Audi takes covers off luxurious Prologue concept at LA Motor Show

Audi has unveiled its ‘Prologue’ concept car at the Los Angeles Motor Show. The svelte concept previews the exterior styling treatment, advanced interior features, contemporary driveline technology and various chassis developments set to be adopted by its future generation of production models, and is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine developing 597bhp.

The big four-seater showcases a progressive new exterior and interior design lineage developed by a team of in-house designers working under the guise of new Audi design boss, Marc Lichte – the talented German designer credited with the look of many existing Volkswagen models, including the latest Polo, Golf and Passat  .  

Said to closely resemble the upcoming Audi A9 – a plush new flagship coupe planned to be launched in 2016 as a rival to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-class coupe, the new Audi concept also sheds light on developments set to be adopted on the fourth-generation A8, including a new 48-volt electrical system and four-wheel steer system.

Distinguished by its taut surfacing, prominent shoulder line, crisp crease lines and finely honed detailing, the prologue possesses an elegant yet muscular look that Lichte hints will be reflected throughout the Audi line-up in future years.

A combination of strong horizontal elements and large wheel houses that receive flared blisters similar to those first used on the original Audi Quattro also aim to provide the show car with a stronger stance than is evident on existing Audi models.

Among the many highlights inherent in the new design is a heavily reworked single frame grille. Significantly wider than that used on existing Audi models, it is also positioned lower to provide greater horizontal emphasis to the front of future Audi models while adding length to the bonnet for improved proportions.  

Also included are slim line matrix laser beam headlamps housing five individual lenses that provide adaptive functions, including automatic dipping of the high beam when on-coming traffic is detected.

“When he moved to Audi, Marc Lichte launched a design offensive,” says Ulrich Hackenberg, head of development. “It is progressive and highly emotional. The Audi prologue is the first proponent – it is a signature car for Audi”.

Dimensionally, the aluminium and high-strength steel bodied prologue is 40mm shorter, the same width and 70mm lower than the current third-generation A8, with official figures of 5100mm, 1950mm and 1390mm respectively. It also sits on a wheelbase that is 50mm shorter than the existing Audi flagship at 2940mm. The wheels are 22-inch in diameter and come shod with 285/30 profile tyres.

Power for the Prologue comes from Audi’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 direct injection petrol engine – as used in the existing A6, A7 and A8 as well as various Bentley models. The 90-degree unit, mounted longitudinally in the concept car’s long nose, has been tuned to deliver 597bhp and a nominal 516lb ft of torque – or 553lb ft in overboost mode during short bursts of full throttle action.

With drive channeled through an eight speed torque converter touting automatic gearbox and traditional torque sensing Torsen four-wheel drive system boasting a torque vectoring function at the rear, this is sufficient to provide the svelte 1980kg coupe with a theoretical 0-62mph/0-100kph time of just 3.7sec, according to Audi’s own computer simulations.

As well as boasting a cylinder on demand arrangement that shuts off four of the eight cylinders on light throttle loads for added fuel efficiency, the engine showcased in Audi’s latest concept car also uses a 48-volt electrical system – a development Ingolstadt insiders indicate will be adopted on the next A8 as part of a new generation of fuel saving initiatives.

The new 48 volt electrical system employs a belt starter generator, which provides the powerful V8 with mild hybrid capability and an energy recovery output of up to 12kW under braking. So configured the prologue is claimed to return 32.8mpg/11.61kpl on the combined consumption cycle, giving it average CO2 emissions of 199g/km. By comparison, today’s 414bhp twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8-powered A8 4.0 V8 boasts figures of 30.1mpg/10.66kpl and 219g/km.

As well as previewing driveline technology already signed off for production, the new Audi concept also provides tacit clues to the advanced chassis set to be adopted by the new A8 and its more sporting A9 sibling. It uses a new five-link suspension with adaptive air springs capable of varying the ride height and a four-wheel steering system that provides the scope for the rear wheels to turn up to five degrees for added maneuverability around town and greater agility on the open road.  

Inside, Lichte and his team of in-house designer have provided the prologue with a clean and unobstructed interior that makes extensive use of touch and swipe functions. The facia incorporates a full width instrument panel featuring an OLEC display that enables digital interaction between the driver and front seat passenger.

According to Audi chiefs, about 80 percent of the concept's design will filter down into production vehicles. Three production cars based on the concept have been decided and will appear in the next two or three years. The design of the next A4 and A6, for example, have already been frozen and incorporate elements of this new design language.

Audi's Ulrich Hackenberg added that it would be “no trouble” to create a big coupé for production along similar lines to the concept. Such a car could rival the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS.