What does Avant mean? I did search

[Sanford9789]

I drive one, but I can't intelligently answer the question of why it's called an Avant instead of a station wagon. What was Audi thinking? Avant-Garde is the only term I've found that has a definition. Experimental or innovative when referring to artwork.

Somebody has to know. Thanks.

Jerry

[naiku]

Avant = Better than sedan

/thread.

Sorry, I don't know. I am sure its along the lines of BMW calling their wagons "touring" ... maybe Audi figured wagon reminded people too much of old crappy wagons, and went from there.

[lookaught]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=avant see the second one down!

Honestly I dont think it has a particular translation to english, it's just the Audi term for wagon. VW uses "variant."

I prefer to think that avant = badass, genious, forward thinking, and a hell of a lot better than a sedan or suv.

[gregoriousd]

Avant = Better than sedan

/thread.

CHECK- but only half the battle
I think Audi's meaning of Avant has to come from "en avant" which means a move forward or even the front of a line with respect to battle. Although I don't know how a wagon is a move forward because most people think they look slow and familymanish. And its French too which makes even less sense, they should have called it das blitzerwagen or something cool and German sounding.
I sold mine, but still love them...creeping on AZ on a slow work day til I buy another one.

[Sanford9789]

" Behaviour, work, music etc that is off the hook, fresh, original or at times just plain funny or even weird. "

I like it, but it's still going to bug me until I hear from someone who was there when Audi made the decision.

[Sanford9789]

I've sent an email to Audi with the question. Can't wait to hear back.

[Yevmeister]

another term for station wagons in Europe is Combi

[claudiovagkraft]

I'm pretty sure it means something like hey baby I'll take avantage of you with the seats down and mattress in the back

[[email protected]]

It means station wagon.

But since Audi made you drop some big $$$ they decided to come up with a cooler word to hide the fact that we all drive station wagons.

[Capt. Obvious]

It's just marketing. "Avant" sounds cooler/sexier than "station wagon".

[A4 Effort]

Thought it might be fun to look into this, and this is what i've come up with. The English to German translation of 'Avant' is 'Vor'. When spoken in German, 'vor' sounds like 'four'. A reference to their quattro perhaps?

[wpg2.0T]

SAVANT: They just dropped the "S".

May refer to: An expert or wise person.

It seems most of the mental energy is focused onto a specific skill.

[Polo//S4]

Avant in french as a noun: bow, as an adjective: forward, as an adverb: before. Doesn't explain why Audi uses it on it's slant backs though.

[Greedo]

It means the only sexy wagon on the road

[oatzel]

just audi's term for wagon. like sportback, etc

[1RAudiSQ5]

It means the only sexy wagon on the road

good answer

[87ina55]

from Meriam Webster online:
Main Entry: avant
Pronunciation: \ˈä-ˌvän(t), ˈa-, -ˌvȯn(t), -ˌvōⁿ\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French avant- fore-, front, from avant before, from Latin abante
Date: 1965

: culturally or stylistically advanced : avant-garde <avant jazz>

[boostedAvant]

At a GTG a couple weeks ago someone said it was Italian. Don't think this is true but it adds to the mystery haha. I'm pretty sure it just means Win.

[claudiovagkraft]

At a GTG a couple weeks ago someone said it was Italian. Don't think this is true but it adds to the mystery haha. I'm pretty sure it just means Win.

I'm Italian (well, my pops is) and can say that it's definitely not Italian. My mom is German, and I can tell you that it isn't a German word either. Being Canadian, where both English and French are our national languages, and can tell you that "avant" in French translates to "ahead of", "in front of", "prior", "before" and so on... in English. Often though the direct translation of a word from one language to another tends to lose the spirit of what it was intended for. Having said all that, I still don't have any solid offering as to the meaning.

Soooo, I'm gonna stick with my seats down/mattress theory.

[Sanford9789]

I got a phone call (not an email) from Audi today. A very nice lady said she has looked into it, but does not have an answer for me. She did say that she will continue to try and will contact me then.

[Sanford9789]

And today I got the definitive word straight from Audi.

IT'S A MADE UP WORD!

There is no translation, it's not a race track in Italy, there is no hidden meaning. Apparently automakers are allowed to just make words up.

Don't even get me started on the GTO.

[[email protected]]

Told ya

[Sanford9789]

Yup. You win. The prize is a brand new Skidplate removable license plate frame. Unless you already have one.

[[email protected]]

WOOHOO!

I can't wait to install it!

[Greedo]

Apparently automakers are allowed to just make words up.

So are hip hop artists and R&B singers.

[diagnosticator]

In this context, "Avant" in German translates to "Estate Car" in Englsh.

Ref: "Audi Driver" magazine.

(Does anyone here really expect Audi of America to know anything about traditional Audi Culture? Employees of AoA are clueless.)

[RBSileighty]

Avant is French and used by Germans the same way we use it here in the USA... such as avant-garde is still avant-garde in German. A lot of words are adopted into various languages unchanged...

Avant and Avanti (the Italian version of the word) both mean, in the positional sense, "forward"... so I would assume it would be like a Chevy Trailblazer or Nissan Pathfinder kind of thing... but with a French word. BMW uses Touring even though Kombi is the German word for station wagon (as mentioned earlier)... apparently Audi puts the "station wagon" at the front of the A, S, and RS lineups... or maybe it's in front of their comp? The germans do love their wagons (and so do I)... kind of makes sense I guess to put it at the front... "most important" might be an indirect translation?

[D'Angelo]

Wouldn't the French meaning, "ahead of" etc. tie in nicely with Audi's "Never Follow"...just a thought.

[moyenecorniche]

Wouldn't the French meaning, "ahead of" etc. tie in nicely with Audi's "Never Follow"...just a thought.

It would also,tie in nicely with Fender's Custom Shop slogan... " When you're ready " which is a clever way of saying once you think about it we'll be glad to see you...again...
But back to Audi Avant's, how many auto manufacturers have produced a viable practical, understated real sport wagon....?? year after year and in 3 very different variations.
If that doesn't infer to an underlying avant-garde mentality, to the stay ahead of the pack or make a U turn when they are all too busy zigging and zagging thought process then I'll just sell my Avant and go buy a wretched Dodge...

[Axel-]

Just look at it this way, I'd much rather be driving an Avant than a Combi. Poor saps in Europe.

[jumpinj]

another term for station wagons in Europe is Combi

good to see others who know this....

My family has two combis...my wife (from europe) will not under any circumstances let me use the words 'station wagon'. LOL

[Gdlaszako]

If you look up avant it means front or elite aka badassery