Audi
Audi has been running light on sizzle for the reason that TT and R8 took their final bows. That changes with the brand new Concept C, a low-slung two seater that previews a production model slated for 2027 and, based on Audi, will reach showrooms with only minor changes. Think door handles, integrated sensors, and the same old road ready tweaks, not a full redesign.
Greater than a design study, Concept C is an announcement of intent. Under Chief Creative Officer Massimo Frascella, Audi is pushing a brand new design language built around clarity and restraint. You see it within the face: a tall, upright grille that frames the 4 Rings and a crisp 4 element light signature. Surfaces are taut, lines are confident, and the entire automobile reads more like precision tooling than rolling sculpture.
The proportions land closer to the old R8 than the TT. Audi quotes 178.0 inches in length and 78.0 inches in width, with a 101.1 inch wheelbase and a roofline that sits just over 50 inches. There isn’t a conventional rear window. As a substitute, a trio of horizontal slats clean up airflow and conceal a central brake light. The party trick is a powered two piece hardtop that tucks away neatly, turning the coupe into an open roadster without resorting to a cloth roof.
Under the skin, Concept C is unapologetically electric. The show automobile is rear drive, with the brand leaving the door open for an all wheel drive variant. An 800 volt electrical architecture hints at ultra quick DC charging, while 21 inch two tone wheels and a goal curb weight of roughly 3,700 kilos suggest a give attention to agility slightly than brute size. Audi has not published power or range targets yet, however the hardware direction points to performance you need to use day-after-day.
Inside, Audi leans into what it calls shy tech. Real metal knobs and switches sit where your hands expect them, and the steering wheel wears a metal badge as an alternative of plastic. A ten.4 inch infotainment screen rises from the dash while you need it and disappears entirely while you don’t, restoring a clean, analog view forward. Materials skew upscale and purposeful, with a mixture that feels modern without chasing trends.
If the silhouette gives you a way of déjà vu, that’s intentional. Concept C nods to brand hallmarks just like the TT and R8 while also channeling classics equivalent to the 1991 Avus and the Rosemeyer concept. The stance and aero details even echo prewar Auto Union racers, translated for an EV era. It reads like Audi’s biggest hits album, remastered for 2027.
There may be a strategic layer here too. Audi is ramping up its performance credibility with a factory Formula 1 program in 2026, and a production sports automobile with real theater suits that narrative. At the identical time, the brand has been simplifying design across its lineup, ditching gimmicks like fake exhaust outlets and publicly promising higher cabin execution. Concept C threads those goals by pairing daring, easy forms with tactile controls and meaningful tech.
One open query is platform sharing. It could not be surprising to see component commonality with Porsche’s next 718 family because the industry consolidates EV architectures. Timelines on Stuttgart’s side have reportedly shifted, however the broad direction stays the identical, and Audi’s coupe roadster transient sits in an analogous space. The important thing difference will likely be tuning and character, with Porsche chasing scalpel sharp engagement and Audi leaning into on a regular basis liveability and long haul refinement.
Where does it land within the range and the market. Expect pricing to bridge the gap the TT and R8 left behind, with trims that scale from a well equipped base automobile to a warmer variant with dual motors. Rivals will include the subsequent wave of compact EV sports cars together with high spec grand tourers which are already trading cylinders for cells. If Audi keeps the production automobile faithful to this idea, it should also pull buyers who’re uninterested in fussy styling and touchscreen the whole lot.
Bottom line, Concept C is the jolt Audi needed. It restores a correct sports automobile to the lineup, introduces a cleaner design vocabulary, and does it with details that feel engineered slightly than embellished. If the production automobile delivers the identical clarity of purpose, Ingolstadt will finally have a halo that appears and appears like the subsequent chapter, not a remix of the last one.
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Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate enthusiast with over 15 years of experience immersed on the earth of cars. Whether it’s exploring the most recent advancements in automotive technology or keeping an in depth pulse on breaking industry news, Lloyd brings a pointy perspective and a deep appreciation for all things automotive. His writing blends technical insight with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions each informative and interesting for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or under the hood, Lloyd enjoys test driving the latest models and staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive landscape.
This Article First Appeared At www.automotiveaddicts.com
