Audi Allroad Shooting Brake is ... 'concrete'

Detroit concept will need a big boot to lug all those marketing buzzwords

"A concrete look into the near future" says Audi's Professor Doctor Ulrich Hackenberg of the brand's Allroad Shooting Brake Detroit concept. Don't worry, it's actually made of aluminium and carbon fibre.

Believe the hype and this is the next TT

Little surprise there, given the Allroad Shooting Brake Concept isn't shy at ticking every on-trend box on the concept car checklist or, indeed, triggering a potent game of marketing buzz catchphrase bingo. Let's play! In the opening lines of the press release announcing the car we've got 'crossover', 'ideal for recreational sports', 'hybrid drive', 'sporty, compact and versatile', 'highly functional', 'sex appeal' and 'cutting-edge electronic applications'. With the seats down there's apparently space for 'rather large sporting equipment'.

So it's a roomy car with token off-road ability that's good for recreational sports with sex appeal. Wasn't there a Channel 4 programme about that last year featuring people wearing masks?

Moving on, the Allroad Shooting Brake Concept is another step along the way of Audi's assertion of a more decisive design language for its sportier models, as discussed last September with British design boss Steve Lewis with reference to the Sport Quattro Concept shown at Frankfurt.

A claim more credible having seen interior

Some, Autocar included, have linked elements of the Shooting Brake with the next generation TT, due soon and previewed with an inside-out glimpse of its interior design just last week. Certainly it'd seem like the Allroad Shooting Brake features many similar flourishes, including jet-inspired ventilation with the heating controls in the centre of the circular outlets that emerge to meet your hand as you reach for them. Other neat touches include a centre console that moves as you adjust the seat, ensuring that noted motoring hack cliche of everything 'falling easily to hand' is satisfied wherever you position the seat.

The Quattro part of the name should also mean plenty of 'cornering on rails', while no stump need remain unpulled with a hearty 479lb ft of torque (and 408hp) from the plug-in hybrid drive system based around a 292hp 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor integrated into the six-speed 'e-S Tronic' dual-clutch gearbox. A second and mechanically independent electric motor drives the rear wheels and can work in isolation or in conjunction with the hybrid powerplant up front for all-wheel drive operation when required. A mid-mounted lithium-ion battery provides for around 30 miles of electric-only operation using the rear-axle motor at speeds up to 80mph. When required the petrol engine can act as a range-extender generator or, in Sport mode, to provide motive power together with the electric motors.

Just the opportunity for the marketing guys to weigh in with yet more pearls of wisdom, suggesting the Allroad Shooting Brake is 'ideal for young, sporty and active people' who might want to drive the car from central LA to the mountains for snowboarding in the morning before returning home via Venice Beach for some kite surfing. Because that's the kind of 'lifestyle' we all lead, right?

[Sources: Autocar]