The 2012 Paris Motor Show Audi provided a glimpse of the design language of Audi's future Q models, along with automotive and drive concepts, through its Audi crosslane coupé concept car. With a multimaterial space frame – comprised from aluminum, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), and glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) - the vehicle concept strikes out along new paths with regards to weight, costs and energy usage over its lifecycle, and is an evolutionary stage of Audi ultra – the lightweight construction principle from Audi. The concept car has an unladen weight of about 1,390 kg, including the large lithium-ion battery. The plug-in hybrid drive of the Audi crosslane coupé, which is described as a dual-mode hybrid, is as innovative as it is efficient. It comprises a purpose-developed three-cylinder TFSI combustion engine with a displacement of 1.5 liters, an output of 130 hp and 200 Nm of torque, two electric motors and a single-stage transmission. Its system power is 177 hp. The Audi crosslane coupé sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, and in pure electric mode takes 9.8 seconds. The car's top speed is 182 km/h. Its average fuel consumption is a mere 1.1 liters per 100 km and it emits 26 grams per km of CO2. The lithium-ion battery has an output of 17.4 kWh, sufficient for an operating range of around 86 km in the electric mode. The dual-mode hybrid concept enables different operating modes. The electric mode is possible up to 130 km/h. Starting at about 55 km/h the drive system runs in hybrid mode to optimize both efficiency and performance. Above 130 km/h, the three-cylinder engine becomes the main drive source. The driver of the Audi crosslane coupé can choose between the “cruise" and “race" settings. The “cruise" mode prioritizes electric driving. The driver does not notice either gear changes or the power source kicking in. The high efficiency of the transmission makes the dual-mode hybrid drive especially efficient in urban traffic. The 2+2-seater Audi crosslane coupé is 4.21 meters long, 1.88 meters wide and 1.51 meters high, with a wheelbase of 2.56 meters. The roof element comprises two CFRP shells and weighs slightly less than ten kilograms. The driver and front passenger can unlatch it by an electric drive, remove it from the body structure and fit it over the trunk. The trunk forms a separate pan within the body structure; it is attached to the backs of the rear seats, which are separate from the seat cushions. At the press of a button, the entire unit travels about 40 cm forward electrically; this is how the latched roof reaches its end position, in which it protects the luggage. At the same time, the level surface under the trunk becomes accessible, and it offers a flat storage space for dirty or wet objects. The center console of the Audi crosslane coupé integrates a large selector lever, which is electrically extended when the car is started; it is used to control the hybrid drive. The spokes of the steering wheel incorporate control surfaces for the thumbs, which the driver can use to carry out most functions. These can also be controlled just as intuitively from a large touchpad on the center console. The Audi crosslane coupé introduces new online services under the key word Audi connect. – SG
