Currently reading: Audi to reveal new design direction at Los Angeles motor show

Design-led concept to preview forthcoming four-door A9 flagship model that will rival the Porsche Panamera

Audi plans to unveil the new design lineage to be adopted by its future models on a large saloon-cum-coupé concept at the Los Angeles motor show in November, sources close to the German car maker have revealed.

The new concept, which is also claimed to provide hints to the appearance of a four-door A9 model planned to sit at very top of the Audi range, has been created to preview a fresh design direction developed under the company’s new design boss, Marc Lichte – the man behind the look of the latest Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Passat.

Official details of the new coupé, which measures more than 5000mm in length and is based around the same MLB platform as the upcoming fourth-generation A8, remain under wraps.

However, an Autocar source privy to a series of design proposals of the new Audi suggest it boasts a highly technical look with a newly interpreted single frame grille, hi-tech laser headlamps, precise detailing within its aluminium body structure and defined shutline architecture.

“It builds on the design in place today but takes it to a whole new level. The design department is working very closely with the production department to give future Audi models a more technical look with added accuracy in terms of build – in keeping with their engineering,” said the source.

As well as previewing the exterior design of future Audi models, the new concept will also showcase new interior developments, including the future direction of the company’s new digital instrument cluster – as found on the new third-generation Audi TT – and new connectivity options to be made available on the new A8 and its A9 sibling. The latter car is expected to join the Audi line-up in 2017.

Get the latest car news, reviews and galleries from Autocar direct to your inbox every week. Enter your email address below:

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

The Audi A8 is a highly capable and desirable luxury saloon that's very easy to live with, despite its flaws

Add a comment…
Bullfinch 8 September 2014

'A hIghly technical look'

What does this mean? Also now they are introducing 'precise detailing' are we to suppose that hitherto things have just been thrown together in the usual haphazard German manner? Finally it might help readers if someone defined 'defined shutline architecture' rather than just running with a phrase which may or may not mean something to a car designer but as a stand-alone phrase makes sense in neither English nor German. Feel free to help us out. It's what you're there for.
Daniel Joseph 9 September 2014

Time for a new look...

Bullfinch wrote:

What does this mean? Also now they are introducing 'precise detailing' are we to suppose that hitherto things have just been thrown together in the usual haphazard German manner? Finally it might help readers if someone defined 'defined shutline architecture' rather than just running with a phrase which may or may not mean something to a car designer but as a stand-alone phrase makes sense in neither English nor German. Feel free to help us out. It's what you're there for.

My thoughts exactly. Moreover, Audi design seems to be in a bit of a rut at the moment, with each new model (or facelift) taking the silhouette of the outgoing model and adding superfluous detailing such as additional body creases or more complex lamp shapes. The 2000 (B6) A4, 2004 (C6) A6 and 2002 (D3) A8 were, IMHO, the high points of the current Audi design language. Since then, Audi seem to have lost their way. Time for a genuinely new look...

ironrose 8 September 2014

Wrong title on the article

It should have said ... "Audi found a new setting on the photocopier"
scotty5 8 September 2014

Ha Ha

ironrose wrote:

It should have said ... "Audi found a new setting on the photocopier"

Lol !