AUDI CROSS COUPE QUATTRO

Today in Shanghai, another car was unveiled at the Auto Show. Audi unveiled its new design study, the Cross Coupe Quattro and it's billed as a small performance SUV while the "coupe" moniker stems more from its rakish, fastback profile. The term coupe is used more as a reference to it's sloped shape vs. the number of doors the vehicle actually has. Some speculate that this is the design exercise which will spawn the birth of the forthcoming Q5 but only time will tell.



But if it does happen, other manufacturers in the luxury crossover/SUV segment will have something to worry about. Currently that segment is filled with the BMW X3, Acura RDX, Land Rover Freelander 2/LR2, as well as the upcoming Infiniti EX35. Like the Infiniti, this Audi appears to give up some utility by going for style, as its cargo area is obviously going to be compromised by the sloping roofline. That said, the Cross CoupeQuattro is still technically a concept, so that could change. We hope it doesn't, however, because it looks great as is.

[Source: Audi AG]