Audi Prologue Concept OFFICIAL

Audi Prologue Concept revealed as a design exercise pointing the way to the look of future Audis, and probably a look at a Mercedes S-Class Coupe rival too.

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We’ve had a few teases for the Audi Prologue Concept, and it looked like it was all pointing to the arrival of an Audi A9, a range-topping Audi aimed at the Mercedes S-Class Coupe.

Now, with the reveal of the Prologue Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show, it seems it’s more about pointing the way to Audi’s future design language under Audi’s new head of design, Marc Lichte, but it still seems likely Audi is plotting the A9 with much of what the Prologue showcases.

The Prologue is a big 2-door Coupe with power aplenty thanks to a 4.0 litre TFSI delivering 597bhp and up to 750Nm of torque, enough to get the big coupe to 62mph in just 3.7 seconds, with power going to all four wheels thanks to Audi’s quattro setup via an 8-speed auto ‘box, with air suspension and four-wheel-steering too.

But the Prologue also gets a 48-volt mild hybrid setup that uses energy captured during braking to improve economy and performance, so despite the power the Prologue manages to emit a relatively low 199g/km.

The design of the Prologue does evolve Audi’s style, with a huge statement grill up front, matrix laser headlights, big hips that evoke the original Audi Quattro, bold crease lines running down the flanks, a sculptured bonnet and a tail end that points forward. It’s a good-looking, bold, big GT Tourer in the mould of cars like the S-Class Coupe and Aston Martin DB9.

But it’s not just the exterior design Audi are showcasing, it’s a new design direction for the interior too.

Audi has chosen to go the minimalist route with the interior of the Prologue, with a trio of touch displays on the dashboard controlling all functions, a setup that visually adapts to the driver and sets up seats, HVAC, music and numerous other driver-specific settings automatically.

Marc Lichte said:

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.

We can probably expect to see many of the design cues from the Prologue turning up in new Audis before too long, and with any luck the Prologue will turn in to a new Audi A9.