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For more than twenty years, Audi continues the Avant family, which meets success more and more as the fashion of the elegant and sporting station-wagons extends. The station-wagons not having to redden more today of the trucks in term of prestige, Audi tries to familiarize us with a station-wagon of the higher category. The simple name of Avantissimo clearly shows the object of this concept-because, Audi Before superlative...

The style external presents a new evolution of the Audi style to us. If the family tie with the other models remains obvious, Avantissimo is distinguished easily from A4 and A6. The grill, separate in two parts, is the basic element of the front face, and gives rise to the embossing of the cap, the line of case and the shoulder of the back wings. The unit points out a little the Volvo style. L be large square headlights are on the other hand more innovating, with the indicator overhanging the double optics Bi-xenon, it same underlined by broad air intake. The shield as for him was completely integrated.

be headlights are alone components of high technology. Indeed, the reflectors varies uninterrupted the beam according to various information like the steering angle, speed, but also the system of navigation GPS. Ainsi, the central system knows thanks to indications GPS at which time the car will approach a turn and thus will light in order to give a better visibility to the driver.

ue of the back, Avantissimo appears even more succeeded, and fires lighter than those of A4 and A6 Avant, reinforced by the shoulder of the wings, get elegance and dynamism with the car. And this in spite of its 5m06 length and its 1m91 broad. In spite of the impressive length, the profile remains light thanks to the curve of the house and the line of case reinforced by a shoulder gaining little in Pau in width.




E interior design represents as for him a beautiful questioning of the current Audi cockpits. Giving up the black color, the vertical central console and the traditional forms, to prefer there simpler tone lights and forms on which the instruments and orders seem simply deposited. The preparing of wood remain present but change appearance completely, becoming structural elements instead of being simple preparings. This wood is found on the central console, the instrument panel, but also back of the four individual seats covered with leather. Audi does not hesitate by comparing these seats with those of a plane. Broad and comfortable, each seat has electrical regulations, as well as adjustable balustrades in height, including on the doors. The interface man machine is the subject of a particular care, and with the image of the BMW Série 7, Avantissimo reorganizes its instrument panel completely in order to facilitate the access to the principal orders. Navigation in the single system gathering navigation, TV, hi-fi, DVD, communications is done by a central serrated roller and some buttons gathered around.

E glazed roof, as well as vast back space get an impression of place which no truck can propose. The panes of the roof vary their opacity according to the light intensity, and each passenger can also modify this adjustment manually according to his preference. This modification of the opacity of the pane is also established in the top of the windshield, in order to preserve the comfort of the driver. The trunk, innovation principal of this limousine of luxury, has a broad drawer allowing an easy loading while leaving 46 cm. When the seats are folded back, it also advances of 75 cm to create a flat floor. The opening of the forage ladder, and the movement of the drawer can be operated by remote control electrically.

recursor as regards use of aluminium, Audi of course called upon this material for the last of his concept-bus. The structure and the body of Avantissimo are thus carried out in this material in order to reduce the weight. Propelled by powerful V8 Biturbo 4.2 developing 430 CH and 600 Nm. An engine which one would like to see on board Audi RS8... Thanks to the presence of two small turbo, the impressive couple is available very early. As any top-of-the-range Audi which is respected, Avantissimo receives the integral transmission Quattro. The suspensions are inspired by those of A4, with qutre arm with before and trapezoids with the back. The pneumatic suspension gets a comfort of genuine limousine, and makes it possible to vary the height of case, in particular at high speed in order to improve aerodynamics. The tires call upon the Pax system of Michelin. The immense rims of 245x560 are fitted tires 255x740.

[img]images/rsul/1066-2001_avantissimo_1.jpg[/img]

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i definitely like the lookof this one

Not to go into production unfortunatly... I agree, it looks fantastic, but Audi are unsure of the demand for a A8 size avant.. no-one has tried the market with an estate like that..
let's hope they change their minds
Dave [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I reckon they should be market leaders then

s'pose the closest is a big Merc or a Volvo

the new concept sprinter van.

Frankfurt - At the 2001 International Automobile Exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany (the ‘IAA’), Audi is exhibiting the Avantissimo concept study. This is a vision from the company that makes the cars bearing the four-ring badge – a high-performance Avant for the luxury car class.

Avantissimo: the name itself expresses the superlative element in this design study, which is a clear display of dynamism and luxury in a unique form. It has been given to a design study which, like the Avant concept itself, opens up a new dimension. Avant is the name for beautiful estate cars that reach equally high standards of dynamism and high-tech engineering. For more than ten years now, Audi has pursued a new path with its Avant models – one that adds an emotive element to pure logic.

Dynamism is certainly not lacking in the power unit chosen for the Audi Avantissimo. The 4.2-litre V8 engine with ‘biturbo’ forced aspiration mobilises more than 316 kW (430 bhp) and endows the car with the performance of a supersport model. The engine’s monumental peak torque is 600 newton-metres, a value that remains constant over a large portion of the rev band.

The Avantissimo’s driveline and suspension concepts match the available power and torque in every way, with dynamism once again the top priority. For an Audi of this calibre, the quattro permanent all-wheel drive principle was an obvious choice – a system that has long since proved its performance potential in legendary racing and rally cars with power outputs of up to a thousand horsepower. With quattro, the V8 biturbo engine’s power is transformed reliably into traction and road grip whatever the driving conditions may be.

Precision handling and outstanding agility are the contribution made by the high-tech aluminium suspension components. Once again Audi’s development engineers have displayed their capabilities in the dynamic road behaviour area as they did only recently with the Audi A4’s much-praised chassis and suspension. The Avantissimo’s weight-saving suspension, with air springs at all four wheels, is also the secret of the car’s outstanding ride quality.

A lightweight aluminium body, based on a systematic development of the Audi Space Frame (ASF), makes a further contribution to the Avantissimo’s exceptional dynamics. As a pioneer of aluminium passenger-car construction, Audi has now succeeded in optimising the combination of low weight and maximum torsional rigidity even further. This benefits the car in two ways: ASF means an optimum power-to-weight ratio and therefore brilliant acceleration. The rigidity of the chassis, in turn, means precise suspension response and consistently good road behaviour.

Into its Avantissimo design study Audi’s development team has systematically incorporated many other innovative technologies that will appear on future model generations. A central feature is a new ergonomic control concept that reduces the driver’s workload and enables him or her to concentrate on the pure pleasure of driving this car.

The best example of this is the Multi Media Interface (MMI), a special combination of clear operating logic and the maximum choice of functions. It puts all the car’s information and communication systems at the driver’s disposal, from the audio system to the Internet link, by means of a unit that can be understood instinctively and is exceptionally easy to use. ”Less is more” was the guiding principle here, and applies equally to the control elements, that have been reduced in number to a minimum, and to the Avantissimo’s clearly structured, neatly arranged driver’s area.

The Avantissimo, 5.06 metres long overall and 1.91 metres wide, clearly ‘borrows from the future’ in its body styling. Its lines are a totally new interpretation of the classic Audi Avant concept.

The main body proportions combine a clear sporting element with a sense of architectural precision. Tension in the panel surfaces and sharply defined contours make this design study look as if it has been sculpted from the solid: a monolithic visual approach that has not been attempted before, particularly on a luxury car. It is a calm, serene answer to many a design that appears spectacular at first glance but tires the onlooker after only a short time.

The Avantissimo is Audi’s way of systematically interpreting the scope offered by the Avant concept in the luxury car category. It is a supremely confident demonstration of the new forms and technologies that tomorrow’s cars will have, and a decisive step forward into Audi’s future.