What's this all about?
This is the Audi Prologue concept, a car that shows off not only the shape and style of a new range-topping A9 model (that will become a rival to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé), but also pretty much every new Audi for the next decade. That Prologue name has been chosen carefully as this is our first sight of the new Audi design language.
I don't speak design language.
Don't worry, we can translate for you. Basically this is about Audi going from vertical to horizontal. Look at that low, wide radiator grille and compare it with the more upright, square shape of the current model range. Audi has been slowly pulling out the corners of its 'shield' grille for the past couple of years, but with the Prologue, we can truly see that the future is bright, the future is horizontal.
Up above are a more beak-like bonnet line and slim, snarly lights that use lasers for full, dipped and cornering beam, as well as an automatic dip function to stop you burning the retinas of oncoming drivers.
Designed by Mark Lichte, who has moved to Audi after heading up Volkswagen design for the past while, the Prologue looks pretty gorgeous to us. "When he moved to Audi, Marc Lichte launched a design offensive," says Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi's head of development. "It is progressive and highly emotional. The Audi prologue is the first proponent - it is a signature car for Audi."
So it's just a pie-in-the-sly styling concept then?
Not at all, there's lots going on under the skin. How about a new multi-link suspension setup with air springs and four-wheel steering? That's function that could bring a whole new meaning to quattro... Then there's the engine. It's basically a development of the 4.0-litre turbo V8 from the current RS 6, but here it's developing a whopping 600hp. In spite of that, thanks to cylinder shutdown tech (which turns it into a V4 under light throttle loads) it can do a quoted 32mpg and emits 199g/km of CO2. Expect this engine to very quickly find its way into various Audi and Bentley models.
What's the inside like?
Very white, very clean and very Star Trek. There's a full-width instrument panel that allows the driver and passenger to share information - because apparently talking isn't good enough anymore. Audi says that around 80 per cent of the Prologue's styling and features will make it through to production. Frankly we'd be amazed if it's that little.
Neil Briscoe - 19 Nov 2014