stretched form. We are merging it with a concept of high variability”, said Audi Board Member Ulrich Hackenberg.
Inside, the Avant has individual seats for four passengers and sports a modern dashboard design that does away with button-clutter featuring a new control concept with three touch displays.
Under the sheetmetal, Audi continues to experiment with different powertrains for the Prologue series. Whereas the LA show car had a 605PS (597hp) 4.0-liter turbo V8 and the following updated grey-colored versionof the coupe a 677PS (668hp) hybrid drivetrain combining the same V8 turbo with an electric motor, the Avant borrows the plug‑in hybrid drive from the Q7 e‑tron quattro.
This production unit pairs a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 TDI diesel to an electric motor to produce a system output of 455PS (449hp) allowing the Avant Concept to sprint to 100km/h (62mph) in 5.1 seconds.
According to the NEDC standard for plug-in hybrid vehicles, the Prologue Avant consumers 1.6 l/100km (147.0 US mpg) corresponding to 43g/km of CO2. Audi says the lithium-ion battery pack in the rear offers a pure electric driving range of 54 kilometers or about 34 miles.
Elsewhere, the chassis features an air suspension with adaptive dampers and Audi's dynamic all‑wheel‑drive steering system.
The new A2 concept is, however, a different car - and a very confused one at that. First of all, it’s a five-door hatchback but it's actually smaller in size than the three-door A1 measuring just 3.80 meters (12.47 ft) long, 1.69 meters (5.54 ft) wide and 1.49 meters (4.89 ft) tall. In comparison, the A2 is 3.95 meters long, 1.74 meters wide and 1.42 meters tall.
At this stage, Audi has not revealed many technical details on the A2 Concept, but it is believed that the car is based on a shortened version of the A1's platform.
The German automaker says that the A2 offers "plenty of room for four people" and that it features flat interior floorboard. There are four individual seats, with the center console attached to the driver’s seat and the rear console extending forward between the two rear seats. The load area has two levels with a frame creating the upper level.
The only piece of information we get about the drivetrain from Audi is that the A2 Concept sports a "powerful electric drive system for agile performance and long range".
And what does the future hold for the A2? Well, at last year's Geneva Salon, Audi execs hinted the A2 but noted that if the company were to produce such a model, it would be offered with both conventional and electric powertrains.
8/13/2011
audi concept, audi e tron, Audi Quattro Concept, audi urban, Audi Urban e-Tron Minicar Concept, Car, E tron, Mini, mini car, minicar, urban concept
The official sketches show a lower and sleeker design with more futuristic styling elements than what we saw in the video footage of the car, but that's usually the case with all designer renderings.
Audi says the Urban Concept is an ultra-light car for congested urban spaces that is not based on any previous model. It is built around a central carbonfibre monocoque and rolls on massive wheels with a 21-inch diameter.
Power comes courtesy of two e-tron electric motors that draw energy from a lithium-ion battery.
A sliding canopy that forms part of the body opens up to allow the driver and one passenger to enter the car. The cockpit consists of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, which integrates the undercarriage of both seats.
The driver is seated in front and to the left while, the passenger behind and to the right. Audi says the driver can adjust the steering wheel and pedals to his own body measurements.
More details on the Urban Concept are to be released closer to the Frankfurt Motor Show.
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