If Audi wanted to create a two-door flagship to take on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, this is the template. It's called the Prologue concept, and underneath that angular, expansive sheetmetal is a reworked version of Audi's turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 putting out 605 horsepower and over 550 lb-ft of twist.
Audi goes into dumbfounding detail about how the Prologue will influence the future of the marque's design, but the major takeaways are low-slung, forceful, with massive wheels tucked in overarching haunches that emphasize the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The B-pillarless greenhouse is a nice touch (and par for the big-ass coupe set), and I'll say it so you won't have to: yes, that grille looks remarkably similar to the Ford Fusion. The Prologue is also freaking massive, spanning nearly 17 feet long and six and a half feet wide.
Being a design exercise, it's more show than go, but that doesn't take away from the trick technology. The headlamps use a Matrix laser system, while the lack of handles is rectified with sensors that pop open the doors when you touch the sides. The interior is light and airy, with a trio of OLED screens that adapt to the driving style and adjust everything from the seats to the climate control based on the driver, the route, and the destination.
The chassis is aluminum and high-strength steel, which houses the aforementioned engine and eight-speed automatic, good for claimed a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds thanks to the Quattro system and a curb weight of around 4,400 pounds. Pirelli P Zero rubber is at each corner, along with four-wheel steering, and there's also a "mild hybrid" system that recoups energy from braking.
If Audi decides to put the Prologue into production, the A9 name would certainly fit. But at this point, it's all academic.