Audi Chooses China to Show off Sporty SUV Concept

Audi Cross Coupe quattro concept

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Audi will unveil its latest concept, the Cross Coupe quattro, at the 2007 Shanghai Auto Show, open to the public April 22-28. Audi says its forward-looking four-door concept “combines the design and dynamism of a compact premium sports car with the spaciousness and versatility of a four-seat sport-utility vehicle.” In other words, like the Acura RDX or BMW X3, it’s a small SUV that emphasizes “sport” more than “utility.”

The Cross Coupe quattro is officially just a concept vehicle, but it could be a preview of Audi's new compact Q5 SUV that’s slated for release in 2008. Whether destined for production or not, the Cross Coupe is clearly a design exercise that further evolves a class of vehicle industry insiders call "crossover" that melds characteristics of cars and SUVs. 

The Cross Coupe rides on huge 20-inch wheels and borrows some styling cues from the larger Audi Q7 SUV as well as Audi sedans. It has a curvy roofline that incorporates a large, power-operated fabric folding sunroof that provides a convertible effect while maximizing headroom.

Even though most concept vehicles never get driven on the road — in fact, many don't even run — Audi is promoting the Cross Coupe quattro with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI turbodiesel engine with the latest clean-burning Bluetec technology, which Mercedes-Benz also uses. Audi says the 204-hp engine will register an impressive 46 mpg with strong acceleration. It’s mated to the automaker’s slick-shifting dual-clutch sequential-shift transmission.

Audi has beefed up its all-wheel-drive system for use in the Cross Coupe quattro, with a Haldex clutch for better traction distribution. As with similar sporty SUVs now in production, the most rugged trails will likely remain off-limits, though.

The suspension is engineered more for spry handling and on-roaincluding  stability than it is for carving a path off-road. It includes the magnetic system offered on the Audi R8 and TT that maximizes ride quality and handling by varying the stiffness of the shock absorbers through magnetic currents that increase and decrease the viscosity of a special fluid impregnated with metal bits. Sensors dictate how compliant or firm the suspension gets and drivers can select among “dynamic,” “sport” and “efficiency” settings. The engine and transmission also have “dynamic,” “sport” and “efficiency” settings. Audi says choosing the latter increases fuel economy by 20 percent.

Audi Cross Coupe quattro concept

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The Cross Coupe quattro’s leather interior features gentle ambient lighting along with a number of intriguing features: A climate-control system uses an iPod-like touch-wheel control and a perforated trim strip that vents air through 4,600 tiny holes, rather than the typical air vents on cars of today. An advanced version of Audi’s Multi-Media Interface uses a retractable dual-view touch screen that can display different images for the driver and front passenger simultaneously. This would, for example, allow the driver to monitor data from the vehicle’s onboard computer while the passenger watches a movie or controls the audio system.

The Cross Coupe quattro is likely the first of several new vehicles from European luxury manufacturers to debut at the Shanghai Auto Show. With China rapidly emerging as a key automotive market, the show is becoming a formidable stage upon which the world’s automakers introduce their new models. Check back for more coverage coming soon.