Audi is accelerating development of a new compact electric sports car that will serve as the successor to the discontinued TT, with plans to bring the vehicle to market by 2027 after one of the fastest development cycles in the brand’s history.
The yet-unnamed model, previewed by the Concept C, is being developed in just 30 months as the German automaker looks to match the pace of Chinese rivals. “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,” Audi chief executive Gernot Dollner told Autocar.
The EV will share components with Porsche’s upcoming all-electric 718 Boxster and Cayman, both built on a modified version of the PPE platform co-developed by the two brands. Unlike most EVs, its battery pack will sit behind the seats to replicate mid-engined weight distribution. Volkswagen Group chief executive Oliver Blume said the models would retain distinct brand positioning. “We have very clear brand identities which are very different between Porsche and Audi,” he said.
Audi’s technical leadership emphasized the project’s focus on driving dynamics rather than gimmicks. “It’s all about the emotions and [being] fun to drive, and at the same time reducing to what you want to focus on,” said Geoffrey Bouqout, Audi’s chief technical officer. He added that the goal was not to copy the TT’s handling but to translate its spirit into a battery-electric platform.
Skeptics of electric performance were also addressed directly by Blume. “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,” he said.