Audi unveils the Concept C ahead of the 2025 Munich auto show, a striking targa-style electric coupé that previews a radical new design direction for the German automaker and also closely previews an all-new production model set to go on sale in North America in 2027.
The 2-seater has been conceived to replace both the internal-combustion-engine TT and the R8 in one sweep, as Audi consolidates its sports car lineup into a single electric model whose platform and electric drivetrain will be shared with the upcoming electric Porsche Boxster and its coupé sibling, the Cayman.
While the TT boasted a Bauhaus-inspired design in relatively compact dimensions, and the R8 carried classic mid-engined supercar cues, the Concept C strikes an altogether different tone. Its long hood and cab-back stance give it proportions closer to those of a grand tourer, marking a clear shift in character.
The signature single-frame grille that has dominated Audi design for over two decades is re-interpreted on the new Audi concept car as a far smaller, flush, black-panel element set low in the nose. It is framed by slim, horizontal headlamps with active graphics that alter depending on the headlamp setting, while the front tapers toward prominent vertical air ducts at the corners.
The sides mix familiar cues with fresh surfacing: A pronounced shoulder line now runs clean and horizontal, while the large wheel arches are chamfered, housing 21-in. 6-spoke wheels shod with 255/30 front and 305/30 profile rear tires. The familiar round roofline and practical liftback tailgate survive from the TT, but without a rear window on the concept car.
Retractable Roof, Dimensions
The Concept C also introduces an electrically retractable 2-piece roof, giving it both closed and open-roof qualities at the press of a button. Closed, it maintains a coupé silhouette; open, it creates an open-air roadster style look, with a black roll-bar element providing it with a touch of retro design flavor. At the rear, there are thin taillamps and vertical strakes mimicking the look up front. They are set above a 4-channel diffuser with an integrated central vertical brake light. The effect is wider, lower and altogether more serious in tone than that of the TT.
Size alone underlines the gulf between the Concept C and the now-discontinued third-generation TT. At 178 ins. (4,520 mm) long and 77.6 ins. (1,970 mm) wide, it is 13 ins. (329 mm) longer and 5.4 ins. (138 mm) broader than its indirect predecessor. It also sits 2.7 ins. (68 mm) lower at 50.6 ins. (1,285 mm), on a wheelbase stretched by 2.5 ins. (63 mm) to 101.1 ins. (2,568 mm). Weight climbs by 474 lbs. (215 kg) to a claimed 3,726 lbs. (1,690 kg) over the last of the internal-combustion-engine TT models, the TT 45TSI quattro Final Edition, though Audi stresses that it remains competitive by electric-car standards.
Interior Elements
Inside, the rethink in design is just as marked. The dashboard is a single beam running across the width of the car, with controls reduced to anodized aluminum switches and a fold-out 10.4-in. (26.4-cm) display that remains hidden when not in use. Seats and door trims are finished in wool and recycled textiles rather than leather and plastic, while a high central tunnel divides driver and passenger. It’s calmer, simpler, and more architectural than the TT, yet still closely aligned to Audi’s precision-led interior design ethos.
Audi’s chief creative officer, Massimo Frascella, describes the Concept C as “The Radical Next.” Speaking to WardsAuto, he says: “The TT in 1998 taught us that clarity is powerful. You don’t need excess to make a statement. With the Concept C, we’ve tried to capture that same courage – free of distraction, defined by tension and pure form.” He points to the vertical frame grille, inspired by the Auto Union Type C racer of 1936, and to the new 4-element light signature as defining cues of Audi’s future lineup.
Propulsion
Audi is yet to provide details of the Concept C’s platform or drivetrains, though officials confirm it shares key elements with those of the electric Boxster and Cayman due to be launched in 2026. The new Audi model will use an 800V electric architecture and be sold with the choice of either single-motor rear-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive.
