Audi reveals new Prologue 24 | 11 | 2014
AUDI HAS GIVEN glimpse of how future generations of its cars will look after unveiling its Prologue concept car at the LA motor show.
The concept — which is believed to closely resemble the upcoming Audi A9, a plush new flagship coupe scheduled for launch in 2016 and which will go head-to-head with the Mercedes-Benz S-class coupé — displays a number of Audi 'firsts'.
Powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine developing 597bhp, the exterior of the Prologue gets a heavily reworked single-frame grille that is significantly wider than that used on existing Audi models.
In addition, it also gets slimline matrix laser beam headlights which house five individual lenses that provide adaptive functions, including automatic high-beam dipping when oncoming traffic is detected.
The concept is 40mm shorter and 70mm lower than the current A8, with official figures of 5100mm and 1390mm respectively, and boasts an aluminium and high-strength steel body. The same width as the current A8, at 1950mm, it sits on a wheelbase that is 50mm shorter, at 2940mm, and boasts 22-inch alloys.
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Power comes from Audi’s twin-turbocharged 597bhp 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine – as used in the existing A6, A7 and A8 as well as various Bentley models. Drive is pushed through via an eight-speed automatic gearbox and Torsen four-wheel drive system. According to Audi, this gives the Prologue a theoretical 0-62mph time of just 3.7sec.
In addition to a 48-volt electrical system that should be adopted on the next A8 as part of a new raft of fuel-saving initiatives, the engine uses a cylinder-on-demand arrangement which shuts off four of the eight cylinders on light throttle loads for added fuel efficiency. These combine to give the Prologue a 32.8mpg combined fuel figure, and CO2 emissions of 199g/km.
Inside the cabin, the dash incorporates a full-width instrument panel featuring a OLED display that enables digital interaction between the driver and front seat passenger.
It's known that the design of the next A4 and A6 — both of which have already been frozen — incorporate elements of the Prologue's design.
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Jim McGill