Audi boss Gernot Döllner: “Concept C is a revolution for us”
As prototypes of new two-seater begin testing, VW Group CEO Oliver Blume says ardent ICE fans “have to drive it”
Audi is already testing prototypes of its new electric sports car ahead of its planned launch in 2027, as part of an accelerated development programme that will be just 30 months from sign-off to showrooms.
The radical new Concept C previews a successor to the Audi TT, which will be in showrooms in two years and is set to be the quickest-developed car the German brand has yet launched – setting the tone for a new strategy that aims to match Chinese competitors on pace.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner told Autocar that the Concept C is about showcasing new design cues and technology “but also speed”.
“China speed at Ingolstadt comes with that car – around 30 months development time, which is really a revolution for us, to develop a car at that speed.”
Döllner stopped short of giving a precise launch date and wouldn’t say when the Concept C was officially signed off, but Autocar has learned that prototype testing of both this car and the related Porsche 718 EV has begun in earnest, and bosses are keen to emphasise the capabilities of the underpinning platform.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume said that he has driven prototypes of the upcoming sports cars (which use an adapted version of the Porsche and Audi-developed PPE platform, with their batteries behind the seat) and is confident of their ability to appease driving enthusiasts.
“It’s such a different level comparing to the combustion engine cars,” he said. “Drivability, agility, the power you have… It’s a completely new feeling. And I’m so passionate about the platform.”
Asked how he would respond to critics who say the lack of an engine is an inhibitor to engagement, Blume said: “They have to drive it.
“You feel so close to the road, having the noise of the wheels, and it’s such fantastic driving. The direct steering we have, it offers such a lot of opportunities, and then there’s the agility.”
Blume added that despite the inevitable technical relationship between the Audi and Porsche models, they would stand as clearly distinct models, each with its own positioning and target market.
“We have very clear brand identities which are very different between Porsche and Audi,” he said, “and that’s what we are doing over the whole Volkswagen Group: defining the clear brand identities.
Meanwhile, Audi chief technical officer Geoffrey Bouquot gave Autocar some insight into the priorities of the Concept C’s development programme, emphasising the importance of dynamics and engagement.
“It’s all about the emotions and [being] fun to drive, and at the same time reducing to what you want to focus on.
“Do you want to experience something that is full of information? No. You want to enjoy the drive, and you want to have only the information that you need, whenever you need – and this is part of the things that we’re working heavily on.”
Döllner previously indicated that Audi was considering synthesised exhaust notes and artificial gearboxes as a means of boosting the engagement factor, but Bouquot said the firm will integrate only what is necessary to enhance the driving experience.
“The most important thing is that the technology is serving the experience and not the other way around. We don’t want to give some gimmicks,” he said. “I think the most important is that we focus on what an electric car is about.”
Asked if Audi was trying to match the handling characteristics of a traditional sports coupé like the old TT or a contemporary mid-engined model, Bouquot suggested the priority was more about exploring the capabilities of the architecture.
“It’s more about also the acceleration, the capabilities of driving, while also being very stable. It’s something that we can fine-tune, all the sportiness, but I would not say we copied anything. It’s more like we took inspiration and then translated it into a BEV model.”
Ultimately, he agreed with Audi’s chief of design Massimo Frascella in voicing a commitment to the production car being “as close as possible” to the Concept C show car.
He added that daily usability has also been a focus of the development programme, as real-world practicality remains a core attribute for any new Audi car – regardless of positioning.
