We dig Audi’s Prologue concepts because while they’re not production-ready designs, they make it easy to imagine what the German brand’s next generation of vehicles will look like. The latest in the Prologue series is the Allroad concept, which Audi is previewing ahead of the car’s reveal next week in Shanghai.

As A4 Allroad is to A4 Avant, so is Prologue Allroad to the Avant concept shown a few weeks ago in Geneva: apply crossover cues (raised ride height and subtle two-tone body cladding) to a rakish wagonesque body that—dare we say it?—looks better than the Avant concept.

Inside, the Prologue Allroad sports the same organic light-emitting diode (OLED) tech as the coupe and Avant concepts for climate and infotainment functions up front, and seat adjustments in the rear cabin.

Audi says the plug-in hybrid drivetrain—pairing a twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor—makes 734 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, enough for a supercar-like zero-to-100 km/h sprint of 3.5 seconds. Air suspension and four-wheel steering connect the car to the road via 22-inch wheels framing 20-inch brake rotors.

While those power levels are believable in the Avant (if it evolves into the next-gen RS7), we’d expect a tamer powertrain in a production A7 Allroad. If this and the previous two Prologue concepts predict an accurate Audi design future, fans of hot wagons have a lot to look forward to.

Audi Prologue Allroad Concept 01

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