Automotive

Audi previews future wagons with gorgeous Avant prologue

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Audi's singleframe grille sits low and wide on the Avant prologue
The Avant prologue has serious presence thanks to its long, wide body
22 inch wheels sit beneath blistered wheelarches
Audi's laser-matrix headlamps make an appearance on the Avant
Inside, three different screens give the driver information about entertainment, speed and car setup
Audi's singleframe grille sits low and wide on the Avant prologue
View gallery - 5 images

Audi is previewing its wagon of the future with the debut of a gorgeous concept at the Geneva Motor Show. The Audi prologue Avant show car takes the design philosophy of last year's Prologue concept and applies it to a wagon body.

Measuring up at 5.11 meters (16.8 ft) long and 1.97 meters (6.5 ft) wide, the prologue Avant certainly isn’t lacking presence. Up front, Audi’s Singleframe grille sits lower than it does on any of the brand’s production cars, while the broad chrome slats accentuate the car’s width on the road. The grille sits below slim headlights showcasing Audi’s laser-matrix headlamp technology.

The Avant’s styling doesn’t completely forget where Audi has come from, however. The car’s blistered wheel arches hark back to the Quattro Audis of the 1980’s and cover five spoke, 22-inch wheels wrapped in 285/30 tires.

As a showcase for Audi’s technological capability, the prologue Avant is fitted with a suitably advanced powertrain. Derived from the Q7 e-tron’s hybrid setup, the Avant prologue combines diesel with electric power for a total of 335 kW (455 hp) and 750 Nm (553 lb.ft) of torque – good enough for a 0-100km/h (62 mph) sprint time of just 5.1 seconds, only slightly slower than the brand's turbocharged petrol-only S3.

Audi's laser-matrix headlamps make an appearance on the Avant

Audi is claiming an all-electric range of 54 km (33.6 miles) from the 14.1 kWh battery and charging the Avant is via a wireless charging solution currently in development, although Audi hasn’t provided details about when the system will be ready for series production.

Maneuvering such a big car isn’t easy, so Audi has fitted this concept with a rear-wheel steering system similar to that fitted to the Porsche 911 GT3. The system turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts at low speed, while at high speed the rears turn in the same direction as the fronts for a feeling of greater stability.

Inside, the slim, wide dashboard and minimalist design means occupants are treated to an open, airy feel, while the driver has access to key information about the car and infotainment through Audi’s virtual cockpit setup. Drivers can access climate control and infotainment settings through a bendable OLED touchscreen, while two removable tablets similar to those in the Q7 sit behind the front headrests to keep rear seat passengers entertained. Audi has also fitted the Avant prologue with a virtual butler that recognizes the driver’s smartphone and configures the car based on their preferences.

Inside, three different screens give the driver information about entertainment, speed and car setup

The Avant will be on display at the Geneva Auto Show, where Gizmag's Chris Weiss will be on the ground covering all the action.

Source: Audi

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4 comments
yawood
As far as I'm concerned, that grill is about the only one of those large grills that looks OK. I didn't like the first Audi versions of a few years ago or any of the other marques that go below the bumper line (such as the Alfa's).
They are so much better than that ugly, ugly Lexus grill. I don't mind Lexus as a brand but I certainly wouldn't buy one while they have that huge butterfly opening at the front.
Bill Bennett
The fenders look nothing like the Audi UR quattro of the eighties. I know because I have a black 1983 Audi turbo quattro coupe sitting in her heated garage.
Bernd Kohler
Nice concept. I like this lower grill. But stop this nonsense to make cars wider and wider. Audi started this years ago and everybody is following. I live in an rural region. To pass one of these new cars we have to drive besides the normal road now already. Look at the wide console which is good for nothing.
Stephen N Russell
Id drive this, nice & for rent too