Audi will show an interesting new concept car at this year's
Tokyo Motor Show, carrying the name Shooting Brake. The tag describes the body shape, a mixture between an estate and a coupe, and has upper class connotations usually associated with the Aston Martin and Jaguar brands.
There is every possibility that Audi will produce a version of the Shooting Brake in the future, thought to slot in the range below the more expensive TT replacement. Audi's press release contains a teasing line or two: "
Latest in a long line of widely acclaimed Audi concept cars, several of which have entered production virtually unchanged"...
What is certain for production from the Shooting Brake concept is a new adaptive damping system Audi calls Audi Magnetic Ride. Though the name conjures up a car hovering above the ground in a monorail style, it is not quite that radical, but clever all the same. Conventional damper fluid is replaced by "magnetorheological fluid", whose viscosity can be influenced by an electromagnetic field. Hence, once the onboard computers have determined for instance that you're trying to drive the wheels off the car, it simply sends a voltage to the built-in electromagnets and hey presto you have stiffer dampers to assist with body control. Likewise, in a straight line, the viscosity is reduced to offer a cosseting ride. The concept car holds three options (auto, sport and comfort), though presumably the range of adjustment could be continuous using a dial. No doubt we'll see this technology in a production Audi very soon.
The rest of the Shooting Brake's mechanicals are more conventional, featuring the proven 3.2-litre V6
we tested in the TT (247bhp, 236lb.ft of torque), allied to a six-speed manual gearbox and the obligatory Quattro four-wheel drive system. Theoretically, the concept will hit 62mph in just 6 seconds on its way to an electronically limited 155mph. The 19-inch show car alloys wear special 245/40 R19 tyres and are suspended by McPherson struts up front and a four-link system at the rear.
It sounds ready to make doesn't it? Stylistically, the concept takes many cues from the TT, especially in the shape of its rear lights, haunches, wheelarches and bonnet line. The nose features a dramatic new take on the Audi grille, with aggressive vertical bars. Flanking the grille are headlights obviously inspired by the Le Mans supercar concept, though Audi makes no mention of this car in the press release. We know that Audi is planning a second world premiere in Tokyo. Could it be that? We'll be there to see for ourselves so check the site regularly for updates.
Shane O' Donoghue - 12 Oct 2005
