Serving as a spearhead in technology, the Audi allroad quattro concept highlights a number of systems destined to enter series production in just a few years and staking out new terrain particularly in the area of vehicle safety.

Audi road vision

Audi road vision, an unprecedented sensor system recognizing the type of road and surface conditions, ensures a quantum leap in active driving safety: The system not only informs the driver on potentially critical conditions such as gravel or black ice, but also gives the ESP electronic stabilization program and the adaptive cruise control additional, crucial parameters for even better proactive control.

Audi road vision combines laser and infra-red spectroscopy to scan the road in front of the vehicle. In the process the frequency-optimized LEDs in the headlamps serve as an infra-red light source, sensors behind the windscreen monitoring the light beams reflected by the road and modulated in each case by characteristic features. This enables the system not only to distinguish between wet, dry and ice-bound roads, but also to recognize road surfaces with specific grip such as concrete, various types of asphalt, or gravel.

These two separate units are even able to distinguish between different road conditions to the left and right.

The driver is informed of possible risks via the instrument cluster. In addition, ESP is able, for example on road surfaces with poor grip, to intervene within fractions of a second and vary drive or brake forces as required before the vehicle becomes unstable.

Audi lane assist

Audi lane assist is a driver assistance system efficiently informing the driver as soon as he unintentionally leaves his lane by inducing vibrations on the steering wheel. This gives the driver very helpful support above all on long, straight-ahead routes like the Interstate, where it is very easy to lose attention.

This helpful function is provided by a forward-looking video-camera fitted on the upper windscreen frame and focusing on the usual lane marking lines to be found on most Interstates and expressways. And with the exception of very bad conditions – snow or heavy rain – the system works both during the day and at night.

The driver is able to activate or deactivate the system manually simply by pressing a button on the direction indicator lever. Whenever the system is active, vibrations induced intentionally on the steering wheel unit will inform the driver immediately he threatens to leave his lane. Operating the direction indicator briefly before changing lanes, the driver automatically deactivates the system for a short period while changing over to the next lane.

The system switches off automatically at speeds below 60 km/h, on very narrow or winding roads, when passing a construction site or roadworks, and on routes without lane marking lines. In each case the driver is informed by a signal in the instrument cluster.

Audi side assist

Incorporating radar sensors, Audi side assist monitors areas next to and behind the car to warn the driver – in addition to the image in the rear-view mirror – of vehicles approaching his car. The sensors themselves have a range behind the car of up to 50 meters, also covering the blind angles the driver cannot see next to the car.

Audi side assist is activated and deactivated at the touch of a button and operates as of a speed of 60 km/h.

The warning signal is provided by a special light element in the exterior mirrors operating in two stages:


  • The driver is informed by the system of a vehicle on an adjacent lane (at a blind angle or approaching), which might be critical to the driver when changing lanes. In that case the warning light in the respective mirror comes on and stays on as long as the “other” vehicle is there, giving the driver a clear signal as soon as he looks in the mirror.
  • Should the driver activate the direction indicator in his Audi to show that he is about to change lanes, the second warning signal will come on automatically if the lane chosen is occupied, with the warning light quickly flashing on and off.

Audi side assist does not intervene in the actual driving and control functions.

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