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• Benchmark of future design
• 'Perfect showcase of Audi DNA'
• 'A foretaste of the future of Audi''
INGOLSTADT, Germany / LOS ANGELES, California - Audi is launching into a new design era at the Los Angeles auto show. The automaker's head of design, Marc Lichte, is presenting the Audi prologue concept car and giving the brand a new styling direction in the large coupe.
Ulrich Hackenberg, board member for development, said: “When Lichte moved to Audi, he had launched a design offensive. His clear philosophy and precise understanding of Audi DNA let him develop a design strategy that is opening up new perspectives for us.
PAVING THE WAY
"It is progressive and highly emotional; it expresses the technological competence and quality claim of the brand perfectly. The Audi prologue is its first proponent – it is a ‘signature car’ for Audi.”
Lichte described the character of the show car: “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.”
GALLERY: Audi Prologue at the Los Angeles auto show
Audi says the two-door coupe has a flowing, elegant shape and taut design. Its forms and lines are unmistakable and introduce many new ideas. The architecture melds with the display and operating concept to create a new type of unit inside the car. The front of the instrument panel is a large touch display, and a portion of the user interface operates with a new type of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) display made of organic LEDs.
The 4.0 TFSI produces up to 445kW/750Nm; it reaches 100km/h in 3.7 seconds. Its dynamic all-wheel steering, in which the rear wheels can turn up to five degrees, makes the large coupe extremely responsive and stable while driving.
HARMONIOUS PROPORTIONS
The Audi prologue, says Audi, is somewhat shorter and flatter than today’s production A8, with 5.10m length, 2.94m wheelbase, 1.95m width and 1.39m height. A dominant feature at its low front end is a singleframe grille displaying the four rings that is integrated into the automobile architecture. The large radiator grille has been widened, and positioned lower than on current production models. The cross bars have a finely structured diamond pattern, and their ends are split.
The headlights – shaped like wide, flat wedges – are located with their tips above the singleframe, Audi says. Another new item is the sculptural form of the air intakes below the headlights – the distinctive air intakes have diamond pattern screens in their interiors. A dynamically contoured blade, which is clearly separated from the bumper by a gap, elicits associations to motor sport. Mounted to it are two additional spoilers in glossy black, which give the show car an even stronger and wider stance on the road.
Powerful 22" wheels are set in widely flared wheel arches, fitted with 285/30 sized tyres.
REMEMBERING ITS ROOTS
The flared shoulders above the wheels, front and rear are a characteristic feature of the Audi prologue. Like the blisters of the original Audi Ur-quattro of the 1980s, the automaker claims, it visualises the quattro drive – but are no longer just added on, rather it's worked into the flow of the base architecture.
The spacious interior of the Audi prologue is like a luxurious lounge, the automaker believes. It is based on Gran Turismo design, and it enables focused driving and relaxed touring. The interface visually adapts to the specific driving style.
OPERATING CONCEPT
The interior sees the architecture merging with the operating concept to form one unit. The surfaces for displays and controls are innovatively integrated into the instrument panel and console of the centre tunnel.
When not in use, the OLED display is nearly invisible. When the car is started, the flexible display stands up. When operating the display, the driver's wrist rests on the low-positioned gear selector lever of the eight-speed tiptronic. Designers have also redesigned the shift-by-wire lever. It is now integrated seamlessly into the centre console. Cupholders and smartphone slots are installed under lids on the centre console, to the left and right of the console support element.
Inside the Audi prologue, every detail clearly illustrates its exclusive character. A finely crafted perforated panel covers the air vents. If the driver sets the blower to a higher stage, the panel retracts downwards.
• 'Perfect showcase of Audi DNA'
• 'A foretaste of the future of Audi''
INGOLSTADT, Germany / LOS ANGELES, California - Audi is launching into a new design era at the Los Angeles auto show. The automaker's head of design, Marc Lichte, is presenting the Audi prologue concept car and giving the brand a new styling direction in the large coupe.
Ulrich Hackenberg, board member for development, said: “When Lichte moved to Audi, he had launched a design offensive. His clear philosophy and precise understanding of Audi DNA let him develop a design strategy that is opening up new perspectives for us.
PAVING THE WAY
"It is progressive and highly emotional; it expresses the technological competence and quality claim of the brand perfectly. The Audi prologue is its first proponent – it is a ‘signature car’ for Audi.”
Lichte described the character of the show car: “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.”
GALLERY: Audi Prologue at the Los Angeles auto show
Audi says the two-door coupe has a flowing, elegant shape and taut design. Its forms and lines are unmistakable and introduce many new ideas. The architecture melds with the display and operating concept to create a new type of unit inside the car. The front of the instrument panel is a large touch display, and a portion of the user interface operates with a new type of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) display made of organic LEDs.
The 4.0 TFSI produces up to 445kW/750Nm; it reaches 100km/h in 3.7 seconds. Its dynamic all-wheel steering, in which the rear wheels can turn up to five degrees, makes the large coupe extremely responsive and stable while driving.
HARMONIOUS PROPORTIONS
The Audi prologue, says Audi, is somewhat shorter and flatter than today’s production A8, with 5.10m length, 2.94m wheelbase, 1.95m width and 1.39m height. A dominant feature at its low front end is a singleframe grille displaying the four rings that is integrated into the automobile architecture. The large radiator grille has been widened, and positioned lower than on current production models. The cross bars have a finely structured diamond pattern, and their ends are split.
The headlights – shaped like wide, flat wedges – are located with their tips above the singleframe, Audi says. Another new item is the sculptural form of the air intakes below the headlights – the distinctive air intakes have diamond pattern screens in their interiors. A dynamically contoured blade, which is clearly separated from the bumper by a gap, elicits associations to motor sport. Mounted to it are two additional spoilers in glossy black, which give the show car an even stronger and wider stance on the road.
Powerful 22" wheels are set in widely flared wheel arches, fitted with 285/30 sized tyres.
REMEMBERING ITS ROOTS
The flared shoulders above the wheels, front and rear are a characteristic feature of the Audi prologue. Like the blisters of the original Audi Ur-quattro of the 1980s, the automaker claims, it visualises the quattro drive – but are no longer just added on, rather it's worked into the flow of the base architecture.
The spacious interior of the Audi prologue is like a luxurious lounge, the automaker believes. It is based on Gran Turismo design, and it enables focused driving and relaxed touring. The interface visually adapts to the specific driving style.
OPERATING CONCEPT
The interior sees the architecture merging with the operating concept to form one unit. The surfaces for displays and controls are innovatively integrated into the instrument panel and console of the centre tunnel.
When not in use, the OLED display is nearly invisible. When the car is started, the flexible display stands up. When operating the display, the driver's wrist rests on the low-positioned gear selector lever of the eight-speed tiptronic. Designers have also redesigned the shift-by-wire lever. It is now integrated seamlessly into the centre console. Cupholders and smartphone slots are installed under lids on the centre console, to the left and right of the console support element.
Inside the Audi prologue, every detail clearly illustrates its exclusive character. A finely crafted perforated panel covers the air vents. If the driver sets the blower to a higher stage, the panel retracts downwards.
