Audi's ultimate wagon

IS this the ultimate wagon? Meet Audi's Avantissimo concept introduced this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, a combination of technology, pace and space.

The Avantissimo is very high-tech, built in aluminium using the Audi Space Frame concept and powered by a 4.2-litre V8 biturbo engine pumping out 316kW and an extraordinary 600Nm of torque.

It is very much designed to preview the technologies that will be seen in future Audis, give a clue to the German company's future styling directions and preview the next generation A8 luxury saloon due in 2003.

In fact in many ways you can view this as an A8 Avant - the name Audi gives its wagons. It could be a sensible move for Audi considering it already produces A4 and A6 Avants. A new niche for the super-rich family man perhaps? A central feature of the Avantissimo is a new ergonomic control concept that reduces the driver's workload, in other words a competitor for BMW's i-Drive system released with the new 7 Series.

The best example of this is the Multi Media Interface (MMI), a combination designed to provide clear operating logic and the maximum choice of functions.

It puts all the car's information and communication systems at the driver's disposal, from the audio system to the Internet link, by means of a unit that Audi says can be understood instinctively and is designed to be easy to use.

Other new ideas include a six-speed automatic transmission, the latest version of ESP (Electronic Stability Program), a new mounting system for the tyres and a new bi-xenon headlight design, which alters the light beam pattern when the car is cornering to match the driver's viewing angle.

Naturally, the Avantissimo employs Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system allied with a high-tech aluminium suspension that includes adjustable air springs on all four wheels.

The Avantissimo is 5.06 metres long overall and 1.91 metres wide. Audi describes the look as "a totally new interpretation of the classic Audi Avant concept".

At the rear, the large-area, glazed tailgate can be opened continuously to an angle of 70 degrees by an electro-hydraulic mechanism operated from the car's remote-control key. A drawer compartment provides additional storage space and can also be slid out electrically.

Large sections of the roof consist of sandwich glass with a continuous dimming effect - a principle that Audi says gives the roof panel a sense of lightness that belies its size. There are additional photo-voltaic elements in the roof as well they supply sufficient solar energy when the engine is stopped to operate the ventilation system's blower and keep the interior of the car cool in hot weather.

Inside, there's room for just four passengers but they are looked after in luxury in their four individual seats, the backs of which are curved wooden shells. There's also deep-pile carpet, leather - even the load area has leather-trimmed aluminium rails - and yet more wood.

Naturally, the car is also loaded down with features. But the ultimate in personal touches and security must be the fingerprint scanner, which identifies the driver and sets the seat position, air conditioning settings and MMI configuration to his pre-selected options.