Audi has taken the wrapping paper off its new Prologue concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Audi Prologue concept is said to be a preview the upcoming A8 luxury sedan.

Audi Prologue Design

The exterior of the Audi Prologue features a massive front grille incorporating the four rings of Audi in the centre. The whole design is very smooth a fuss-free with the front end sitting very low as the bonnet dips down to meet the grille. The headlights feature Matrix Laser technology that Audi says will allow for new innovation in lighting. Audi has made sure there are some neat links back to its motorsport heritage like the frontal air intakes that look like dive planes from its race cars. The rear wheel arch is flared outwards and looks characteristically Quattro.

Feast of Tech

The interior looks very clean and clinical, distinctly Audi traits but is steeped with loads of awesome tech. The entire front dash becomes three separate touchscreens. The driver-oriented display to the left of the steering wheel is used to control functions for lighting and assistance systems. The unit to the right contains media controls. The front passenger faces a widescreen display that is integrated into the full surface of the instrument panel; it is used to individually and conveniently control entertainment features.

The new type of front passenger display enables digital interaction between the driver and front passenger for the first time. A wiping movement by the passenger will send pre-configured routes to the driver’s display and input them into the Audi virtual cockpit future.

Mild Hybrid System

The Audi Prologue Concept is powered by biturbo 4.0TFSI motor, it produces 445kW and 700Nm of torque; in overboost mode, which the driver can call up for around 15seconds, a boosted torque of 750Nm is available. The biturboV8 accelerates the Audi Prologue from 0 to 100kph in 3.7seconds.

Audi reckons the Prologue will consume just 8.6L/100kilometres. One contributor to this high fuel consumption is a new 48-volt electrical system – this is technology that will soon be introduced to production cars at Audi. The 48-volt system is supplied by a powerful belt starter generator, which turns the powertrain into a mild hybrid and has an energy recovery output of up to 12kW during braking. An eight-speed tiptronic directs engine power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive, which works closely with torque vectoring.