INGOLSTADT: This is the Audi prologue allroad plug-in hybrid – the German carmaker’s third member in the Prologue family with a new design language and 724bhp.
First the world caught a glimpse of the Audi prologue, which was followed by the Audi prologue Avant and soon we will see the Audi prologue allroad making its world premier at Auto Shanghai.
Powerful and efficient is how Audi is describing its latest all terrain five-door concept that measures 5,130mm-long with its raised body, while possessing an operating concept that enables digital interaction between driver and passengers.
Additionally, the Audi prologue allroad is 77mm higher than that of the Audi prologue Avant.
Under the hood, an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox has been integrated with an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox and has been mated to a 4.0-litre twin-turbo TFSI V8 engine with an electric motor.
A lithium-ion battery mounted at the rear has a capacity of 14.1kWh for a pure electric range of 54km and can be charged via the plug or wirelessly via the Audi wireless charging (AWC).
With the two motors combined, power output has been rated at 724bhp and 900Nm of torque for its quattro all-wheel drive system that catapults the car to 100kph from standstill in 3.5sec – while producing just 56 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
The show car has a long front-end, a roofline that quickly melts away and extremely flat D-pillars for an athletic yet elegant profile as it rolls on a set of five-spoke 22-inch wheels which partially hides its 20-inch carbon-ceramic brakes.
Damping is handled by an adaptive air suspension that offers occupants exceptional comfort levels to sportscar-like driving dynamics.
The dynamic all-wheel steering combines a variable-ratio, dynamic steering unit with an additional steering unit for the rear wheels for added stability during dynamic driving situations.
The front is dominated by a wide single frame grille that’s flushly integrated into the bodywork and almost hides away the wedge-shaped headlights with the carmaker’s Matrix laser technology
Meanwhile, LED light guides sketch a new e-tron-like light signature at the upper and outer edges of the air inlets that are bisected by the bumper blade, while the rear light clusters also makes use of LEDs and its housings are made of 3D glass.
The rear apron includes flat, horizontally split openings on both sides and nicely integrates the exhaust system into the rear-end design.
Merely touching the window’s capping strips opens the doors and such touch sensors are used for both the charging port and fuel tank covers.
Audi associates its cabin with a luxurious lounge with a continuous centre console and the seemingly floating front seats.
The instrument panel features a strictly horizontal orientation with an upper level that’s part of the wraparound effect, much like an arc, which encircles the cabin and the luggage compartment.
A perforated trim panel covers the broad air vent, which retracts as soon as the air-conditioning is set higher.
The instrument panel is made up of three touchscreen displays, while additional aluminium-framed displays, located on the left and right of the steering wheel flank the driver.
The front passenger is able to configure infotainment options via the widescreen display that’s been fully integrated into the instrument panel and a mere swipe simply sends the information to the right driver display or to the Audi virtual cockpit feature behind the steering wheel.
There are also additional OLED driver displays housed on the centre console tunnel, which includes the climate control system, infotainment and text input and starts in a flat retracted position, before moving up at an angle when the car is switched on.
Audi’s virtual cockpit feature also possesses high-resolution displays and three semi-transparent mirrors that lie in the driver’s field of view, generating a virtual stage with three levels for a staggered multi-information display.
This strictly four-seater has passengers adjusting their seats via an additional OLED display on the centre console and this includes the climate control system and the infotainment for their area or to exchange data with the driver.
When the audio system is switched on, a sound spoiler moves out of the rear wheelhouse panels, which help to homogeneously distribute music to the interior.
Furthermore, there are two slightly curved Audi tablets with OLED screens, which can be mounted in the backs of the front seats.
Most unique is Audi’s intelligent “butler” software programme that identifies passengers based on their smartphones and adjusts the seats and climate control system accordingly.
The system also makes suggestions for music and route planning according to the owner’s preferences and the Easy Slot system in the centre console connects the phones with the onboard infotainment system and charges them wirelessly.
In terms of materials used for the cabin, open-pored dark fine-grain ash veneer is used for the wraparound-effect, the doors and the centre tunnel console, while being accented by aluminium.
In finishing, large sections of the instrument panel has been covered by natural-looking Unicum leather, as has the centre console tunnel and on the seats, and a band of Alcantara runs from the door inserts over the arm rests to the luggage compartment.
Keyword: Audi prologue allroad concept revealed ahead of Shanghai