Audi Allroad Concept: Exclusive first drive!

Seems like MotorTrend got a big catch and made it for an exclusive first drive with the Audi Allroad Concept.

Well dressed, for sure, the allroad concept looked like a bejeweled production car when we met up with it in southern Florida. Its sheetmetal is clearly shared with the A6 Avant, making this concept car a more efficient buildup than the Pikes Peak and Magellan before it. However, looking closer, there are numerous exotic details, such as the carbon fiber used for the “soft” exterior pieces, from fascias to wheel arches.

Creating dazzling eyes, LED headlamps are fitted with the outer module comprised of 14 individual LEDs to generate Xenon-matching light. An inner module uses 10 LEDs for high beams. This approach creates not only a show-caliber look, but this engineering challenge delves in to the packaging efficiencies LEDs can offer. The polished grille will be black when it reaches production, but the decision is still being made on whether the protective wheel flares will be colored, or dark gray as on the current model.

Moving down the side, the skillfully crafted wheels have beautiful asymmetrical spokes. What appears to be center caps are actually independent lug nut covers that operate via remote control, fanning open like Dr. Octopus’ mechanized claws. While that mechanical indulgence is pure eye candy, the large vented discs portend of a future performance variant.

The new Audi Allroad will be on sale Fall 2006 for estimated $45,000 (base price).