Audi has used the IAA motor show in Munich, Germany to preview the new Concept-C electric two-person sports roadster. It presents the future design direction of the company, including a vertical frame grille that harks back to the 1936 six-wheel Auto Union Type C racer — the most recognisable product from the 1932 merger of Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer — and symbolised by the four interlinking rings of the Audi logo.
The pinched nose also tips a hat to the 2006 Audi A6 — the model that signalled the departure of the brand from the narrow grilles of the 1990s and back to the more prominent, latter day single frame grilles inspired by the earlier decades as often used as a bold statement of brand identity.
Smooth lines meet a strong shoulder line for a look of being hewn from a single large block of metal and presented in the colour Titanium that evokes a warm, technical elegance. An electrically retractable hardtop is fitted for the first time on an Audi and transforms for breezy drives while retaining the monolithic shape. At the rear are horizontal slats that mimic the breathing apparatus of rear-engine sports cars.
It also introduces a new light signature featuring four horizontally arranged elements in each headlight and rear light for an unmistakable presence on the road.
The Concept-C, equipped with a central-battery layout, has a GT-like cabin extending far back towards the rear axle. Interior features include a foldable, 10.4-inch main display, architectural surfaces and clear geometric forms, and physical controls manufactured from anodised aluminium for a tactile experience. But in true modern Audi fashion, the steering wheel with Audi rings made out of real metal gets haptic elements.
Audi has not confirmed production of the car nor hinted at a new sports car seeing that both Audi R8 and TT are now retired, leaving the brand without a sporty weekend runner. The firm says it plans to have a battery electric vehicle in every core segment of its model portfolio by 2027, though.
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