Audi has unveiled its latest concept car the ‘Prologue’, at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
This new concept is aptly named as it previews the marques future design direction and may also hint at the styling of its forthcoming A9 model, which will rival the likes of Mercedes S-Class Coupe.
Audi’s new head of design, Marc Lichte, described the character of the show car in this way: “Audi stands for sportiness, lightweight design and the quattro permanent all-wheel drive. In the Audi prologue, we are expressing this know-how in a new form – we have put the sportiest car in the luxury segment on wheels. Our team took new approaches in both exterior and interior design.”
In terms of the cars design, the exterior is dominated by an oversized front grille. The headlights are the same styled lights in other current Audi Marques, though they will feature the brand’s ‘Matrix’ LED technology.
The car has been given enormous 22-inch alloy wheels – though as is the case with most concept vehicles these would likely be toned down for a production version.
At the heart of this new ‘flagship model’ rests a 4.0-litre turbocharged TFSE petrol engine – the very same one that can be found in the current S8 saloon, though performance has been increased and it is now capable of 597bhp and 750Nm of torque. It will reach 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds – despite it’s size.
To top off these impressive performance figures Audi say the Prologue emits CO2 at a rate of just 199g/km, which is thanks to a new hybrid system that can produce energy while the car is braking or coasting. The engine is controlled via an eight-speed automatic gearbox and Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system, the concept car also features air suspension and four-wheel steering for improved ride quality and handling.
As for the interior, the Prologue features a minimalist design scheme – other than the three integrated touchscreen displays, there isn’t a lot going on inside – although in typical Audi fashion high quality materials have been used to furnish the car, giving the impression that it’s a comfortable place to sit.
