Audi CrossLane Coupé Concept: Paris 2012

Audi has revealed the CrossLane Coupe Concept at the 2012 Paris Motor Show – a preview of a new Audi Q2 compact SUV.

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You didn’t actually think that Audi had filled every SUV niche there was with the Q3, Q5 and Q7, did you?

The Audi CrossLane Coupe Concept – revealed at the Paris Motor Show – is the prelude to a new Audi Q2 compact SUV. It’s 4250mm long, 1900mm wide and 1500mm high, which makes the Crosslane Coupe a bit bigger than the new A3 and a bit lower than the Q3.

The CrossLane Coupe is powered by a dual mode hybrid setup with a 1.5 litre 3-pot petrol engine developing 130PS and two electric motors. The firts electric motor acts as starter and alternator and has an output of 68PS. The second electric motor has 116PS and the gearbox allows connection of the ICE and alternator to the main electric motor.

Up to 34mph the CrossLane Hybrid is powered just by the main electric motor, beyond which the alternator and ICE kick in and, above 80mph, it’s the 1.5 litre 3-pot TFSI that does most of the work. The driver can choose between two driving modes – Cruise and Race – with Cruise offering an eco drive with emphasis on the electric motor drive.

The design of the CrossLane Coupe is much more angular than current Audi Q models – but points the way to their future design – and gets a single-frame grill with segments divided by struts, Audi Matrix LEd lights, Multimaterial Space Frame made from aluminium, CFRP and glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) with a removable Targa roof and a moveable boot that slides 40cm forward electrically. The CrossLane weighs in at a very credible 1390kg.

The Audi CrossLane Coupe Concept may preview the new Audi Q2, but this concept will lose a lot of its party tricks before that happens – which it probably won’t until 2015.

Audi CrossLane Coupé Concept Photos >>