Audi Steppenwolf Concept

What is it?
Audi Steppenwolf Concept

What's special about it?
The Steppenwolf concept was designed to appeal to those outdoorsy types who need the versatility of an all-wheel-drive vehicle but don't want to eschew the refinement of an Audi. Of course Audi's quattro system has always been AWD but you wouldn't want to go rock climbing in your TT, would you? With this concept, Audi combines their AWD know-how with a height-adjustable air suspension to create a small-scale all-terrain vehicle.

Based on the same platform as the TT and the Europe-only A3, the Steppenwolf rides on a wider track to emphasize its rough-and-tumble-ability, but doesn't lose any of the on-road manners buyers have come to expect of their Audi. The front suspension is composed of MacPherson struts spanned by an antiroll bar. The rear utilizes a longitudinal double-wishbone arrangement. But what really sets this vehicle apart is the four-level air suspension, the first time it has been used in a vehicle this size; it lets you choose the height of your vehicle in a range from 16.3 centimeters to 22.3 centimeters.

The powerplant is a 3.2-liter V6 making 225 horses, which should be plenty of power for pushing the three-door four-seater through those ruts and bumps, and the 19-inch tires are mean-looking enough to scare any critters in its path.

Designed for those who live an outdoorsy lifestyle, its integrated navigation system ensures that you don't pull a "Blair Witch Project," and in a cue borrowed from the Pontiac Aztek (scary enough), the center console houses a cooler box. The Steppenwolf can be fitted with either a carbon-fiber hardtop or a detachable, snap-on soft top, and the bottom of the rear hatch opens to reveal a full-size spare snug in its niche.

Why should you care?
This is what happens when the TT goes on a testosterone and steroids diet. Audi has thus far refrained from joining the SUV extravaganza (the upcoming allroad quattro doesn't really count), but with stalwarts like Porsche coming out with an SUV, can a production model be far behind?
-- Liz Kim