The rumors about Audi’s new flagship model have been circulating around for almost a decade, pretty much since the premiere of the Prologue Concept, presented way back in 2014, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. These days, it looks like the Ingolstadt company is preparing its final iteration of the full-size sedan A8. The current generation was introduced in 2017 and updated in 2021. So, we feel there is enough room for one more generation to squeeze in before we see complete electrification. Along with the new sedan, we hope we could see an ultimate, coupe version as well. Of course, we expect to see the Audi A9 Concept first, before the production version, possibly, arrives one day.
At this point, we can only make predictions; from our point of view, the new model would have to follow the Prologue’s example. So, before we start with the possibilities of the new production version, let’s take a quick look at what happened in 2014.
Audi A9: 2014 Prologue Concept as Inspiration
The Audi Prologue Concept was a four-door luxury coupe that was unveiled by Audi at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. The concept car was designed to showcase Audi’s new design direction, as well as its vision for the future of luxury cars.
The Prologue Concept was designed under the direction of Audi’s head of design, Marc Lichte. The car featured a sleek, aerodynamic profile with a long hood, short overhangs, and a coupe-like roofline. The front of the car was dominated by Audi’s signature single-frame grille, which had been widened and flattened for a more aggressive look. The headlights were also new, featuring a futuristic LED design.
Under the hood, the Prologue Concept was powered by a 4.0-liter TFSI V8 engine that produced 605 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. The engine was mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, which sent power to Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. According to Audi, the Prologue Concept could accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and had a top speed of 190 mph.
Inside, the Prologue Concept featured a spacious and luxurious cabin that was designed to be a “mobile communication and entertainment center.” The interior featured a combination of high-quality materials, including fine leather, brushed aluminum, and wood trim. The car was also equipped with Audi’s virtual cockpit, which replaced traditional gauges with a digital display that could be customized to show a variety of information.
Audi A9 Specs and Design: What to Expect?
So, what we expect to see from the new Audi A9 is a similar design approach. We expect to see a full-size luxury coupe, which would be based on the A8 sedan. The two models would share a lot, with the same correlation we’ve been seeing between other even- and odd-numbered models in the company’s lineup.
The mechanical aspect would be pretty much the same. Just like the anticipated next-generation full-size sedan, this model would also ride on the updated version of the MLB platform, with further improvements regarding new technologies, design solutions etc.
The same is with the design language, the front ends should look pretty similar. Both models would adopt the bradn’s newest design philosophy. On the other hand, the key difference would come in terms of the body style, as the Audi A9 would feature two doors, a sleek profile, and the famous Sportback rear end design, with a sloping roof design and coupe layout.
Interior
As for the interior, we presume that the new Audi A9 would come in a 2+2 seating configuration, with the ability to accommodate adults in both rows with ease. Of course, the coupe layout would mean relatively limited headroom, though we don’t expect to see anything radical.
The dashboard design would look the same as in the full-size sedan, with the new design that should, once again, combine conservative aesthetics with state-of-the-art tech features.
Audi A9 Engines
As for the powertrain, the old concept already featured a 600-hp engine so that we would have big expectations from this iteration. Of course, the good-old 4.0-liter V8 is a safe pick and it should be tuned to more than 600 horsepower as well. We could also see a potent plug-in hybrid version, with 670 or more horsepower.
Of course, there is always room for more basic versions, which could also be offered with a V6 engine, as well as a smaller hybrid setup.
Audi A9 Possible Release Date
The Audi A9 is currently pure speculation, but we believe we could see it at some point in the future, maybe already in 2025.
