Plug-in Hybrid Powertrain

As manufacturers sequentially release information on ambitious new models and concept cars ahead of the Geneva Show in Switzerland this March, Audi also revealed details of its "Prologue Avant" concept car on February 25th.

Last autumn, at the Los Angeles Motor Show, Audi presented its next-generation design in the form of a two-door coupe concept car, the "Prologue" This "Prologue Avant" can be considered the second installment or an evolution of that concept. With its four-door plus tailgate wagon style, it is presumed to have been given the traditional Audi wagon name, "Avant."

The Prologue was envisioned with a 4.0-liter V8 direct-injection twin-turbo gasoline engine, a common feature in Audi's upper-class models, reportedly producing a maximum output of 605 ps and a peak torque of 76.5 kgm. However, the Prologue Avant takes the powertrain a step further. It employs a plug-in hybrid system combining a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel "TDI" engine with an electric motor.

The combined system output is 455 ps, and while slightly lower than the Prologue coupe's figures, the peak torque remains an identical 76.5 kgm. Consequently, the 0-100 km/h acceleration is a remarkable 5.1 seconds, placing it firmly in the high-performance car category for a large wagon. Furthermore, it is capable of traveling up to 54 km in zero-emission EV mode.

Audi's New Design Language

The Prologue, first unveiled last year, is the first work by Marc Lichte and his team, who took the helm of Audi's design division in February 2014 after working on the Volkswagen Passat and Golf. It is said to represent Audi's new design language.PassatandGolfafter working on the Volkswagen Passat and Golf. It is said to represent Audi's new design language.

The second installment, this Prologue Avant, clearly reflects Audi's new design language, first presented in the Prologue, including the hexagonal radiator grille. It also proposes the stylish wagon, or "shooting brake" style, that premium brands have been focusing on in recent years, based on a four-door coupe.

The body dimensions of the coupe version, Prologue, were announced as 5,100mm long, 1,950mm wide, and 1,390mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,940mm. These dimensions are comparable to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, its top-tier coupe model. It was also rumored to hint at a large luxury coupe, the "A9," based on the next-generation A8, for which development rumors have been persistent.S-Class Coupe" It was also rumored to hint at a large luxury coupe, the "A9," based on the next-generation A8, for which development rumors have been persistent.

On the other hand, the Prologue Avant measures 5,110mm in length and 1,970mm in width, nearly matching the coupe. This suggests that Audi is exploring a strategy of creating a "sportback" even larger than the currentA7" and "S7"and offering it alongside a two-door coupe as a luxurious duo.

Audi has solidified its position as a design leader in the automotive industry since the turn of the century. The presentation of its new design language is a significant development, not only for Audi but for automakers worldwide.