'Concrete glimpse' of near-future Audi technology

THE “near future” of Audi design and powertrain engineering has been unveiled ahead of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

The Allroad Shooting Brake show car will premiere an exciting new high-powered petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain and a development of the firm’s current design language.

It is expected that the Allroad Shooting Brake will form the basis for future Q-badged models as well as a potentially expended Allroad range.

Under the skin the car packs a 402bhp clout, with 479lb.ft of torque courtesy of a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine and a pair of electric motors.

Linked to Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive system, the three-door Shooting Brake can spring from rest to 62mph in just 4.6 seconds and has to be electronically reined in at 155mph.

Alternatively the car is capable of 149mpg and 45g/km of CO2, according to tests on the current EU standard cycle, which some say is ill-equipped to properly evaluate plug-in hybrid cars.

The lightweight bodyshell is a mix of aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP).

At a pre-show reveal, Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Audi AG, Technical Development said: “The show car combines sex appeal and highly efficient e-tron-quattro technology that produces 300kW of power, yet only consumes 1.9 litres per 100km of fuel (149 UK mpg) and cutting-edge electronic applications.

“We are offering very concrete glimpses of the near future in this show car.”

By Press Association reporter