Audi is gradually establishing a base upon which they are going to revolutionize their design language in the near future. Mind you, it is one of those non-violent green sort of revolutions, as the changes they are going to employ are somewhat subtle. The new Audi Prologue Avant which follows last year’s coupe, shows the direction and the pace of this effort.

Essentially a shooting brake version of the Prologue coupe, the Audi Prologue Avant is said to be a modern interpretation of the ‘Avant’ body style of which Audi is an expert. It lets go of some of the boxiness of the ordinary Avants, and some of the practicality thereby, but introduces loads more style and sexiness. That’s a trade we’re only too happy to do.

Of course, Audi Prologue Avant is a concept with no immediate production plan, so it tends to get carried away with its styling features. Those flushed doors, the unique bumpers, and that exquisite interior, they are never going to make it in any production model. But the new front grille and the headlights, rest assured we will be seeing that plenty over the next few years on pretty much every new Audi that comes out. They are huge of fans of a unified corporate look.

Another interesting aspect of the Prologue Avant besides its design is the sophisticated hybrid powertrain. It consists of a 3.0-liter TDI diesel engine and an electric motor supported by a 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery. Total output is 455 PS and 750 Nm of torque, corresponding to an average fuel consumption of 1.6L/100km or around 150 mpg (US). All-wheel-drive, carbon ceramic brakes, and adaptive air suspension are among the other highlights.