Audi plans to officially unveil a new four-door coupe concept at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, which will kick off next month.
The German automaker plans to sell the flagship concept under the A9 brand, which would put it “above” the currently sold A8 sedan. The new teaser image suggests that the concept will be a four-door coupe with an abrupt rear end, implying that it will have a shooting-brake hatch.
Recent tidbits of information confirm that Audi plans to take the vehicle in a more athletic and technical design direction. Conceived at Audi’s styling centre in Ingolstadt under the leadership of chief designer Marc Lichte, the concept will reportedly retain the company’s single-frame grille, but with several little tweaks to reflect the new direction – such as the aforementioned rear hatch.
It’s believed that the A9 will be riding on the MLB Evo platform, but we are unlikely to learn more about this aspect of production until 2017 – which is when the vehicle is rumoured to hit the market. As is the case with other “A” models in Audi’s lineup, it will be accompanied by a more performance-driven “S” version that’s expected to have a 4.0-litre 600-horsepower V8 twin turbo engine.
Audi currently has several “A” models selling in North America, with the most expensive one being the A8. The 2014 variant of this model carries a 3.0-litre V6 engine that produces 333 horsepower, while the performance-oriented S8 has a 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 that pumps out 520 horsepower. The fourth-generation of the A8 will debut in 2016, though it’s unlikely to beat the A9 in terms of engine power.
The A9 Concept will be officially revealed on November 18 in L.A.
