Audi has said it is previewing a new design era for the brand with the reveal of the Audi ‘prologue concept’ model at the LA Auto Show.
Marc Lichte, Head of Design, presented the new car.
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“When he moved to Audi, Marc Lichte launched a design offensive,” said Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Development, who brought him to Ingolstadt in 2014. “His clear philosophy and precise understanding of Audi DNA let him develop a design strategy that is opening up entirely new perspectives for us. 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.”
Marc Lichte described the character of the show car in a statement: “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.”
The show car’s 4.0 TFSI produces up to 605PS of power and 750 Nm (553.2 lb-ft) of torque; it accelerates the Audi prologue from 0 to 62mph 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”.
The prologue concept car is flatter and shorter than the A8 sedan and is equipped with 22-inch wheels, three inches bigger than the A8’s. The front grille is wider and positioned lower than in Audi’s current vehicles.
Audi also says a characteristic feature of the Audi prologue is the flared shoulders above the wheels, front and rear.
