2007 Tokyo Motor Show: Audi Metroproject Quattro Concept

• Looks like: If Audi crossbred with a Mini Cooper
• Defining characteristics: Big bold grille, itsy bitsy body
• Ridiculous features: Pillarless windows, personal cell phone
• Chance of being mass-produced: This could very well be the rumored Audi A1 that the company hopes can compete with the Mini Cooper.   

Sometime last night, the Tokyo Motor Show kicked off and we’re waking up to some crazy concepts. We’re blow away at how much Audi’s Mini fighter exudes so much, well, Mini-ness despite all the Audi design language going on. If you think the looks are a bit outrageous, Audi has really gone over the top with the drivetrain of this concept car.

A 150 hp, turbo four-cylinder drives the front wheels — which on its own would be a feasible, everyday powerplant — while an electric motor drives the rear wheels during acceleration. That’s right, this is a hybrid, and a hybrid creating an all-wheel drive effect. Wild. 

The electric motor can also power the car alone at low speeds, with a range of 62 miles. All told, Audi says such a system would not only hit 62 mph in 7.8 seconds it would also get around 48 mpg. Ready to sign up for one yet? We have to digest the images a bit, but we expect Audi is quite serious about this car. Check out all the images below and let us know what you think.

Comments

Small car, but stupid looking super-sized grille that easily fits on a semi truck. Audi, dump the killer grille look on this car and your other cars. It just doesn't work.

I think it looks too aggressive

I don't care for the grill but otherwise it looks okay.

why are the pillarless windows ridiciulous? if they could carry it off on the production version it would be great!

Awesome: style, spirit, quality, mpg: I'd buy <$25k

looks great in red, but if they can have one in the dark blue available on the Q7, then sign me up. The production model will probably have an interior closer to that of the A5 and new A4, rather than the truly concept one in the pictures. I like the steering wheel though...looks pretty cool. The personal cell phone is probably going to be the first to go, but I cant see why pillarless windows are outrageous; a few mercedes models have them alreade.

The grille on this mini car would make a great bug catcher.

Dang, the mirrors and side roof lines in silver? Why not just put the whole roof in silver? Lol. I guess it'd look too much mini-ish.

From the side, the taillight looks really funky, but from the rear quarter view, it looks cool. Could this be because of the red color the car is? Or a design flaw? Yea, probably just the color.

Anyways, I like it.

I wonder if this has any relation to the Scirocco Concept from last year?

New Coupes for the entry level?

2nd thought about that cell phone. I've noticed lately integrated cellphones have been poping up in concept cars.

And cellphones are quickly replacing cars as status symbols.

Given that a cellphone can contain more memory and processing power than a mere keyfob and that "everyone" loves pushbuton starts now, a cell phone type device might become the new "keys" for cars in the very near future.

(now if they'd just include a letter opener or pen knife, since I'm always using car keys to open mail,,,)

I'm all for cool-looking small cars, but can we please keep the price realistic? With smart cars running $15k and Minis running $20k, etc., it would be nice to see really neat small cars in the $10k range. (Aveos/Accents/Rios are that cheap, but they look it.)