The sight and sound of the show car as it powered around Audi's Ingolstadt facility impressed not only the small handful of journalists invited for the spectacle, but also left a large number of Audi employees visibly awestruck. For most of them, it was their first chance to see the company's latest concept in the flesh and, as word spread, many desks were rapidly vacated.
Avantissimo is the Italian-derived superlative Audi has chosen to express the ultimate nature of its stunning new luxury station wagon concept.
Wait a minute...did I say station wagon? Sorry, my mistake. Station wagon conjures up images of mama-mobiles or of taking trash to the dump. But, in the words of its designer, Lutz Sauvant, "The Avantissimo is designed to carry the finer things in life."
This was aptly demonstrated recently when european car had an exclusive opportunity to witness the running concept's first public driving demonstration at the company's German headquarters. The rear load space played host, not to a crate, but to a cello.
Reawakening the idea of the English shooting brakes of the '50s and '60s produced by the likes of Aston Martin, Audi is reminding us that the top end of the market isn't just for boardroom barges. Recession or not, there is always room at the top for precious metal. Top execs are getting younger, sporty is fashionable and a Ferrari isn't everyone's cup of tea.
The decision has yet to be taken whether or not the Avantissimo will make it into series production. But, judging from the response to its world premier at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the odds are pointing toward thumbs up.
Audi Avants already dominate the European market for executive load carriers, commanding almost 50 percent of sales in 2000, with BMW and Mercedes sharing the remainder. So far, none of the premium brands offer a station wagon in the D segment, occupied by such models as the M-B S-Class, BMW 7 Series and the Audi A8, and Audi is using the Avantissimo to test market sentiment. However, rather than basing the design on the practical aspects of the format, Audi sought a lifestyle interpretation-class with attitude.
Visually, it treads a fine line between aggression and elegance. The now familiar double grille is coupled with a sleek, tightly rounded front end, running into a side view distinguished by a high waistline, long wheelbase and a steeply raked rear windscreen, resulting in a graceful, almost coupe-like profile. But, by the time you reach the rear, you know it means business-it's got one hell of an ass!
The styling team opted to smooth off the shoulder usually incorporated into the waistline at the back, and not to wrap the rear windshield around the D-pillar, resulting in a very smooth, almost plain tailgate. Along with the widely positioned lighting clusters, this arrangement concentrates the eye on powerful and substantial hind quarters that linger in the mind's eye long after they have disappeared over the brow of the hill.
The overall styling approach also offers some important clues to the look of the new A8 sedan, due out later this year. Although the Avantissimo shares no body panels with the new range-topper, according to Sauvant, there is definitely a distinct family resemblance. One of Germany's top motoring journals recently published its computer-generated interpretation of the new A8, based on Avantissimo styling. While Audi is remaining tight-lipped, industry opinion indicates that the magazine's efforts were pretty close to the mark.
The drivetrain too is likely to make an appearance in the sedan, although probably in a tamed-down format. The company that produced the world's most powerful station wagon, the RS4, needed to give its ultimate Avant even more powerplant impact, but without the brutality of its muscle-bound little brother. Although the Avantissimo concept is not primarily a drivetrain test bed, Audi engineers have nevertheless come up with a promising package. The 4.2-liter V8 is the same one used in the current A8 and range-topping A6. However, a bi-turbo arrangement similar to that used in the current V6 boosts power to a burning 430 bhp and torque to an asphalt-shredding 442 lb-ft all the way from 1800 to 3600 rpm. Although the latest model in the current A8 range sports the VW Group's V12 engine, it's interesting to note that Audi opted to use its own V8 unit for this showcase, topping the 12-cylinder's output by 10 bhp.
The Avantissimo's six-speed automatic transmission, supplied by German firm ZF, will also make its production debut in the A8. The same unit, in rear-wheel-drive form, is already in service in the new BMW 7 Series.