Although Audi->ke14 has been known for its sporty station wagons since the Porsche-tuned RS2 Avant made history with its introduction back in 1994, the Ingolstadt carmaker has never had a true halo model featuring this type of body. Sure, the RS6->ke1305 Avant can be called that from some points of view, but the model has never been a true halo car in the style of the R8,->ke1440 for example. The carmaker was actually close to offering an Avant version of the A8->ke1089 in the early 2000s, even previewing such a model with the 2001 Avantissimo concept car, but the plans never came to fruition.

This situation may change in the near future though, along with a massive upgrade of Audi’s dated design language. I say this because the German carmaker announced that a third version of its well-received Prologue Concept is to be unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, only this time the car comes with a twist. As its name implies, the Prologue Avant Concept features a station wagon body, and nothing but the front end is actually based on the original Prologue.

Updated 02/27/2015: Audi unveiled a first video for its new Prologue Avant Concept so you can enjoy it a little bit before its official debut in Geneva.

Continue reading to learn more about the Audi Prologue Avant Concept.

2015 Audi Prologue Avant Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Audi Prologue Avant Concept
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 455
  • Torque: 553
Pros
Cons

Updated History

Updated 02/25/2015: Audi unveiled the first official details on the Prologue Avant car with just a few days before the concept's official debut in the Geneva.

Exterior

Likely penned following the ideas of Audi’s new head of design, Marc Lichte, the Prologue Avant looks like a more practical version of the original concept, and some reports are already suggesting that it may actually preview a future production model to battle with the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake. The car features a striking shooting-brake profile that from some angles reminds me of the 2012 Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo Concept, which ironically came from the VW Group as well. The front end is quasi-identical to the first two Prologue concept cars, albeit some small details have been changed.

The grille's six horizontal slots are made from brushed aluminum and are much thicker than before, while each seems to incorporate four distinct lines to likely symbolize the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. New daytime driving lights and some additional brushed aluminum accompany the lower side air inlets, giving the Prologue Avant "a new light signature."

The side profile is also clearly derived from its predecessors, but this time we are talking about two doors, three windows and four roof pillars on each side, like on just about every other station wagon out there. Keeping with its coupe lineage, the Prologue Avant features a small greenhouse-to-door-height ratio and frameless windows, while the low, sloping roofline gives it a sleek look.

Each wheel arch is widened in the style of the Audi Ur-quattro to emphasize the model’s all-wheel-drive ancestry. Speaking of which, the massive 22-inch wheels engulfed in 285/30 tires feature a five-spoke design derived from the one seen on current Audi RS models. At the rear, the window part of the hatch is severely sloped, almost like on the A7, and underneath we can check out the slim LED taillight strip that looks mighty similar to the ones from its two predecessors, while the bumper is once again flanked by two flat exhaust pipes.

Exterior Dimensions

Length

5,110 MM (201.18 Inches)

Wheelbase

3,040 MM (119.68 Inches)

Width

1,970 MM (77.55 Inches)

Height

1,400 MM (55.11 Inches)


Interior

The minimalist approach found in the first two concepts is featured by the Prologue Avant as well, with a multitude of touchscreens replacing most of the regular knobs and buttons. Despite the model essentially being a station wagon, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of room inside compared to a production Avant model, with Audi seeming to take the CLS Shooting Brake route of style over fuction. Unfortunately, the dull grey upholstery from the first Prologue Concept made a return in the Avant’s interior, only this time is even less cheerful because of its much darker shade.

Like on its two predecessors, the dashboard is designed as a display surface that integrates three touch displays, two of which are commanded by the driver and one by the front passenger. On top of that, the instrument cluster has yet another display, just like on the new TT or Q7, only this time it's tri-dimensional, thanks to the integration of three mirrors. The rear passengers can use a flexible OLED (Organic Light emitting Diodes) display that can adapt its angle to the rear seat backrests' angle of inclination thanks to its bendable structure.

Drivetrain

Contrary to what I first though, the Avant concept is powered by neither the twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter, V-8 from the original Prologue, nor the hybrid version that was featured by the Prologue Piloted Driving Concept. Audi chose instead to use a version of the same plug-in hybrid system found in the new Audi Q7 E-Tron Quattro, only this time it develops quite a bit more oomph. For starters, the 3.0 TDI engine now has an output of 349 horsepower, while the electric motor integrated into the eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF brings another 134 horsepower into the equation. The entire system's output is 449 horsepower and 553.2 pound-feet of torque.

Those numbers translate into a 0-62 mph acceleration of 5.1 seconds and an electronically controlled 155 mph top speed. Thanks to a 14.1 kWh lithium-ion batter, the Prologue Avant has a pure electric range of 33.6 miles, while the according to the NEDC standard for plug-in hybrid vehicles, it delivers 147 mpg. The battery pack can be charged either by a normal outlet or inductively.

Apart from AWD, the model also features all-wheel steering, with the rear wheels turning up to five degrees in either the opposite or same direction as the front ones, depending on speed. while the battery pack can be charged either by a normal outlet or inductively.

Drivetrain Specifications

Type

3.0 TDI engine combined with electric motor

Output

449 HP

Torque

553.2 LB-FT

0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph)

5.1 Seconds

Top speed

250 KM/H (155.3 MPH)

Fuel Economy

147.0 US MPG

Range

54 KM (33.6 Miles) in pure electric drive mode


Prices

Naturally, since this is a concept car, we cannot talk about actual pricing, but a production version would likely feature a sticker price a little above $100,000 when fitted with a V-8 engine. An RS version would probably go even higher than that.

Competition

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake

Launched in 2012 as a way to capitalize on the regular CLS model's success, the CLS Shooting Brake has now created a name for itself, and has even spawned the introduction of a smaller brother, the CLA Shooting Brake. Some see it as a glorified station wagon and not a true shooting brake, but the truth is that no other wagon out there looks this elegant. The niche model went through a mid-cycle facelift in 2014, which brought with it an optional set of even more high-tech, LED-infused headlights that it originally had.

Its engines range from a measly, 2.1-liter, four-cylinder diesel to a twin-turbocharged, 5.5-liter, V-8 with 585 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque in the 63 AMG S model, which also comes with 4Matic all-wheel-drive. While a possible production version of the Prologue Avant would essentially make it an A8 wagon, so a segment above the E-Class-based CLS Shooting Brake, the Mercedes-Benz model is still its closest and so far only rival.

Conclusion

Even though the first two Prologue concepts were pretty well received, there is a high chance that the upcoming Prologue Avant will be the most polarizing one, especially since in certain markets – I'm looking at you, U.S.! -- station wagons are a dying breed. Even so, the likelihood of the model reaching production sometime in the nearby future isn't small, especially since Audi will need to cover a lot of niches in order to pass BMW->ke178 as the world's largest premium carmaker. Whether it does or not remains to be seen, but keep in mind that a lot of design motifs found on the concept are given to be found on the next A6, A7 and A8 models.