Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro Concept: Convertible SUV

Motoring Channel Staff - 15/November/2007

Los Angeles, America — Is it just us, or does the idea of a convertible SUV sound really cool? Okay, maybe it's just us...

Audi is entertaining the idea of the creating a drop-top SUV with 2-doors, perhaps a rival to BMW's X3 or X6 models. This high riding AWD concept car has a retractable roof and draws inspiration from the Cross Coupe quattro Concept first seen in China.

This new Audi concept is aimed at the huge American new car market, which explains why it was both designed and researched at Audi's Santa Monica studios in California, and also shown for the first time at the 2007 L.A. Motor Show.

Though most of us here at the Motoring Channel [Myself not included - Ed] agree that the concept and the idea of an SUV with a retractable soft top roof is kind of cool, the overall exterior design of the vehicle leaves a lot to be desired.

Audi has consistently belted out some cutting edge designs in recent years, but this concept car is not one of them. The two-tone "Copper Sunset" colour scheme and variation on the single frame grille are contributing factors to the vehicle's strange aesthetic, which according to Audi combines "the undisguised dynamism of a sports car and the masculine presence of a genuine SUV."

The vehicle slots into the small-to-medium SUV segment, at 4.62 metres long and 1.91 metres wide. It features a longitudinally mounted 6-cylinder biturbo diesel engine, and uses some of the chassis and drivetrain elements of the current Audi A4 and Audi A5 models.

All four wheels of the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro Concept are powered by a 3.0-litre twin turbo diesel engine already in use in the Audi Q7 and other Audi vehicles. It outputs 176 kilowatts (240hp) and 500Nm of torque and Audi claims this is enough power to ensure a zero to 96km/h (0-60mph) time of 7.2 seconds.

Audi also mentions that overall fuel consumption is just 7.3L/100km, which can be reduced by a further 10% if you hit the 'Drive Select' option (akin to SI Drive, Subaru's Intelligent Drive system).

The suspension system features adjustable ride height control and CDC (continuous damping control) shock absorbers, "similar to those that Audi already uses on the luxury Q7 SUV with air suspension" states the German car maker.

One of the most interesting aspects of the new Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro Concept is the interior. As well as being outfitted with a compliment of safety features that would takes several pages to document, the Audi concept is one of the first cars to integrate an Internet website.

The MMI system that uses an intuitive dial input device and a colour LCD screen takes satellite navigation one step further by combining the commonplace use of GPS tracking with Google Earth's planetary mapping system. This makes for a real-time, 3D tracking system that shows the lay of the land as the eye sees it, not as a traditional iconographic map.

As the car maker explains, "Audi has, for the first time ever, brought together the merits of the internet-based system Google Earth and its own built-in navigation system to create countless information facilities with user-friendly graphics.

"The high-resolution display and photo realistic 3D maps provide a new dimension in intuitively understandable bird's eye visualisations that are rich in detail. The image angle and section can of course be adjusted to suit the driver's wishes at any time. By connecting to the internet, it will also be possible in future for traffic and weather information or even data on air quality to be included and taken into account in planning your route," claimed Audi after the concept car's launch.

As well as integrating Google Earth into its onboard display systems, the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro Concept also gets a high quality Bang & Olufsen sound system with internet radio. Derived from the unit used in the S8 luxury saloon (reviewed here), the stereo system has a 505 watt amplifier and something like 14 speakers. 

This German made, American designed soft top SUV concept even includes an intercom system "to assist the occupants in communicating with each other. This removes the need to raise your voice – especially welcome when driving with the top down." 

At the time of writing, Audi has no plans to build this vehicle as a production model, but the new Q5 model will break cover in 2008. This concept car is designed to gauge customer responses to new designs and automotive ideas.

Related Links:
- Audi S3 (Road Test)
- Audi Metroproject quattro Concept (2009)
- Audi RS 6 (2008)
- Audi A4 (2008)
- Audi TT Coupe (Road Test)
- Audi RS 4 (Road Test)
- Audi S8 (Road Test)
- Audi Cross Coupé quattro (2007)
- Audi A5 (2007)
- Audi S4 (Road Test)
- Audi R8 (2007)
- Audi A6 (Road Test)
- Audi A8 (Road Test)
- Audi Q7 V12 (2007)
- Audi S6 (2007)