Audi has confirmed that the Roadjet concept shown at the 2006 Detroit auto show will be sold in Europe soon, but stateside sales are unlikely. In the U.S., expect to see the Q5, a crossover that's more SUV-like, which will better suit American tastes. The Q5 will share its underpinnings with the A4 and Roadjet, but will be taller and more rugged.
The Roadjet is a high-riding hatchback/wagon/SUV sized between the A4 (on which it is based) and the A6. A 3.2-liter V-6, amped up to 300 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, drives all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG transmission. Audi claims a 0-to-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds.
While the concept car's exterior looks ready for production today, we'd expect the interior to see some changes. In the show car, there are four individual seats in two rows, plus, in the third row, a centrally located center seat that slides forward and back; alternately, a rear-facing child seat or a center console can be installed in the space. Audi's MMI Multimedia Interface is enlarged to 10 inches and incorporated into the gauge cluster. Rear-seat riders each get their own, smaller MMI screens. In place of sun visors, the windshield's opacity can be controlled electronically. The rear load floor powers up and back to ease loading. The rear-seat console features a built-in espresso maker, for those long stretches between Starbucks.
