A new plug-in hybrid concept car debuted from Audi this week at the Detroit Auto Show that is described initially in just a few simple words – sporty, compact and versatile. Whether or not this is actually the case for the new allroad shooting brake car remains to be seen, but it does impress with its green vehicle specifications at the least.
Audi said the allroad shooting brake car has 300 kW (408 hp) of total system power and 650 Nm (479.42 lb-ft) of system torque. It is capable of hitting over 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds, but is limited in its top speed to 155 MPH. Fuel economy is noteworthy at 1.9 liters of fuel per 100 km (123.80 mpg) (45 g CO2 per km [72.42 g/mile]) based on the relevant ECE standard, and the car’s total driving range is up to 820 km (509.52 miles).
image via Audi
Like other plug-in hybrids on the market this Audi concept, making use of the two integrated electric motors – one in the six speed e-S tronic and the other mounted to the rear axle – and a lithium-ion battery lets the driver go up to 50 km (31.07 miles) of electric only driving. Energy can be put into the battery via either regenerative braking or through plugging in to a charger.
Key interior touches of the allroad include a new design to the MMI user interface which reportedly lets the driver control nearly all the functions of the vehicle intuitively. Its menu structure “is based on that of a smart phone, which includes a free text search function. It is easy to access all major functions, and multitouch gestures on the touchpad of the MMI terminal enable quick scrolling and zooming in lists and maps.”
In addition to the MMI, the cockpit is said to be very focused on the driver. The steering wheel, said Audi, “and digital instrument cluster lie in a single direct line of sight. The TFT display with its 12.3 inch screen presents all key information in top quality 3D graphics and offers a variety of modes. In the classic view, the powermeter for the plug-in hybrid drive system and the speedometer are in the foreground, while in Infotainment mode elements such as the large navigation map dominate.”
