The allroad quattro concept comes with the same bodyshell and body proportions as the latest production Audi to enter the market, the new A6 Avant. Like the A6, this concept car is clearly characterized by its striking single-frame radiator grille. The basic dimensions of the allroad quattro concept – 4.93 meters in length and 1.89 meters in width – are fundamentally the same as on the executive class Avant. But when it comes to height the allroad quattro concept, measuring 1.52 meters, is 60 millimeters higher than the Avant in the interest of greater ground clearance.

In its design, the Audi allroad quattro concept clearly accentuates the supreme function and elegant sporting character of the A6 Avant bodyshell in its own distinctive style. The wide track and the moderate increase in body height come together in perfection to provide a muscular, truly unique silhouette. The underfloor protection made of stainless steel in a special rib-type structure, striking bumpers, and distinctly flared wheel arches clearly bear testimony at very first sight to the off-road talents of the allroad quattro concept.

The very latest lighting technology lurks behind the clear glass covers on the headlamps: The allroad quattro concept comes with LED headlamps boasting the additional functions of daytime running lights. The headlamps themselves are modular in structure, the outer module being made up of 14 individual LEDs offering the same level of light intensity as xenon headlamps. The inner module, in turn, incorporates 10 individual light units for the high beam. In between these two main sections the horizontally arranged individual, square modules provide clear daylight illumination.

Both the direction indicators, the brake lights and the tail lights also come with high-speed LED light units. The direction indicator function, incidentally, is enhanced by additional indicator units integrated in the side mirrors and therefore supplementing the direction indicators at the front and rear.

Seen from the side, the classic silhouette of the Avant with its high shoulder and low-slung line of windows, the very coupe-like roof line, as well as the low rake of the tailgate builds up a new feeling of tension: Together with the doorsills and bumpers, the wheel arches come in a contrasting color set against the rest of the car’s body – a distinctive element in both its function and design. The wheels themselves, incidentally, measure 19 inches across and run on 255/45 R19 tires as a special development for this concept car.

The powerful, horizontal look of the rear section with two-piece tail lights curved distinctly to the inside give the entire vehicle a strong and squat look on the road.

Further features clearly characterizing this concept car are the gently curved roof railing as well as the extra-large open sky glass sliding roof making almost the entire roof area between the A- and D-pillars completely transparent.

The open sky roof is made up of two large glass segments significantly enhancing the entry of light into the interior as opposed to a conventional sliding roof. The front segment opens electrically at the touch of a button.

Both the window glass and the exterior mirrors feature a significant but invisible innovation in technology: They are coated with hydrophobic molecules repelling both water and dirt. The result is much cleaner windows and better visibility in the rain. The coating measuring only a few nanometers in thickness is applied in an immersion bath, sticking firmly to the surface for lasting quality even under mechanical forces such as the screenwipers moving to and fro.

The interior ambience is truly outstanding, features specific to the allroad quattro concept offering their unique rendition of that supreme function and superior ergonomics so typical of Audi. Since the concept car is a four-seater, the seats both front and rear come with a high center console in between, with intelligently subdivided storage compartments beneath their two-piece armrests opening up separately.

Clear signs of sporty performance and perfect ergonomics – these features are consistently borne out also by the cockpit. The instrument panel in the middle and the upper part of the center console proudly boasting the 8.9-inch MMI monitor are joined by the same leather cover forming one complete cockpit unit. Featuring 1024 x 600-pixel resolution, the MMI offers a new world of brilliance and clarity, conventional 7-inch monitors currently offering just 480 x 270 pixels.

The horizontal section of the center console houses the engine starter button, the button for the electromechanical parking brake, the selector lever for the six-speed automatic transmission, and of course the MMI control unit.

New display technology

The extra-large rev counter and speedometer dials come in newly designed, teardrop-shaped surrounds housed together with the circular coolant temperature and fuel gauge displays in one large central instrument panel. A particularly important innovation is the large color display for the first time in an Audi featuring revolutionary Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology.

This technology uses an organic polymer for significantly enhanced presentation and clarity. Compared with a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD), an OLED monitor is much easier to read above all in bright sunshine and when looking at the display from the side. Indeed, you can still read the monitor with ease from an angle of 170o.

Further advantages of OLED technology are the very thin and slender structure of the entire system, very fast reaction times, and far lower uptake of energy compared with an LCD display.

Audi’s new generation of steering wheels is now also making its debut in the Audi allroad quattro concept. Perhaps the most visible sign of distinction on the three-spoke steering wheel finished in brown leather is the single-frame trapezoid complete with four rings on the central airbag cover.

Trims on the instrument panel and the doors for the first time feature a metallised textile material. The contrast between this special surface with its high-tech look and the main padding and upholstery surfaces finished in leather builds up a unique aura of optical tension and creates a wonderful surface touch all in one.

The leather upholstery on the four seats comes in two colors and in varying surface structure, sturdy side supports holding the driver and passengers firmly in position even in fast bends. Forming a distinctive contrast to the gray surfaces of the seats as such, the front segments on the seat bottoms, the upper third of the backrests and the headrests are finished in a green-blue shade. The seams connecting the various leather sections on the seats, finally, are visibly separated from the surfaces themselves to form yet another design feature.

The rear seats tilt forward electrically to enlarge the luggage compartment, the armrests can be retracted into the floor to form one smooth, flush area.

Like the A6 Avant, the allroad concept car comes with an absolutely smooth and uncluttered storage compartment. Molded contours behind the wheel arches provide overall width of up to 1300 millimeters for accommodating golf bags with absolute ease. The entire luggage compartment, naturally, is finished in high-quality carpeting. Aluminum trim strips fitted lengthwise on the floor facilitate the process of moving even large and heavy pieces of luggage.

The roll-up mechanism for the electrically controlled, fully retractable luggage compartment cover is housed conveniently out-of-sight within the floor of the luggage compartment. The tailgate on the allroad quattro concept, in turn, comes with electrical remote control, opening and closing simply by pressing a button on the key.

Ambience illumination serves to dim the lights in the interior as desired in a smooth process with infinite control. Via the MMI control unit, the driver can indeed call up various light scenarios with individual brightness adjustment, thus responding to specific situations on the road such as bright lights in town or on Interstate highways which are not illuminated.

This illumination strategy makes it much easier for the human eye to adjust to different light conditions outside and inside. It also enhances control and operating safety, enabling the driver to find all the controls and switches much better and faster than before. And last but certainly not least, this illumination strategy creates an outstanding experience of interior design and sophisticated materials also at night, without impairing driving safety in any way by dazzling the driver or by creating reflections on the windows.

Additional light sources on the sides of the luggage compartment further enhance the interior illumination around the roof and in the footwells. These light sources use so-called electroluminescence film not only taking up very little space, but also ensuring particularly homogeneous light distribution.

The equipment, data and prices stated here refer to the model range offered for sale in Germany. Subject to amendment; errors and omissions excepted.