Concept Audi Prologue Concept
- Thread starter donkeykong
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Future car concepts, design studies, upcoming tech, and what may come next
SDNR
Kraftwagen König
Lol, okay, you proved the pointAudi still wins the overhang contest.
Not all together true. If you look at the concept S-coupe compared to the production version the proportions are slightly different.
The overhangs, (both front and rear) are longer, the boot is slightly higher on the production car, the pillars are slightly thicker all around. The production version also has a little bit more body mass. This might be due to the Hi-Strength steel added in critical areas for crash protection standards. Concept cars don`t have to meet these standards, which we all know. Concepts are pre-production ideas so thay are going to be sleeker to begin with. If Audi produces this car, you can pretty much bank on a few proportional changes. The interior will change as well. This concept has no vents for the AC.
Where in the world is Tumbo, I would like to here his opinions on this Audi concept.
Audi granted a view of its future Tuesday night, high in the Hollywood Hills at a lavish debut for its all-new Prologue concept car. The sleek coupe is a look at the new design direction for all upcoming cars from the German brand.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the new face of Audi,” Marc Lichte, Audi’s design chief, said as the car was unveiled at a private home perched over the twinkling cityscape. “The foundation for this new design was a very simple and coherant design strategy: an Audi has to be sporty, an Audi has to be progressive and also sophisticated,” Lichte said.
Though shown in coupe form, this new design language will first be used on the next Audi A8 full-size sedan, then the A6 and A7 siblings. Audi was mum on when the new generation of A8 would arrive, but it’s widely expected to go on sale in 2017.
While some concept cars are extreme exaggerations of what eventually goes into production, Lichte was adamant that nearly everything on the Prologue concept was feasible and headed to the market.
“This car is the essence of all three cars,” Lichte said. “That means all the elements you see in this show car will go into production.”
Shortly after that new A8 hits the market, Audi is expected to put on sale an A9 coupe -- a model it has never built before -- that would rival the Mercedes S-Class Coupe. This Prologue concept is close to what that car would look like.
Lichte’s goal with the Audi’s new aesthetic was to create a compelling look that would age well, while at the same time honor previous generations of Audis.
“The car has to be timeless but also fashionable,” Lichte said. “The car should work for six, seven, eight years. In that time, there are eight generations of iPhones.”
This has meant a busy year for Lichte. Volkswagen Group appointed Lichte as Audi’s head of design last December and work on the concept and the A6, A7, and A8 started in February.
Audi froze the production models’ design recently, an eight-month turnaround that’s a rarity in the automotive industry. The designs now are turned over to to the engineers and accountants to make sure the aesthetic is financially and logistically possible.
The Prologue concept’s debut in L.A. was no coincidence, as Lichte had his eye on a debut at the L.A. Auto Show since he put pen to paper in February.
“I think this kind of car fits perfect in L.A.,” the designer said looking at the twinkling lights of L.A. below the home where Audi debuted the Prologue. “It’s a very expressive car; I think it fits. And I like this place, this is an area which inspires.”
---->>http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-la-auto-show-a9-concept-20141118-story.html
So according to the design director it is safe to assume the fenders and front spoiler vents will, in some form make it on the next generation A8 and A6 models.
2017 A8 render
2017 Audi A6 render
That next generation A8 render dates back to May of this year so the details are very rough. Anyway it sounds like Audi will build this coupe.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the new face of Audi,” Marc Lichte, Audi’s design chief, said as the car was unveiled at a private home perched over the twinkling cityscape. “The foundation for this new design was a very simple and coherant design strategy: an Audi has to be sporty, an Audi has to be progressive and also sophisticated,” Lichte said.
Though shown in coupe form, this new design language will first be used on the next Audi A8 full-size sedan, then the A6 and A7 siblings. Audi was mum on when the new generation of A8 would arrive, but it’s widely expected to go on sale in 2017.
While some concept cars are extreme exaggerations of what eventually goes into production, Lichte was adamant that nearly everything on the Prologue concept was feasible and headed to the market.
“This car is the essence of all three cars,” Lichte said. “That means all the elements you see in this show car will go into production.”
Shortly after that new A8 hits the market, Audi is expected to put on sale an A9 coupe -- a model it has never built before -- that would rival the Mercedes S-Class Coupe. This Prologue concept is close to what that car would look like.
Lichte’s goal with the Audi’s new aesthetic was to create a compelling look that would age well, while at the same time honor previous generations of Audis.
“The car has to be timeless but also fashionable,” Lichte said. “The car should work for six, seven, eight years. In that time, there are eight generations of iPhones.”
This has meant a busy year for Lichte. Volkswagen Group appointed Lichte as Audi’s head of design last December and work on the concept and the A6, A7, and A8 started in February.
Audi froze the production models’ design recently, an eight-month turnaround that’s a rarity in the automotive industry. The designs now are turned over to to the engineers and accountants to make sure the aesthetic is financially and logistically possible.
The Prologue concept’s debut in L.A. was no coincidence, as Lichte had his eye on a debut at the L.A. Auto Show since he put pen to paper in February.
“I think this kind of car fits perfect in L.A.,” the designer said looking at the twinkling lights of L.A. below the home where Audi debuted the Prologue. “It’s a very expressive car; I think it fits. And I like this place, this is an area which inspires.”
---->>http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-la-auto-show-a9-concept-20141118-story.html
So according to the design director it is safe to assume the fenders and front spoiler vents will, in some form make it on the next generation A8 and A6 models.
2017 A8 render
2017 Audi A6 render
That next generation A8 render dates back to May of this year so the details are very rough. Anyway it sounds like Audi will build this coupe.
D
Deleted member 1071
Audi granted a view of its future Tuesday night, high in the Hollywood Hills at a lavish debut for its all-new Prologue concept car. The sleek coupe is a look at the new design direction for all upcoming cars from the German brand.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the new face of Audi,” Marc Lichte, Audi’s design chief, said as the car was unveiled at a private home perched over the twinkling cityscape. “The foundation for this new design was a very simple and coherant design strategy: an Audi has to be sporty, an Audi has to be progressive and also sophisticated,” Lichte said.
Though shown in coupe form, this new design language will first be used on the next Audi A8 full-size sedan, then the A6 and A7 siblings. Audi was mum on when the new generation of A8 would arrive, but it’s widely expected to go on sale in 2017.
While some concept cars are extreme exaggerations of what eventually goes into production, Lichte was adamant that nearly everything on the Prologue concept was feasible and headed to the market.
“This car is the essence of all three cars,” Lichte said. “That means all the elements you see in this show car will go into production.”
Shortly after that new A8 hits the market, Audi is expected to put on sale an A9 coupe -- a model it has never built before -- that would rival the Mercedes S-Class Coupe. This Prologue concept is close to what that car would look like.
Lichte’s goal with the Audi’s new aesthetic was to create a compelling look that would age well, while at the same time honor previous generations of Audis.
“The car has to be timeless but also fashionable,” Lichte said. “The car should work for six, seven, eight years. In that time, there are eight generations of iPhones.”
This has meant a busy year for Lichte. Volkswagen Group appointed Lichte as Audi’s head of design last December and work on the concept and the A6, A7, and A8 started in February.
Audi froze the production models’ design recently, an eight-month turnaround that’s a rarity in the automotive industry. The designs now are turned over to to the engineers and accountants to make sure the aesthetic is financially and logistically possible.
The Prologue concept’s debut in L.A. was no coincidence, as Lichte had his eye on a debut at the L.A. Auto Show since he put pen to paper in February.
“I think this kind of car fits perfect in L.A.,” the designer said looking at the twinkling lights of L.A. below the home where Audi debuted the Prologue. “It’s a very expressive car; I think it fits. And I like this place, this is an area which inspires.”
---->>http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-la-auto-show-a9-concept-20141118-story.html
So according to the design director it is safe to assume the fenders and front spoiler vents will, in some form make it on the next generation A8 and A6 models.
2017 A8 render
2017 Audi A6 render
That next generation A8 render dates back to May of this year so the details are very rough. Anyway it sounds like Audi will build this coupe.
Despite the L.A. Times article posted above, very little indicates that an actual Prologue-based A9 2 door coupe will be brought to production. Nothing would please me more than to be proven incorrect on this.
JHF
Driving Dynamics Pro
Audi Prologue concept first drive review
We take a drive in Audi's jaw-dropping Prologue concept car fresh from the LA Motor Show stand
Verdict
It's only a concept car but the Audi Prologue concept serves as a fascinating insight into where Audi as a brand is headed. The advanced technology and innovative design speak of a car manufacturer bristling with confidence, while the V8 engine adds old-school muscle to keep the traditionalists happy.
The Audi Prologue concept may be a priceless piece of motor show metal, but it’s far from just a pretty face. Audi didn’t fit it with a 598bhp 4.0 Biturbo V8 for no reason, and Auto Express has driven it.
Hot off the LA Motor Show stand, the striking newcomer is only a few millimetres shorter than a Mercedes S-Class saloon, but that slippery and sculpted design helps to mask this size well. Huge touch-sensitive doors swing open and allow access to one of the most technologically advanced car cabins ever created.
You sit low, peering over the cascading bonnet. The Virtual Cockpit in the all-new TT is still a revolutionary piece of tech, but Audi has taken it to the next level with the Prologue. The 3D display has real visual depth with colours and content that change depending upon driving style.
The V8 thunders into life at the touch of a button. A new exhaust system delivers a deep burble at idle and a progressively more raucous exhaust note as the revs build.
The Prologue is based around new architecture which will underpin the next-generation A8, so the car feels more like a production model than its space-age looks suggest. But while every touch of the throttle delivers a throaty sound, we found it hard to modulate and access the V8’s power.
Still, let’s not forget that the Prologue is a concept, and a long way from the finished article. It’s a great taste of what’s to come.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/audi/r8/89558/audi-prologue-concept-first-drive-review
We take a drive in Audi's jaw-dropping Prologue concept car fresh from the LA Motor Show stand
Verdict
It's only a concept car but the Audi Prologue concept serves as a fascinating insight into where Audi as a brand is headed. The advanced technology and innovative design speak of a car manufacturer bristling with confidence, while the V8 engine adds old-school muscle to keep the traditionalists happy.
The Audi Prologue concept may be a priceless piece of motor show metal, but it’s far from just a pretty face. Audi didn’t fit it with a 598bhp 4.0 Biturbo V8 for no reason, and Auto Express has driven it.
Hot off the LA Motor Show stand, the striking newcomer is only a few millimetres shorter than a Mercedes S-Class saloon, but that slippery and sculpted design helps to mask this size well. Huge touch-sensitive doors swing open and allow access to one of the most technologically advanced car cabins ever created.
You sit low, peering over the cascading bonnet. The Virtual Cockpit in the all-new TT is still a revolutionary piece of tech, but Audi has taken it to the next level with the Prologue. The 3D display has real visual depth with colours and content that change depending upon driving style.
The V8 thunders into life at the touch of a button. A new exhaust system delivers a deep burble at idle and a progressively more raucous exhaust note as the revs build.
The Prologue is based around new architecture which will underpin the next-generation A8, so the car feels more like a production model than its space-age looks suggest. But while every touch of the throttle delivers a throaty sound, we found it hard to modulate and access the V8’s power.
Still, let’s not forget that the Prologue is a concept, and a long way from the finished article. It’s a great taste of what’s to come.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/audi/r8/89558/audi-prologue-concept-first-drive-review
JHF
Driving Dynamics Pro
CAR interviews Audi design chief Marc Lichte: Audi's style future
Marc Lichte has been busy. In the eight months he’s been in charge of Audi design he’s designed replacements for the A6, A7 and A8, worked on a number of intriguing new projects, from an all-electric car to a Q8, a coupe-like SUV, and found the time to rustle up the standout car of the Los Angeles motor show, the Prologue. We pinned him and his sketchpad down for a chat.
How did Prologue come about?
‘Usually with a concept car you are very lucky if the production car looks the same. Normally it goes into production and everyone is disappointed. Prologue is different. We did the A8 successor first, which is due out in 2016, then the A7 and A6, and the essence of all these three cars is in Prologue. This is a teaser. Almost every element will be seen in future production cars.
‘I started at Audi in February but three months earlier I’d been asked to start thinking about an A8 proposal. On my third day the five proposals were considered, and they chose our car. It wasn’t perfect but it was a clear direction. So we start working on it, and the A6 and A7 in parallel, and after eight months the designs are frozen by the board.’
What are Prologue’s key elements?
‘The proportions are more sporty; longer wheelbase, wider track, lower cabin. You’ll also notice that in profile the front is almost vertical. When you combine this with a really fast back, as we have done, you create the sense of a car rushing forward. The grille is also important. It is still a single frame but it is a lot more horizontal, for a sporty, progressive look.
‘This car also emphasises Quattro – Audi is Quattro. We have lowered the shoulder line, between the wheels, which gives us the space for these muscles above the front and rear wheels, emphasising the four-wheel drive. But Quattro is also a proportion. Let me explain. With a front-wheel-drive car you have a long bonnet and cab-forward proportions. On a rear-wheel-drive car you have a short front overhang and cab-backward proportions. Most designers are fighting to give their cars the proportions of a rear-wheel-drive car. They really want the length here between the A-post and front wheel – what we call the prestige gap. But at Audi we’re not. We have a longer front overhang and cab more or less in the middle for a balanced proportion.
In the future every Audi will emphasise Quattro, and the future A7 will do this even more strongly than the show car. The A8 will be a little more quiet. Quattro is more than a powertrain. It is a big differentiator from our rivals, Mercedes and BMW.’
What is your favourite part of the car?
‘My favourite part of the car is the rear view. I love that the line along the bottom of the rear screen is the same line as the shoulders of the car as they fall away on either side. This does not happen by chance! It is very difficult to control. I love this perspective. And I think this line is a strong element. It will feature on the bigger cars. Maybe it doesn’t make sense on A1.
‘I also like the solution we came up with for the boot and C-posts. The C-posts look like flying buttresses but they aren’t. There was a very clear reason for this. We wanted an angled rear in profile, like a Riva speedboat, and a fast C-post, but if you do that you end up with a very small boot opening. One option was to put the hinges up on the roof but that wasn’t practical on a luxury car. So we came up with his idea of a rear screen that gives us the biggest possible boot aperture. It’s the aesthetic and the technical combined. The glazing is not like Citroen. Only the very corners are negative, the rest of the screen is positive – it is something very different.’
What are the key themes of the interior?
‘I’m very interested in interiors but for most of my career I have only done exteriors – at VW I was head of exterior design. When I started at Audi I was really happy because Audi is the benchmark in interior design, especially in terms of materials. But the competitors are getting better, so we have to do something different. My vision was a different architecture. I like to express the width of the car, the sense of space in what is a luxury car. Each line is horizontal, to stretch the length of the dashboard.
We also use the touchscreen. Tesla did a very good job introducing this but to me it wasn't an aesthetically pleasing solution. So we have integrated our touch displays into the architecture. And the lower displays are driver orientated, which is sporty – another Audi value. The materials are more authentic, with natural leather that isn’t so uniformly perfect but to me is more new-premium.’
Audi has been criticised for a lack of differentiation between models, and for a conservative approach to design in general…
‘I think it was right that Audi took small steps. It was an important step in 2004 when Walter da Silva came up with the single-frame grille and gave Audi a face that was on a level with BMW and Mercedes. Before that Audi had no face. It was an important step but people needed time to get used to it. And now that everybody knows that this is Audi, now is the time to take a bigger step.
‘We must differentiate more within the range. I promise you that in future an A8 will look very different to an A6. The big difference will be in the proportions – a similar design language, very different proportions. The single-frame grille will link them but their grilles won’t necessarily be all the same shape. Right now I’m working on the A1 replacement and we’re doing something really radical. We’re also working on a Q8. Still a single-frame grille but very different. The design for the Q8 is frozen. It has been signed off.’
What else are you working on?
‘I like the idea of a TT family. With the Sportback concept we showed in Paris we are trying to find out what is the perfect sister to the coupe and and spyder. The Quattro as a car is still alive too. The next one you see will be a production car… hopefully. We basically re-started this project because when I saw the concepts I thought the potential was there to be more radical.
But honestly one of my favourite projects is the battery electric vehicle. Audi is doing something really intelligent and clever with this. It’s a pure electric vehicle. Tesla did a normal looking car because that was the right thing to do in the beginning, to not scare people away. But now is the time to do something different. With an electric vehicle you are not constrained in the normal way. If you start with a blank piece of paper you come out with something very different.’
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/CAR-interviews-Audi-design-chief-Marc-Lichte-Where-Audi-design-goes-next/
Marc Lichte has been busy. In the eight months he’s been in charge of Audi design he’s designed replacements for the A6, A7 and A8, worked on a number of intriguing new projects, from an all-electric car to a Q8, a coupe-like SUV, and found the time to rustle up the standout car of the Los Angeles motor show, the Prologue. We pinned him and his sketchpad down for a chat.
How did Prologue come about?
‘Usually with a concept car you are very lucky if the production car looks the same. Normally it goes into production and everyone is disappointed. Prologue is different. We did the A8 successor first, which is due out in 2016, then the A7 and A6, and the essence of all these three cars is in Prologue. This is a teaser. Almost every element will be seen in future production cars.
‘I started at Audi in February but three months earlier I’d been asked to start thinking about an A8 proposal. On my third day the five proposals were considered, and they chose our car. It wasn’t perfect but it was a clear direction. So we start working on it, and the A6 and A7 in parallel, and after eight months the designs are frozen by the board.’
What are Prologue’s key elements?
‘The proportions are more sporty; longer wheelbase, wider track, lower cabin. You’ll also notice that in profile the front is almost vertical. When you combine this with a really fast back, as we have done, you create the sense of a car rushing forward. The grille is also important. It is still a single frame but it is a lot more horizontal, for a sporty, progressive look.
‘This car also emphasises Quattro – Audi is Quattro. We have lowered the shoulder line, between the wheels, which gives us the space for these muscles above the front and rear wheels, emphasising the four-wheel drive. But Quattro is also a proportion. Let me explain. With a front-wheel-drive car you have a long bonnet and cab-forward proportions. On a rear-wheel-drive car you have a short front overhang and cab-backward proportions. Most designers are fighting to give their cars the proportions of a rear-wheel-drive car. They really want the length here between the A-post and front wheel – what we call the prestige gap. But at Audi we’re not. We have a longer front overhang and cab more or less in the middle for a balanced proportion.
In the future every Audi will emphasise Quattro, and the future A7 will do this even more strongly than the show car. The A8 will be a little more quiet. Quattro is more than a powertrain. It is a big differentiator from our rivals, Mercedes and BMW.’
What is your favourite part of the car?
‘My favourite part of the car is the rear view. I love that the line along the bottom of the rear screen is the same line as the shoulders of the car as they fall away on either side. This does not happen by chance! It is very difficult to control. I love this perspective. And I think this line is a strong element. It will feature on the bigger cars. Maybe it doesn’t make sense on A1.
‘I also like the solution we came up with for the boot and C-posts. The C-posts look like flying buttresses but they aren’t. There was a very clear reason for this. We wanted an angled rear in profile, like a Riva speedboat, and a fast C-post, but if you do that you end up with a very small boot opening. One option was to put the hinges up on the roof but that wasn’t practical on a luxury car. So we came up with his idea of a rear screen that gives us the biggest possible boot aperture. It’s the aesthetic and the technical combined. The glazing is not like Citroen. Only the very corners are negative, the rest of the screen is positive – it is something very different.’
What are the key themes of the interior?
‘I’m very interested in interiors but for most of my career I have only done exteriors – at VW I was head of exterior design. When I started at Audi I was really happy because Audi is the benchmark in interior design, especially in terms of materials. But the competitors are getting better, so we have to do something different. My vision was a different architecture. I like to express the width of the car, the sense of space in what is a luxury car. Each line is horizontal, to stretch the length of the dashboard.
We also use the touchscreen. Tesla did a very good job introducing this but to me it wasn't an aesthetically pleasing solution. So we have integrated our touch displays into the architecture. And the lower displays are driver orientated, which is sporty – another Audi value. The materials are more authentic, with natural leather that isn’t so uniformly perfect but to me is more new-premium.’
Audi has been criticised for a lack of differentiation between models, and for a conservative approach to design in general…
‘I think it was right that Audi took small steps. It was an important step in 2004 when Walter da Silva came up with the single-frame grille and gave Audi a face that was on a level with BMW and Mercedes. Before that Audi had no face. It was an important step but people needed time to get used to it. And now that everybody knows that this is Audi, now is the time to take a bigger step.
‘We must differentiate more within the range. I promise you that in future an A8 will look very different to an A6. The big difference will be in the proportions – a similar design language, very different proportions. The single-frame grille will link them but their grilles won’t necessarily be all the same shape. Right now I’m working on the A1 replacement and we’re doing something really radical. We’re also working on a Q8. Still a single-frame grille but very different. The design for the Q8 is frozen. It has been signed off.’
What else are you working on?
‘I like the idea of a TT family. With the Sportback concept we showed in Paris we are trying to find out what is the perfect sister to the coupe and and spyder. The Quattro as a car is still alive too. The next one you see will be a production car… hopefully. We basically re-started this project because when I saw the concepts I thought the potential was there to be more radical.
But honestly one of my favourite projects is the battery electric vehicle. Audi is doing something really intelligent and clever with this. It’s a pure electric vehicle. Tesla did a normal looking car because that was the right thing to do in the beginning, to not scare people away. But now is the time to do something different. With an electric vehicle you are not constrained in the normal way. If you start with a blank piece of paper you come out with something very different.’
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/CAR-interviews-Audi-design-chief-Marc-Lichte-Where-Audi-design-goes-next/
D
Deleted member 1071
Seeing the car in an "on the road, in traffic" urban environment offers its' appearance an entirely new quality. It is truly drop-dead gorgeous. And reminiscent of those "personal coupes" of yore. Somehow, it has just a hint of the 1963 Buick Riviera in character.
EnI
Piston Pioneer
It almost look too sleek in those AutoBild pics. 
Almost borderline cartoonish. 
I would like to know what the Lichte's definition of "very different", "big difference", "more differentiation" and "very radical" is. I have a feeling we will be very disappointed, because we expect more, and therefore this Audi's talk about differentiation will prove to be a big joke.
Although BMW's design chief Habib also promises "more differentiation" within BMW model line designs: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-promises-more-distinct-styling-next-gen-models
Almost borderline cartoonish. Marc Lichte said:
I would like to know what the Lichte's definition of "very different", "big difference", "more differentiation" and "very radical" is.
I have a feeling we will be very disappointed, because we expect more, and therefore this Audi's talk about differentiation will prove to be a big joke.Although BMW's design chief Habib also promises "more differentiation" within BMW model line designs: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-promises-more-distinct-styling-next-gen-models
D
Deleted member 1071
It almost look too sleek in those AutoBild pics.
I would like to know what the Lichte's definition of "very different", "big difference", "more differentiation" and "very radical" is.
Although BMW's design chief Habib also promises "more differentiation" within BMW model line designs: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-promises-more-distinct-styling-next-gen-models
I find Marc Lichtes' statement regarding "very different proportions" rather puzzling. Are not the D5 A8 (and perhaps an A9) and the C8 A6 + 2nd gen A7 all MLBevo based automobiles ? In addition, Herr Lichte alludes to the accentuation of the "Quattro" theme throughout Audis' larger car lineup. "Balance" rather than a pronounced "long hood, cab-back" appearance.
Color me a bit confused.
Busty
Highway Hunter
Collegues and I were talking a lot about the concept lately. Especially those latest pictures show an undeniable beauty and class. Nonetheless we agreed on the fact that it somehow lacks stylistic depth (both i) literally in its implementation such as the front, grille, and back and ii) perspectively as it does not offer many options beyond luxury...just imagine the present approach applied to a potential A4, A3, Q5, etc. ... I hardly can). Anyway, I tried to paperize our thoughts, hope you enjoy.
We were also wondering about a similarity with the first gen A8.
And one more thing I heard was the D5 sharing a lot of this interior. It also will feature that lower touchscreen...
We were also wondering about a similarity with the first gen A8.
And one more thing I heard was the D5 sharing a lot of this interior. It also will feature that lower touchscreen...
Beemer B773ER
Tire Trailblazer
Well you gotta remember that it looks awesome on the road because it is a concept.
hoffmeister_fan
Kraftwagen König
IRL pics are so much better; you can pick up on the more subtle lines of both the exterior and interior. If A8 has at least 50% of these features, it'll be a handsome car.
Sidenote: BTW why are most press pics crap? Photoshopping the crap out of cars does nobody favors. BMW, MB, VAG, Ferrari, Lexus, etc are absolutely guilty. BMW, IMO, is the worst offender.
Sidenote: BTW why are most press pics crap? Photoshopping the crap out of cars does nobody favors. BMW, MB, VAG, Ferrari, Lexus, etc are absolutely guilty. BMW, IMO, is the worst offender.
SDNR
Kraftwagen König
Not sure about those renders ......I prefer the look of the current A8.Audi granted a view of its future Tuesday night, high in the Hollywood Hills at a lavish debut for its all-new Prologue concept car. The sleek coupe is a look at the new design direction for all upcoming cars from the German brand.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the new face of Audi,” Marc Lichte, Audi’s design chief, said as the car was unveiled at a private home perched over the twinkling cityscape. “The foundation for this new design was a very simple and coherant design strategy: an Audi has to be sporty, an Audi has to be progressive and also sophisticated,” Lichte said.
Though shown in coupe form, this new design language will first be used on the next Audi A8 full-size sedan, then the A6 and A7 siblings. Audi was mum on when the new generation of A8 would arrive, but it’s widely expected to go on sale in 2017.
While some concept cars are extreme exaggerations of what eventually goes into production, Lichte was adamant that nearly everything on the Prologue concept was feasible and headed to the market.
“This car is the essence of all three cars,” Lichte said. “That means all the elements you see in this show car will go into production.”
Shortly after that new A8 hits the market, Audi is expected to put on sale an A9 coupe -- a model it has never built before -- that would rival the Mercedes S-Class Coupe. This Prologue concept is close to what that car would look like.
Lichte’s goal with the Audi’s new aesthetic was to create a compelling look that would age well, while at the same time honor previous generations of Audis.
“The car has to be timeless but also fashionable,” Lichte said. “The car should work for six, seven, eight years. In that time, there are eight generations of iPhones.”
This has meant a busy year for Lichte. Volkswagen Group appointed Lichte as Audi’s head of design last December and work on the concept and the A6, A7, and A8 started in February.
Audi froze the production models’ design recently, an eight-month turnaround that’s a rarity in the automotive industry. The designs now are turned over to to the engineers and accountants to make sure the aesthetic is financially and logistically possible.
The Prologue concept’s debut in L.A. was no coincidence, as Lichte had his eye on a debut at the L.A. Auto Show since he put pen to paper in February.
“I think this kind of car fits perfect in L.A.,” the designer said looking at the twinkling lights of L.A. below the home where Audi debuted the Prologue. “It’s a very expressive car; I think it fits. And I like this place, this is an area which inspires.”
---->>http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-la-auto-show-a9-concept-20141118-story.html
So according to the design director it is safe to assume the fenders and front spoiler vents will, in some form make it on the next generation A8 and A6 models.
2017 A8 render
2017 Audi A6 render
That next generation A8 render dates back to May of this year so the details are very rough. Anyway it sounds like Audi will build this coupe.
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Audi
Audi AG is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles
headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. A subsidiary of the
Volkswagen Group, the company’s origins date back to the early 20th
century and the initial enterprises (Horch and the Audiwerke) founded
by engineer August Horch (1868–1951). Two other manufacturers (DKW
and Wanderer) also contributed to the foundation of Auto Union in 1932.
The modern Audi era began in the 1960s, when Volkswagen acquired Auto
Union from Daimler-Benz, and merged it with NSU Motorenwerke in 1969.
Official website: Audi (Global), Audi (USA)
Official website: Audi (Global), Audi (USA)
