Audi presents "Project Steppenwolf" The all-around vehicle

"Project Steppenwolf"- as this three-door, four-seater is known - also provides evidence of the kind of "Vorsprung durch Technik" (Advancement through Technology) which has long since become synonymous with the name Audi.

This study for the compact class also makes use of Audi's quattro expertise and experience with the height-adjustable air suspension. The engineers had set themselves the following goal: "Project Steppenwolf" should be able to master rough terrain in extreme conditions just as effortlessly as high-speed driving. It should feel equally at home in the outback as on the highway.

Engine

A free-revving 3.2-liter V6 engine developing 225 hp (165 kW) accelerates "Project Steppenwolf "' from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in under eight seconds. Its top speed is well over 145 mph (230 km/h). Its peak torque of 235-lbs. ft (320 Nm) is available across a wide speed range. The manual six-speed gearbox turns this strength into a guarantee of excellent pulling power in every speed range.

The quattro permanent four-wheel drive system ensures maximum traction and excellent directional stability in all conditions and in all types of terrain. The electronically controlled Haldex center differential distributes power between the front and rear wheels. If the front wheels slip, part of the torque is put to the road smoothly via the rear wheels as required.

In addition, the Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) distributes torque between the wheels on one axle. And the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) helps the driver to remain in control if confronted with potentially critical driving situations at the limit.

Exterior Design

Audi development engineers decided on the floor pan with transversally installed front engine as the technical basis for this new model, the same platform used on the Audi A3 and Audi TT. Its length of 13.81 ft. (4.21 meters) and its status as a fully fledged four-seater consequently also reveal "Project Steppenwolf " as a representative of the compact class - despite the fact that the visibly wider track and crouched aggressiveness of the body, which is 6.0 ft. (1.83 meters) wide and 4.79 ft. (1.46 meters) high, speak a totally different language.

The strikingly flared wheel arches and powerfully dimensioned side sills, the high waistline and the flat curve of the roof sculpt the car's powerful stature. The contrast between the dark roof and sand-colored body accentuate this dynamic yet elegantly stretched silhouette still further.

"Project Steppenwolf " makes no secret of its fondness for adventure away from the beaten track. Powerfully contoured bumpers, painted dark gray to contrast with the body color, demonstrate its off-road destiny just as clearly as the spotlights in the door mirrors. The enormous 19-inch six-star wheels with reinforced transitions between wheel spider and rim are a visual indication of extreme robustness and functionality.

The Audi designers have succeeded in interpreting familiar lines in a new and unusual way, without departing from the Audi design language. Unusual solutions such as the design of the front indicators are harmoniously integrated into the light unit.

Surprising solutions can also be found under the hood, where the Audi designers' striving for form has once again set clearly visible standards. The six intake pipes of the transverse six-cylinder engine are in brushed metal with a matte finish: a clear, visual indication of this power unit's potential.

A "service bridge" located laterally in front of the engine contains all the important openings for topping up oil, coolant and washer fluid, side by side. This engine design combines the design of a classic racing-car inner life and an Audi engine compartment of the future.

Another special feature can be found at the back of the Audi design study: a drawer under the luggage compartment edge houses the spare wheel. However, if necessary this moving compartment can also be used with a second insert - in this case "Project Steppenwolf" would then carry the Tire Mobility System repair kit with 12-volt compressor and tire sealing compound instead of the spare wheel.

The alternative drawer insert provides space for the optional winch which is engaged with an adapter and can be activated underneath the radiator grille. There is also room in the rear drawer for two running boards which can be attached below the side doors: these provide a useful climbing aid which can be used, for example, to secure luggage to the roof when the air suspension is raised.

Anyone taking a step back will recognize the characteristics of the new Audi design in the overall form of the body: wide, clearly contoured lines and large, pure surfaces combine to produce an architecture in which calm and tension are equally present. No superfluous swage lines or curves upset this visual clarity. Function and form become one.

Interior

The impression conveyed by the interior is also dominated by clear functionality and extreme robustness. All-important information is easily legible on large, round analog instruments with white dials and red needles on a dark background. Predominantly smooth surfaces and the metallic surrounds on displays and control elements convey the same tidy atmosphere of a cockpit.

But sobriety is not the only dominant feature: the generous use of "shoe sole leather" on the instrument panel creates an elegant yet pragmatic ambience.

There are even cognac beige leather inserts in the footwell, with a black rubber recessed texture to give them a non-slip surface. It is of course no coincidence that this texture matches the striking tread pattern of the tires.

A unique combination of materials which lends a discreet elegance to the interior. An elegance which is in no way detrimental to function and durability: the centimeter-thick sole leather on the floor is sturdy enough for everyday wear and tear, and sufficiently resistant to dirt and moisture.

High side sills and the mighty, continuous center tunnel surround the driver and passengers, producing anatomically correct niches with excellent lateral support. The seats with their pronounced contours are low and mounted on flat consoles so that the occupants assume an almost sports-car-like position, with their legs stretched out. One aspect which is unusual for a coupe is that "Project Steppenwolf " offers not, only the driver and front passenger, but also the two rear-seat passengers excellent seat comfort with plenty of room for legs and upper body.

Equipment

The navigation system Plus with large LCD monitor is perfectly integrated into the smooth center console. The presence of this instrument in the off-roader's cockpit would appear to make even more sense than in other vehicles; it makes the driver's work easier and leaves him free to concentrate on his most important task. The GPS aerial of the navigation system is integrated out of sight in the rear roll bar.

The large center console is not only highly functional, it also houses a cooler box. This is ideal for keeping drinks in, and will by no means only come in handy if embarking on a trek across the desert.

There is no lack of storage space in "Project Steppenwolf " for all those everyday items needed in the car. Besides a large glove box, there are particularly practical storage compartments in the high side sills which secure their contents with a net. This will put an end to maps, etc. falling out of the door pockets when the doors are opened.

Generous seat pockets attached to the back of the front seats can be removed: the most important items can thus be stowed here and taken out of the car if an off-road expedition is continued on foot, for example.

Something which has come to be expected in an Audi can also be found in "Project Steppenwolf": a BOSE® sound system with CD player. A total of nine speakers produce a listening experience which will satisfy even the most sophisticated of demands.

"Project Steppenwolf " is an all-around vehicle. Just like its legendary ancestors, the Audi quattro and Sport quattro, it offers the technology of a rally sports car - on both asphalt and gravel tracks. It unites the indisputable authenticity of a driving machine with the advanced elegance of Audi design. A car that extends horizons, whose potential allows experiences beyond the realms of apparent possibility. A precision tool for the way through even uncertain terrain.

BOSE® is a registered trademark of Bose Corporation. Covered by patent rights issued and/or pending.

Source:  Audi of America

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