Audi just unveiled their newest concept car at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show - the Sportback Concept. This 5-door hatch looks more like a sports sedan than a wagon. In Europe, the wagon is very popular, due to the large cargo capacity compared to the equivalent sedan without stepping up into a small SUV. They’re not so popular in the States however, largely due to the styling. The Sportback Concept seems to overcome that problem, with clean lines from front to back, and no weird wagon-look in the rear.
In fact, Audi says that the Sportback Concept is a “glimpse at the Audi’s future design vocabulary.” If that’s the case, we have a lot to look forward to. The Sportback Concept is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 TDI clean diesel engine which produces 225 horsepower and gets an impressive 40 mpg through a 7-speed tiptronic transmission. The highly efficient diesel engine will propel the Sportback Concept from 0 to 62 mph in under 7 seconds and hit a top speed of 152 mph.
The Sportback Concept is loaded with Audi’s latest technology, of course. It receives the same energy recuperation tech used in the production A4 and Q5, which boosts alternator output and charges the battery when coasting. It also gets an automatic engine start/stop system which shuts down the engine when stopped - hybrid car style.
All-in-all, this is a practical concept car that could be in production tomorrow if you like it. The new-ish design direction is sexy, and the Sportback Concept is realistic. Would you buy one? Check out the photo gallery and video below:
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