5 Minutes
Audi Concept C Seen in the Open — and It’s Driveable
The Audi Concept C, first shown at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, has been photographed and filmed outside the show circuit — and under natural light it makes a strong case for its bold, futuristic design. Despite being labeled a concept, this four-ring study is road-legal and clearly previews a production electric sports car with strong Porsche DNA.
What makes the Concept C more than just a showpiece?
First, it’s legal to drive on public roads. Second, Audi positions this concept as a preview of an upcoming electric model that will share architecture and mechanicals with Porsche’s next-generation 718 Cayman/Boxster derivatives. And third, it’s a visual statement: the Concept C is a testbed for Audi’s next design language — one that will shape future models.
The recent images and a short cinematic video from @auditography, shot in Füssen, Germany, give us a clearer look at the car in daylight. The photos remove the theater of the auto show and let you judge the surfaces, proportions, and details unfiltered.
Design: a modern reinterpretation of Audi performance DNA
The Concept C channels Audi’s driver-focused heritage. Think TT and R8 influences reimagined through an angular, minimalistic lens:
- A tall, narrow grille reinterpretation, trimmed for the EV era
- Slim, sharp headlights and slim taillights for a contemporary signature
- Large vertical air curtains at the front corners and muscular wheel arches
- Extremely thick rear pillars and a tiny rear windscreen that create a distinctive silhouette
- A diffuser-like element integrated into the bumper, hinting at aerodynamic priorities
The interior leans minimalist: a driver display behind the wheel plus a central screen on the dash. Audi’s concept uses touch-sensitive controls, but the likely production model is expected to bring back tactile, physical buttons — a trend we've also seen at Volkswagen — improving ergonomics and safety by letting drivers operate key functions without taking their eyes off the road.
Performance and platform: Porsche pedigree
Under the skin, Audi’s plan appears straightforward: leverage the same platform that will underpin Porsche’s new 718 replacements. Early indications point toward a fully electric drivetrain with multiple configurations:
- Entry-level: rear-wheel drive (RWD) single-motor setups for a purist driving feel
- Higher trims: all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor systems for increased power and traction
This formula aims to deliver a range of performance levels — from lightweight, rear-drive dynamics to high-powered AWD versions that could challenge established electric sports cars.
Market positioning and controversy
The Concept C arrives at a delicate moment for Audi. The design language previewed here is divisive: some enthusiasts will praise its forward-looking stance and sculpted surfaces, while others will yearn for the more traditionally shaped Audis of the past. The comparison to BMW’s Neue Klasse is apt: both are intended as foundational design shifts that may impress on paper but provoke debate in the enthusiast community when encountered in reality.
From a market perspective, the car addresses two clear goals:
- Expand Audi’s electric portfolio into the sports car segment
- Leverage economies of scale and shared technology with Porsche to reduce development costs and accelerate time-to-market
If Audi indeed launches a production model within roughly a year, expect tight competition with premium electric sports cars and performance EVs from traditional rivals.
Key takeaways
- Audi Concept C is road-legal and previews a near-production EV with Porsche mechanical DNA.
- Design borrows TT and R8 cues but pushes a new, minimalist language that’s likely to polarize fans.
- Expect RWD base models and AWD dual-motor variants in production, aligned with Porsche’s upcoming 718 replacements.
- Real-world photos and a cinematic clip from @auditography in Füssen give the best view yet of the concept under natural light.
"Seen outside the show lights, the Concept C feels closer to a real car — not just a styling exercise," one enthusiast summary of the images might read.
Whether you love or loathe its look, the Concept C is important: it signals Audi’s intent to compete with sporty electric models while sharing platform resources with Porsche. For buyers and fans, the next 12–18 months will reveal how much of the concept's bold design and driving character survives into production.
Source: autoevolution
Comments
turbo_mk
wow didn't expect Audi to go this sharp... looks like TT and R8 had a baby? If it drives like Porsche tho, sign me up. please keep some physical buttons, touch menus are painful
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