Audi Crosslane Coupe Previews Future Audi Style

Loaded with interesting features, the Audi Crosslane Coupe concept just debuted in Paris to give the world a peek at its future design.

Inside and out, the car is an illustration of things to come for the German luxury brand’s Q vehicles. Most importantly, the car is a plug-in hybrid relying on a 1.5-liter TFSI engine and two electric motors. Audi calls it a dual-mode hybrid because the car can run on either hybrid or pure electric mode – much like any plug-in on the market today.

Its system produces 177 hp, which seems sort of silly given its size. To further emphasize how un-sporty it is, Audi also says the car takes 8.6 seconds to reach 62 mph (100 km/h). It’s also limited to just over 113 mph, but none of that matters because this is a concept that won’t ever see production.

What probably will see production is some form of the engine and electric drivetrain, though almost certainly in a more powerful form if it comes Stateside. In its current form, Audi says it gets a ludicrous 213.81 U.S. mpg, but that figure isn’t based on EPA tests. In reality, that number is probably less factual than an episode of The Real World.

Apart from that, the Crosslane Coupe also has some less mechanical goodies that will would be cool to see in future Audis. It’s roof, for example, is made of two carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) shells and opens to make this an open air concept. The CFRP theme continues through much of the car, hinting at Audi’s affinity for the material. Taken down, the car’s interior is open to the world, including its CFRP dashboard cowl.

Finally, the concept is built on a “multimaterial space frame” made of aluminum, glass fiber-reinforced polymer and CFRP to keep the car light. Audi says the vehicle’s unladen weight (without any fluids) is 3,064 lbs. While that might not seem very light given all the car’s carbon fiber, that also includes a large lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor components notorious for being heavy.

With elements of the Crosslane Coupe expected in future models you can look forward to (or plan to avoid) the car’s striking new face and features.

Source : http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/09/audi-crosslane-coupe-previews-future-audi-style.html