Future Models - Audi 2009 Cross Cabriolet Quattro

AUDI has revealed a convertible crossover concept at the Los Angeles Motor Show.

The Cross Cabriolet Quattro concept combines an all-wheel-drive system and a raised ride height with a convertible roof to further push the boundaries of the traditional SUV.

Looking past the shine of the show car, it is likely the CCQ concept is more likely to be another teaser for the Q5 AWD which is due to go on sale late next year.

Audi had already pointed to that vehicle with the Cross Coupe Quattro with which it shares many styling cues.

There are some major points of difference though, the Cabriolet’s roof can be dropped down and it only has two doors.

The CCQ can seat four people, but is still a reasonably compact SUV at 4.62m long and 1.91m wide.

It has no B-pillars or exposed rollover bars which can hamper visibility and spoil a convertible’s styling.

Audi has strengthened the A-pillar and fitted spring-loaded roll bars behind the rear seats that pop-up in the event of a rollover.

The CCQ features a green 3.0-litre V6 diesel which Audi says would even meet Euro VI exhaust emission standards, which are not due to be introduced for another seven years.

Average fuel consumption stands at 7.3 litres per 100km, while the engine pumps out a handy 176kW and 500Nm of torque.

As those figures suggest, the Audi concept is no slouch and can dash from 0-100km/h in just 7.2 seconds.

The concept car uses adjustable air suspension, as seen on the Q7.

This system allows the ride height of the CCQ to be raised by 40mm if the owner did actually decide to go off-road.

The CCQ concept sits on huge 21-inch alloy wheels with chunky tyres that hint at its crossover nature, along with the grey body cladding.

It features a fabric roof, rather than the metal-folding lids that are most popular these days, which folds town at the touch of a button.

The highlight of the interior, which is decked out in white leather trim, is the satellite navigation system which is linked to the Google Earth system.

Found on PCs, Google Earth is a three-dimensional atlas of the world which allows users to zoom and look at overhead photos of anywhere on the planet.

The Google Earth system interface would allow the driver to simply press the screen and locate their destination without having to key in any data.