Audi’s Most Important Car in Decades Keeps the Spirit of Its Iconic Sports Cars Alive

The Concept C portrays an all-electric future for the R8 and possibly the TT. Is that enough to resuscitate the icons?

Audi AG

Published 3 hours ago

·

Audi recently re-revealed its gorgeous and provocative Concept C. But this time, the company further detailed what it could mean for the brand. Pitched as an all-electric sports car, the Concept C envisions an all-electric future for its most iconic sports cars: the TT and the R8.

It’s more likely a preview of an R8 successor because of its rear-wheel-drive powertrain and midship propulsion placement. The TT, by contrast, drove its front- or all four wheels. Audi also says the concept will provide a preview of what to expect stylistically with future production models.

Five Audi cars parked on a cobblestone driveway in front of a modern building, including classic and futuristic models. — The Concept C succeeds Audi’s long lineage of sports cars.

Audi originally debuted the Concept C in September at a special event in Milan to showcase its sheet metal. More recently, the company exhibited it as a fully functioning and road-legal prototype.

Audi may be known for its practical, all-wheel-drive cars and crossover SUVs. But the Ingolstadt automaker has also given us some of the most iconic modern sports cars of all time. The TT being one, and the other being the R8.

Two silver Audi sports cars, one classic and one modern concept, parked on a mountain road with forested hills and rocky peaks in the background. — The Concept C paints an electric future for the TT and possibly, the R8.

Although Audi is one of the many brands who recently pumped the brakes on its aggressive electrification, the former Auto Union still insists the future is electron-based propulsion. All that said, Concept C could pave the way for an all-electric TT or R8 successor.

But is it what everyone wants? And can this new electric sports coupe summon the same sort of lust that the TT and the R8 generated?

The Concept C sets the stage for Audi’s next-generation styling

Rear view of a matte gray Audi car with illuminated taillights and a European license plate, with two silver cars blurred in the background. — The Concept C also previews future styling elements that could make their way into other production models.

It was only in 2023 that Audi discontinued the TT. Just last year, the R8 met the same fate as both platforms came to the end of their production lifecycle.

Since then, sports car fans and enthusiasts have been wondering, what’s next? The Concept C gives us a clue as to what Audi’s potentially brewing up.

Minimalist Audi car interior with digital steering wheel, horizontal touchscreen display, and fabric seats. — Technology is a major focus for Audi, but the designers seek to keep it minimalistic.

Unlike most concepts, the Concept C is actually a road-legal prototype. Most recently, Audi engineers have been able to demonstrate the car’s technology and the brand’s new design philosophy, both inside and out.

That said, whatever production model comes from the Concept C will likely take inspiration from the prototype. Such was the case when Audi went crazy with a wide range of concept cars in the early 2000s.

Silver futuristic Audi sports car with smooth, rounded body and honeycomb-patterned wheels on a gray background. — Like many of Audi’s past concept cars, such as the RSQ Concept, the models hinted at future production design elements.

Audi revealed the RSQ Concept, along with the Le Mans Quattro Concept, both of which served as major points of inspiration for the first-generation R8. The RSQ Concept also was the star car in I, Robot, the Hollywood adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s famous book series.

When Audi launched the TT in 1997, it was prefaced by the TT Concept in 1995. Then afterwards, Audi revealed the Nuvolari Concept. But the biggest takeaway from all these concepts is that they all eventually influenced the brand’s distinctive styling.

Silver Audi electric concept car with futuristic design driving on a forest road. — The Concept C’s road-legal status and full functionality could mean it’s near production-ready.

Audi looks to do the same with the Concept C and future production models.

Its road-legal status could mean it’s near production-ready

Silver Audi concept car with futuristic design parked on a mountain road with forested hills and rocky peaks in the background. — The Concept C utilizes a midship platform, where its electric powertrain components sit in the middle of the chassis, like a mid-engine ICE-powered sports car.

But what’s different about the Concept C is that it’s a functioning vehicle. Meaning, it runs, it drives and it’s even road-legal according to Europe’s strict standards.

This could mean the Concept C is almost production-ready and that it’s not just a pipe dream. But it can also mean Audi could be making some controversial moves, transitioning away from internal combustion power to electrification.

Silver Audi electric sports car parked on cracked asphalt with forested hills and mountain peaks in the background. — Audi engineers said the midship placement for the EV propulsion system allows for nearly perfect weight distribution.

This is because some of the TT’s and R8’s most notable characteristics came from internal combustion. Although each car’s engine was far from anything sensational and eclectic, like those from Italy, Audi’s engineers nevertheless built each one with soul.

That soul came from the TT using either Volkswagen Group’s iconic narrow-angle VR6 (because the TT utilized the VW Golf platform) or later on, the brand’s ubiquitous turbocharged gas four-cylinder.

Matte silver Audi concept car driving on a winding mountain road at sunset. — Could an electric sports car be enough to summon the same appeal to Audi as the R8 and TT?

For the R8, it was a much grander experience with its high-revving 4.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8. Its grandest experience, however, was the use of Lamborghini’s naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter V10.

red audi r8 sports car driving on a track — The iconic R8 ended production in 2024.

Taking the engine and exhaust notes from any sports car neuters the experience. Which raises the question: is the Concept C what R8 and TT fans want?

And does it offer the same sort of appeal from the R8 and TT that drew fans to Audi? Only time will tell.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.