Audi Sportback Revealed!

2o6 · January 10, 2009, 07:57:09 PM

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/10/leaked-audi-sportback-concept-ahead-of-snowy-detroit-debut/

Excellent. Really loving everything about it.

pendyman · January 10, 2009, 09:29:33 PM

++

Tave · January 10, 2009, 11:02:39 PM

Didn't Benz discontinue the CLS?

Submariner · January 10, 2009, 11:15:58 PM

Quote from: Tave on January 10, 2009, 11:02:39 PM
Didn't Benz discontinue the CLS?

!!!

Tave · January 10, 2009, 11:25:26 PM

Nevermind, I was thinking of the CLK. That's being phased out in favor of the E-class coupe, right?

Cookie Monster · January 11, 2009, 12:05:11 AM

It looks OK, not as good as the CLS IMO.

Laconian · January 11, 2009, 01:44:10 AM

Not loving the chrome stripes in the grille.

The whole front end makes me feel vaguely depressed.

S204STi · January 11, 2009, 06:47:04 AM

Quote from: Laconian on January 11, 2009, 01:44:10 AM
Not loving the chrome stripes in the grille.

The whole front end makes me feel vaguely depressed.

Too industrial looking.

TBR · January 11, 2009, 07:59:33 AM

I really like it, but it doesn't look much like an Audi to me.

ChrisV · January 11, 2009, 08:09:52 AM

I love it! Looks more like a modern Audi than old Audi's do...

Funny we complain when cars look too much alike from a manufacturer, and when they don't.

What, should it look like this?

lol!

gasoline · January 11, 2009, 11:36:12 AM

I will wait for Audi to refine it. Their concepts are often as ugly as the production models are pretty.

S204STi · January 11, 2009, 01:12:35 PM

Yeah it's too bad I have a personal sense of taste.

TBR · January 11, 2009, 01:43:18 PM

Quote from: ChrisV on January 11, 2009, 08:09:52 AM
I love it! Looks more like a modern Audi than old Audi's do...

Funny we complain when cars look too much alike from a manufacturer, and when they don't.

What, should it look like this?

lol!

I am trying to figure out how that post makes any sense at all.

Audi's current line-up is very curvaceous, this car is not.

Gotta-Qik-C7 · January 11, 2009, 10:49:52 PM

Sexy!

omicron · January 12, 2009, 05:45:24 AM

Yes please!

ChrisV · January 12, 2009, 11:08:49 AM

Quote from: TBR on January 11, 2009, 01:43:18 PM
I am trying to figure out how that post makes any sense at all.

Audi's current line-up is very curvaceous, this car is not.

the car I posted looks like an Audi, too. Complaining that this concept doesn't LOOK like an Audi is really off the mark, as current Audis don't look like past Audis, either. The point being, the nose of the concept looks very Audi, and the body is like moving the Audi design language slightly into the future. It's very easily identified as an Audi, though.

In another thread, people are complaining that, for example, Caddillac isn't moving away from their current design langualge fast enough, and in this thread the complaint is that Audi is moving away from their current design language TOO fast.

Faced with that kind of dichotomy of criticism, what's a designer to do? In this case, they took current Audi design language and added a couple creases.

Raza · January 12, 2009, 11:10:20 AM

God, look at those wheels. You'd need a ladder to change them.

NomisR · January 12, 2009, 11:25:33 AM

I don't like that sports back look... it seems to be taking away space from the interior.

omicron · January 13, 2009, 04:06:53 AM

It's probably not surprising that I'm fawning all over a slightly impractical large sedan, is it?

2o6 · January 13, 2009, 05:47:50 AM

Quote from: Raza link=topic=17150.msg967769#msg967769 date=1231783820
God, look at those wheels. You'd need a ladder to change them.

CONCEPT.

TBR · January 13, 2009, 11:22:11 AM

Quote from: ChrisV on January 12, 2009, 11:08:49 AM
the car I posted looks like an Audi, too. Complaining that this concept doesn't LOOK like an Audi is really off the mark, as current Audis don't look like past Audis, either. The point being, the nose of the concept looks very Audi, and the body is like moving the Audi design language slightly into the future. It's very easily identified as an Audi, though.

In another thread, people are complaining that, for example, Caddillac isn't moving away from their current design langualge fast enough, and in this thread the complaint is that Audi is moving away from their current design language TOO fast.

Faced with that kind of dichotomy of criticism, what's a designer to do? In this case, they took current Audi design language and added a couple creases.

As far as I know Audi's styling has always evolved at a slow, but constant pace. Each car changed the look slightly, but was still clearly an Audi. In comparison, this car is not evolutionary, it's revolutionary (I don't think the front end looks Audish either). I suppose that isn't necessarily a bad thing as it isn't exactly an ugly car, it is just more bold and brash than any Audi I have ever known of.

If all they had done is "take the current Audi design language and add a few creases," that would be one thing, but it seems pretty clear to me that that isn't what they did here. Other than having a large grill, how exactly does this car look like any Audi from the past?

Edit- there are also some similarities in the design of the lower front fascia.

Submariner · January 13, 2009, 11:24:55 AM

Oh god something just hit me...The CLS...going through Mercedes new design language! Oh god...

TBR · January 13, 2009, 11:29:30 AM

Quote from: Submariner on January 13, 2009, 11:24:55 AM
Oh god something just hit me...The CLS...going through Mercedes new design language! Oh god...

That can't end well.

ChrisV · January 15, 2009, 09:56:08 AM

Quote from: TBR on January 13, 2009, 11:22:11 AM

If all they had done is "take the current Audi design language and add a few creases," that would be one thing, but it seems pretty clear to me that that isn't what they did here. Other than having a large grill, how exactly does this car look like any Audi from the past?

It's taking greatly from the A4/A5/R8 design language, just stretched out.

ChrisV · January 15, 2009, 10:01:19 AM

And some shots of the interior. It's just incredible!

http://www.7post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3937354&postcount=22

TBR · January 15, 2009, 10:29:38 AM

Quote from: ChrisV on January 15, 2009, 09:56:08 AM
It's taking greatly from the A4/A5/R8 design language, just stretched out.

I am not buying it. Other than the similarities in the lower front fascia and a big grill (though it isn't shaped the same as other Audis) I just don't see it, but each to his own.

TBR · January 15, 2009, 10:31:53 AM

Quote from: ChrisV on January 15, 2009, 10:01:19 AM
And some shots of the interior. It's just incredible!

http://www.7post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3937354&postcount=22

I like it much better in those pictures actually, it doesn't seem so harsh and aggressive.

Submariner · January 15, 2009, 10:34:30 AM

Quote from: ChrisV on January 15, 2009, 10:01:19 AM
And some shots of the interior. It's just incredible!

http://www.7post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3937354&postcount=22

Wow...just wow. That is fantastic. What's more, it looks very production ready.

On a side note...does anyone see any X6 in the rear quarter of this car?

Cookie Monster · January 15, 2009, 10:36:10 AM

Quote from: ChrisV on January 15, 2009, 10:01:19 AM
And some shots of the interior. It's just incredible!

http://www.7post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3937354&postcount=22

I'm not sure if I like the interior... it looks too swoopy whereas other Audi's look more angular. Maybe a dark dash with a darker wood would make me change my mind.

saxonyron · January 15, 2009, 03:26:09 PM

Oh man, I just drooled all over my keyboard. That interior is amazing. Looks like some super-yacht's cockpit.

I think the front end is a little aggressive - I prefer the existing grill's trapezoidal shape over the more angled one here. And I agree the headlites and taillites do appear to be slightly mournful. But then again, every time Audi converts their concepts to production, I've never been disappointed, so I'll give them an enthusiastic 2 thumbs up.