Audi Crosslane heads design inversion

Audi is turning its design world inside-out, starting with the Crosslane Coupe concept car at the Paris motor show. It plans to bring its benchmark cabin quality and materials to the outside of every new model it develops and the compact SUV is the first signpost.

The Crosslane is also a pointer to the next addition to Audi's SUV family, and should become the Q2 in production, as well as highlighting the company's commitment to range-extender hybrid technology. The Crosslane is much more angular than anything in an Audi showroom today but the first concept by Audi's new chief designer, Wolfgang Egger, also puts interior materials - including aluminium and carbon fibre - onto the bodywork.

Even Audi's four rings now sit on a 'stage', pushing them out of the nose. "It's the subtleties that will flow through to Q models of the future. The sharper creases in the bodywork, more prominent and angular front end, and the impression of a 3-D face," Audi spokesman Shaun Cleary tells Carsguide.

"It's a shift from looking at the design of a car as a way to cloak what's underneath to bringing it to the outside surfaces. When people buy a premium car they want to show it off, and this does that. Audi is known for the quality of its materials and finishing, and this is about moving that to the outside."

Audi sources at the show say the inside-out approach will not be restricted to Q cars, but will also be reflected in the A and R models as the new design approach influences the bodywork of its next generation of vehicles. Inside, the Crosslane is all about the hybrid drive system - sampled by Carsguide in an impressive Audi A1 test car - and its packaging into a compact SUV.

This is a combined petrol-electric system that uses a tiny three-cylinder engine and two electric motors with the promise of an electric-running range of more than 600 kilometres and fuel economy of around 1 litre/100km. Just like the Holden Volt, the petrol motor charges the battery but, unlike the Volt, it has also been given a performance boost and the top speed would be around 130km/h.

Apart from the design and technology, the Crosslane Coupe is also a strong pointer to the arrival of an A1-sized crossover in Audi's SUV lineup. It is most likely to be within two years, although no-one is confirming anything. "This is definitely where the Q line is going. There is no question about that," is all Cleary says on the subject.