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Audi Pikes Peak

Asurprising sense of calm descends as Audi wheels its £60million SUV from the back of a giant truck and hands Auto Express the keys. Despite this being one of the most ambitious projects the German firm has ever embarked upon, there's an unconcerned look on the faces of company minders dispatched to look after this priceless one-off.

By Tomas Hirschberger

February 2003

Asurprising sense of calm descends as Audi wheels its ΂£60million SUV from the back of a giant truck and hands Auto Express the keys. Despite this being one of the most ambitious projects the German firm has ever embarked upon, there's an unconcerned look on the faces of company minders dispatched to look after this priceless one-off.

"Avoid the corners, and don't go above 50mph," we are warned... as if we would! The first few seconds behind the wheel of the sensational Pikes Peak quattro are a surprise. Its 5.0-litre V8 is smooth and refined, while supple suspension muffles the noise from the chunky tyres. And despite engineers' fears that the huge engine would pull this fragile prototype apart, the vehicle feels remarkably well put together. Put simply, it's not exactly what we were expecting. After all, the huge seven-seater is named after one of the world's toughest races, the famed Colorado Pikes Peak hill climb. The car also draws on Audi's rally heritage, and the achievements of the mighty Audi Sport S1 quattro, one of the most uncompromising competition cars ever built.

This concept is a whole lot more friendly than that, though, offering loads of space and practicality. Look a little deeper, however, and it's easy to see why. Carefully styled, the SUV disguises its size with generous curves and delicate details. At the front, the slim lights combine with a gaping radiator to create a daring look likely to influence all Audi's future cars. We have already seen it on the new A3, and it's tipped to hit the A6 due later this year. Inside, the vehicle draws on the technology offered by the new A8, including the firm's user-friendly telematics control system, the Multi Media Interface.

Squeeze the throttle, though, and it's easy to see why the firm has chosen such wild influences for its cosseting 4x4. The direct-injection engine is a modified version of the mighty twin-turbo V8 that debuted in the super- fast RS6. Although we have to take it easy on our test, the potent unit allows the car to sprint from 0-60mph in about 4.7 seconds. Power is fed through an advanced four-wheel-drive system designed to allow the car to tackle a variety of surfaces competently. Based on a set-up originally developed for the VW Touareg, it offers a 50/50 torque split.

The motor comes with an electronic centre differential lock and ESP stability control to improve off-road traction. Adjustable air suspension guarantees a smooth ride, and can give up to 28cm of ground clearance. At speed, the system lowers the ride height to improve safety as well as handling.

Other key safety features have been developed. The new 'Lane Keep' system monitors the position of the car in the road via an optical sensor. An alarm sounds and the steering wheel vibrates if the driver veers off-line unintentionally. Door mirror lamps, meanwhile, give more light during off-roading.

Although Audi remains tight-lipped about whether the Pikes Peak will go into production, insiders say that testing of mules disguised as Touaregs is al-ready underway. These cars have early versions of Lane Keep, and Michelin's run-flat tyres to improve traction in extreme conditions. They are also said to offer electrically adjustable second and third rows of seats.

Audi clearly has its eye on forthcoming rivals such as the Mercedes GST and Porsche's Cayenne, and the vehicle could debut as early as 2005. A replacement for the innovative but slow-selling A6 Allroad, the Pikes Peak is likely to cost from around ΂£28,000.

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FIRST OPINION

    The Pikes Peak is one of Audi's most daring vehicles, and the firm seems confident it will be a hit. And it has every right to be. The car looks imposing, while its V8 offers a sensational blend of refinement and performance. We can't wait to try the final version.
 

AT A GLANCE

    Audi Pikes Peak concept revealed at Detroit Motor Show
    Development rumoured to have cost £60million, but has so far taken only six months
     
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