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January 26, 2015
On-Site Report from Paris: Audi Crosslane Coupe
Audi crosslane coupe | Audi Crosslane Coupe
Witness the Audi Crosslane Coupe
With its brand slogan "Vorsprung durch Technik"Audiis reportedly pursuing research into new designs and new powertrains. We expect to introduce what these entail on OPENERS not too far from now, but currently, this "Crosslane Coupe" concept model previews Audi's future. Following the recent news, photos and a report from the scene have arrived.
Text by OTANI TatsuyaPhotographs by MOCHIZUKI Hirohiko
The Sole Audi Concept Car This Time
Among the Audi booth, which showcased numerous production models, the only concept car was this "Crosslane Coupe."
The body, measuring 4.21m long, 1.88m wide, and 1.51m high, shares a commonality with recent Audi styling in its "simplicity," but its shift from elegant curves to strong, straight lines is a novel departure. The Crosslane Coupe also serves as a design study indicating the future direction of the Q models, but this could be seen as indicative of Audi's overall styling, not just for the Q models.
A notable design feature is the "Singleframe grille," which continues to be employed but has been rendered with a more three-dimensional and intricate form. This is said to symbolize the body structure, which will be discussed later. Additionally, the wide and flat C-pillars are reminiscent of the "Big quattro (Audi quattro)" that appeared in the 1980s.
The body structure utilizes a "Multi-material Space Frame," an advancement of the "ASF (Audi Space Frame)." However, while the "ASF" was primarily aluminum, the "Multi-material Space Frame" incorporates carbon composite and glass fiber composite materials, apparently achieving further weight reduction and increased strength.
Incidentally, the "Crosslane Coupe" is a plug-in hybrid car equipped with a 17.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, and thanks to this new body structure, its curb weight is kept down to 1,390kg.
The powertrain employs a completely new system called "Dual Mode Hybrid." This is fundamentally a series hybrid combining two motor/generators, but it's a sophisticated configuration that can also directly channel power from the engine to the drive wheels at times.
Regarding the Dual Mode Hybrid, we will provide a detailed explanation in the "Audi Future Technology" section, which will be published at a later date.
According to the released data, the "Crosslane Coupe," powered by a 3-cylinder 1.5-liter TFSI engine, accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds (9.8 seconds when driven by electric motor only) and has a top speed of 182 km/h. However, due to its plug-in hybrid system, its fuel economy by European standards is an astonishing 91 km/ℓ, with CO2 emissions of only 26 g/km.
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