Early teasers of Audi’s new concept for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit didn’t do the car justice. The allroad Shooting Brake is a two-door that blends the off-road capability of the allroad with a compact sports car body. High-performance, all-wheel drive hatchbacks are a rarely-addressed niche, so this concept strikes a different path.
The cargo-carrying performance hatchback body style is a hit-or-miss prospect, as cars like the BMW Z3 Coupe and Mercedes C230 hatch indicate. No telling if Audi’s ready to make the same gamble with this concept, but the all-wheel drive experts do suggest strongly that there are hints of the third-generation TT in the allroad Shooting Brake concept’s styling. A distinct hood, massive single-frame grille with horizontal strakes and large air intakes give this concept a purposeful look.
The hybrid-electric drivetrain’s gasoline engine and two electric motors put out the equivalent of about 400 horsepower, and all-wheel drive is standard, of course. The powertrain is similar to that of the Sport Quattro concept that’s been making the rounds, hinting that a high-powered hybrid drivetrain is almost certainly waiting in the wings for a future Audi product.
