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Scoop: Audi Prologue Concept Has 2016 Q7 Steering Wheel

Everybody knows that the Prologue concept which Audi is showing in Los Angeles right now is a vision of the future. Some have suggested it's a preview for the A9 coupe that's expected to rival the new two-door S-Class, while others, including us, believe it's actually an A8 preview.
 Audi Prologue Concept 5 photos
Photo: original image by autoevolution
Audi Q7 interiorAudi PrologueAudi Q7 interiorAudi Prologue Concept
But today, we discovered that the concept doesn't preview a car for 2017 or so, but one that's going to debut in January. The steering wheel of the Prologue has been plucked directly from the new Q7. The single spy photo we have of the cab proves that. Sure, the spokes have been changed to aluminum, but everything else is te same, including the stalk for the wipers and the paddles.

What's more, the shape of the gear shifter looks to be the same and the short action is almost definitely identical.

The design philosophy of the steering wheel is very similar to what we saw on the Porsche Cayenne facelift when we recently drove one. It's a minimalist approach that features thinner spokes to create a somewhat more airy feel. On the Cayenne, the lines were clearly inspired by the 918 Spyder hypercar, but here, there are no such references.

Expected to make its debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show in January, the all-new Q7 SUV is going to be based on the new MLB Evo platform and could be lighter by up to 800 lbs (363 kg).

It will also feature the latest Audi technologies, like AVC (Audi Variable Compression) that changes the ratio depending on torque needed. Most models should also have the new 48 volt electrical circuit and feature mild hybrid tech like cylinder deactivation, brake energy recuperation and coasting function where the engine is off and de-coupled from the gearbox.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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