Audi's Long History with Wagons
Among its German rivals, Audi was the first to build station wagons. Its first was the F103 Variant, a three-door wagon sold from 1965 to 1972. It was then followed up by the Audi 80 Estate, better known in America as the Fox Wagon.
The Avant name would first appear in 1977 in the C2 100 (the 5000 in the US), although that version wasn't sold stateside, and it was really more of a five-door liftback than a wagon. The first true Avant wagon came in the form of the C3 100 and 200, again called the 5000 in this part of the world. The smaller Audi 80 would also eventually get a wagon version, and those models would later evolve into the A4 Avant, A5 Avant, and A6 Avant. Let's not forget the S and RS models, too.
But if there's one thing missing in the lineup, it's a full-size wagon. You'd think that one of the pioneers of the segment would've built one by now. Well, it seems that the folks from Ingolstadt toyed with that idea about 25 years ago.
Meet the Avantissimo
Back in 2001, Audi revealed the Avantissimo Concept. Billed as the ultimate Avant at the time, it was about the size of what would later become the second-generation A8 that ran from 2002 to 2010. The concept was penned by Frank Lamberty, who would later design the first-gen R8 alongside Walter de Silva.
The car measured 199 inches long, not that far off the production D3 A8. We can also see some styling cues that would later be applied to the A8 for the new millennium, namely the character line that starts from the bottom of the front bumper, going up through the fender to form the character line.
Its headlights appear inspired by the TT, but eventually slimmed down for production. The same went for the low, long, and wide stance. As for the rear, it looks like it's half of what the real car's wraparound units look like. Obviously, the real deal lost the practical body style, which is a shame.
Tech (and Lux) for Days
It also had tech features that eventually made their way to the sedan. The main highlight was the MMI that would become the norm for the rest of Audi's lineup. Anyone who's owned an Audi from 2002 to the late 2010s will recognize that dial-and-button arrangement. In terms of functionality, it controlled the entertainment system, vehicle info, communications, and connectivity.
As for luxuries, it's a combination of light cream and brown to give a lighter feel. The full-length panoramic glass roof further adds to that. Wood finishes are seen on the center console, as well as on the back of the front seats. There are even captain's chairs back there, making the most of its lengthy wheelbase. Plus, there's a pair of screens at the back to keep rear occupants entertained.
Other neat features? Obviously, there's loads of room in the cargo bay, and it's made even more flexible with undertray storage, as well as a sliding tray to make loading easier.
Packing a Punch
In a way, the Avantissimo previewed another Audi model. Under the hood of the concept car was a twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8 mated to a six-speed automatic. Output was rated at 424 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, strong numbers even by today's standards.
Sounds familiar? That same engine wound up in the RS6 with even more power. The end result was 444 hp, 20 more than the concept, although there's less torque at 413 lb-ft. The RS6 then used a five-speed automatic, although the six-speed would be applied to the A8.
What Might Have Been
Ultimately, the Avantissimo didn't reach production. But had Audi built it for real, it would've been the only wagon among its peers. BMW didn't respond to the concept, and neither did Mercedes-Benz. Something like an A8 Avant sounds like a neat idea, but a limited niche that probably won't see a lot of buyers.
But we'll never know unless someone takes that leap, right? That brings us neatly to the Genesis G90 Wingback Concept. It follows the same blueprint as the Avantissimo as it's based on a flagship sedan, packs a punchy engine, and looks the business. The difference is that the Genesis appears closer to production, and there's an actual desire from the company to build it. Of course, we'll only believe it once it's sitting in showrooms.
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