Report: No Go on Audi Shooting Brake

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — The Audi Shooting Brake concept, an expensive hatchback built on the same platform as the popular TT coupe, will not be put into production, according to a news report that quotes Audi Product Chief Ulrich Hackenburg.

Hackenburg told the Netherlands auto magazine Autovisie that the Shooting Brake would only eat market share for the TT coupe. The two cars use the same platform, although the Shooting Brake's wheelbase is 2 inches longer than the TT coupe's.

The Shooting Brake made its debut at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Show. It used a 250-horsepower 3.2-liter V6, Quattro permanent four-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission. It deviates stylistically from the TT, with a squared-off hatchback-style rear end. Although generally well received, there was some doubt, especially in North America, that consumers who are skittish about buying hatchbacks would plunk their money down for such an expensive one.

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