The two-door, four-seater car measures 4.62 metres in length and combines the genes of a typical dynamic soft-top convertible with the qualities of a fully fledged SUV.

It is powered by a 240 hp three-litre TDI engine that has emissions on the level of the EU 6 limits.

Technical features include the quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system and a chassis with electric ride height adjustment.

The fabric soft-top lowers itself to disappear completely behind the rear seats in just 17 seconds; the open-air experience is enhanced by the absence of B-pillars and roll-over bars.

The Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro concept debuts at the Los Angeles Auto Show (14 - 24 November 2007).

From the official Press Release:

Design

The concept car combines classic Audi convertible hallmarks, such as the fabric hood and aluminium A-pillar surface, with the dynamism of a sports car and the presence of a genuine SUV.

4.62 m long, 1.91 m wide and with a wheelbase of 2.81 m: the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro has the dimensions of a B-segment vehicle.

The longitudinally mounted engine and the basic chassis and drivetrain architectures are taken from the modules used in the current Audi A4 and Audi A5 model lines.

The SUV-style height of 1.63 m with the hood closed marks the most significant difference to these relatives of the Cross Cabriolet quattro.

The dominant element of the front end is the single-frame radiator grille with polished aluminium longitudinal struts, emphasising its vertical orientation – a clear signal of the concept car's sporty character.

The headlights adopt full LED technology, and feature the characteristic strip of daytime running lights and the electronically controlled swivelling cornering light.

The turn signals, brake lights and tail lights also use fast-reacting LED light units. In addition to the front and rear light units, the exterior mirrors also have integrated turn signals.

In the side view, a distinct aspect of current Audi design can be seen in the shoulder line and dynamic line, which divide the vehicle body volume into a clearly defined sporty architecture.

Another styling feature is the proportion between the large body surface and shallow window area beneath the soft top's sweeping roof line – the hallmark of a sports car.

Among the classic off-road solutions are the underbody guard, that covers the whole width of the vehicle, and metal running boards, which are integrated into the sills with a seamless transition to the door opening.

The LED front fog lights are integrated into the front section and the rear section accommodates the two exhaust tailpipes on the left and right.

The 21-inch wheels with tires of size 265/35 R21 and the "Copper Sunset" body paint contribute in offering a strong visual impact.

Body structure

The required body stiffness and passive safety have been achieved with reinforcements to the A-pillar, the rear seat cross member and the sill area, in addition to a simple trick that exploits the extra body height of an SUV.

The Cross Cabriolet quattro has a double underbody that turns the open profile of a convertible body into a closed structure, producing a major increase in stiffness.

This design feature is efficient and economical in equal measure, since it replaces conventional modifications that involve numerous body components and require significantly more material, thus adding more weight.

The A-pillar and the top edge of the relatively shallow windscreen have been heavily reinforced to aid roll-over protection.

Two roll-over bars, normally lowered out of view, are located behind the rear seats and are preloaded by powerful springs.

If the vehicle is in danger of rolling over, the sensor system releases the spring retaining mechanism, causing the bars to shoot up within milliseconds to provide effective protection together with the A-pillars for the occupants in the interior.

The fabric hood, which lowers itself fully automatically in a Z-fold behind the rear seats at the push of a button, is a trademark of all open-top Audi models.

It is a stylistic feature that makes the car recognisable as a convertible, even with the hood up, and requires considerably less space in the rear and adds less weight than a complex folding steel roof.

In terms of noise and heat insulation, the Audi A4 Cabriolet's multi-layer fabrichood has long been found to compare very favourably with a solid roof in everyday use.

The rear loading solution is a perfect synthesis of convertible design and SUV functionality. When closed, the short stepped boot lid forms a continuation of the fabric hood's coupé line.

When it opens, however, with the assistance of its gas springs, it lifts up high to provide a surprisingly large opening.

At the same time, the glass rear window, which is hinged to the fabric hood, automatically lifts up too. The result is an opening to the luggage compartment that matches that of a conventional SUV equipped with an off-roader's traditional large tailgate.

The loading width is 1.16 m and the load-area width is 1.05 m.

Interior

The interior offers smooth and soft surfaces together with a natural blend of colours help to provide an atmosphere of absolute ease for the occupants.

Each passenger has a heatable and coolable cup holder, located in the centre console at the front and in the side walls at the rear.

The four individual seats are entirely upholstered in "White Stone" leather. All four seats are equipped with an airscarf function.

Air vents on the head restraints serve to compensate for the air turbulence around the occupant's neck.

The space available in the second row is unique for the convertible world: the legroom, shoulder space and headroom are unbeatable, even with the roof closed.

The centre console continues far into the rear of the interior and provides the rear passengers with a stowage box with lifting lid.

The cockpit area is markedly angled towards the driver, while the front-passenger area is neat and architecturally clear-cut.

In turn, the dashboard and doors are connected by flowing lines, while the cockpit itself is smoothly and organically integrated.

In addition to the instrument dials under the dome-shaped cowl behind the steering wheel and a central LCD colour display integrated between them, the MMI also supplies information via its swivelling flat screen, positioned in the upper section of the centre console.

In addition to the MMI terminal, a touchsensitive sensor field (touch pad) is placed in front of the MMI control element.

Like on a laptop, this can be used, for example, to move image sections of the map display.

The infotainment system includes the Google Earth interactive 3D atlas and a Bang & Olufsen sound system with an output rating of 505 watts. The internet radio system provides access to the radio stations broadcasting over the World Wide Web.

Technical Features

The 2,967 cc diesel unit with common rail direct injection and particulate filter develops 176 kW (240 hp) and has a maximum torque of 500 Nm.

It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and has a top speed of 240 km/h, while the average fuel consumption is 7.3 l/100 km.

The 3.0 TDI is coupled to the quattro permanent four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, complete with shift paddles at the steering wheel for manual gear changes.

The new common rail system with piezo injectors operating at a pressure of 2,000 bar, and together with high-efficiency exhaust gas recirculation and optimised turbocharging contributes to achieve a significant reduction in untreated emissions.

A further technical breakthrough is the actual exhaust aftertreatment system, that uses the additive AdBlue, an aqueous solution of carbamide, and cuts emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by as much as 90 percent.

The quattro permanent four-wheel drive adopts a purely mechanical centre differential.

In normal driving conditions, 40 percent of engine power reaches the front wheels and 60 percent the rear wheels, but the centre differential can direct up to 65 percent of the power to the front wheels and up to 85 percent to the rear wheels.

The front axle comprises five suspension links per wheel – one supporting link and one guide link form the lower level and two guide links the upper level. The fifth link – the track rod – joins the steering box to the wheel bearing housing.

The electric ride height adjustment varies ground clearance by a total of 40 millimetres at the touch of a button in a maximum of four seconds.

The braking system adopts ceramic brakes on all four with front 380-millimetre discs and of 356 mm rear discs.

(Source: Audi)