Premiered at the Shanghai Motor Show, the Audi Cross Coupe quattro® combines the design and performance of a premium compact sports car with the spaciousness and versatility of a four seat SUV. A series of technical innovations allow great balance between driving pleasure and sheer comfort

The design of the four-door study presents itself as a further step in the evolution of the current Audi style. With a Liquid Silver paint finish and a characteristic silhouette, the Audi Cross Coupé has a distinctly sporty look. At the same time, its proportions and large 20-inch wheels underscore its off-road potential.

The prominent single-frame grille, the narrow window area and the powerful rear are reminiscent of the Audi Q7 to which this concept car is related. Its heavily segmented side area and the distinctly horizontal styling of the rear end echoes elements of the Audi A5 Coupé. The wrap-around tailgate opens up to reveal a wide, easy-to-load luggage compartment with a volume of 450 litres.

A special visual highlight of the Audi Cross Coupé quattro® is the large-area folding soft top. This electrically operated hood allows a degree of fresh air virtually on a par with a convertible. A further eye-catching feature of the compact SUV is its LED headlight unit. This combines headlights, main beam and cornering light in one striking unit.

The interior concept of the Audi Cross Coupé quattro unites exclusiveness, elegance and ergonomics in all areas. The pale basic colour, off white, conveys a feeling of spaciousness, while the variety of materials and surfaces generates an appealing contrast. The background lighting imbues the interior with a stylish ambience, even at night. And the sound system featured in the Audi Cross Coupé quattro also sets new standards, with its prominent, extending tweeters.

The cockpit area is clearly inclined towards the driver – a typical feature of the latest Audi models. For the first time, the MMI can be operated by means of a touch pad. Courtesy of dual-view technology, the display also allows separate video output for the driver and front passenger. In addition, information can also be displayed directly in the windscreen via a laser projection if required.

The driver and front passenger can operate the advanced air conditioning system in the Audi Cross Coupé using a new, intuitive touch wheel. A trim strip in the dashboard area, featuring more than 4,600 bore holes, provides for draught-free, indirect ventilation.

A newly developed transverse inline four-cylinder TDI engine unites sporty performance and a high level of efficiency. The state-of-the-art 2.0 TDI with common rail injection and piezo injectors develops 204 bhp and a powerful 400 Newton-metres of torque. Notwithstanding, it consumes an average of only 5.9 litres of diesel per 100 km. The diesel particulate filter and Bluetec system reduce soot and nitric oxide emissions effectively. The compact SUV thus already satisfies stringent emissions legislation in the USA and the Euro 6 emissions standard

The Audi Cross Coupé’s running gear performs impressively on roads of every kind. Even off-road, the vehicle’s ride comfort satisfies the standards expected in higher vehicle classes. An electronically controlled viscous clutch distributes the drive power variably to the large 20-inch wheels, which give the compact SUV the ground clearance it requires. The sporty Audi S tronic dual-clutch gearbox executes gearshifts in a matter of milliseconds. Ceramic brake discs ensure excellent, non-fading deceleration.

Like all Audi models with off-road potential, the Audi Cross Coupé features quattro® permanent four-wheel drive. The running gear, with a McPherson-strut front axle and a four-link rear axle, is designed for sporty and agile handling. It retains a high degree of stability and makes cornering distinctly fun.

Audi also demonstrates Vorsprung durch Technik in the study’s electronics systems: Audi drive select allows the compact SUV to be enjoyed in three entirely different ways.

The basic setting, “dynamic”, is automatically activated every time the engine is started and generally meets the expectations that Audi drivers have of their car.

The “sport” mode gives the Cross Coupé an emphatically sporty feel. The shock absorbers are set firm, the engine responds more spontaneously to the throttle and the S tronic transmission’s shift points move higher up the engine speed range: the ideal basis for active driving pleasure on winding roads.

The Audi Cross Coupé also offers the “efficiency” driving program, whereby the engine map and the shift points are modified to support a particularly economical driving style. Unless otherwise required, the system furthermore deactivates components that are especially energy-hungry, for example the air-conditioning compressor.

To ensure as efficient a driving style as possible, the “efficiency” program uses route data from the navigation system and the cruise control to dramatically increase fuel efficiency. Combined with an anticipatory driving style and normal driving conditions, this setting gives more than a 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, compared to the “dynamic” mode.