Battery size: 89 kWh
Charge rate: 350kW
Range: 300+ miles
I remember driving the original Audi TT back in 1999 and it was so stunning that it literally had the power to stop traffic. It looked like the future. Buyers queued at dealers. And it defined a whole generation of Audi design.
The last generation of TT was finally killed off in November 2023, but it is set to come back – and this car gives us a HUGE hint as to what it will be like when it’s launched in 2027.
Styling and Dimensions
The Audi Concept C is an all-electric roadster. Or… a coupe, because it has a folding hard top. This in itself is a bit of a blast from the past as most other rivals have abandoned these and moved back to soft tops. Even the Mercedes SL has a fabric roof, these days.
It measures 4.52m long, which makes it a chunk bigger than the old TTs, which measured around 4.2m. It’s also much wider at 1.97m, compared to 1.37m. In fact the Concept C is bigger than the Audi R8 supercar, too, which measures 4.44m long.
But the most controversial part of the design is the grille. The designers say it is inspired by that famous, all conquering Auto Union Type C grand prix car and that, err, truly inspirational car - the third-generation Audi A6.
Audi calls it the ‘vertical frame’ and it’s certainly distinctive. Mercedes is also going for big grilles on its new electric cars, Jaguar has a whopper on the front of their new concept car, too, and BMW... Well, yeah. We all know about BMW grilles, don't we? Perhaps the established brands want to remind us that they have a long history – unlike those new Chinese upstarts. It’s something we can expect to see on every future Audi – so get used to it!
The front lights use pixel projector beam tech they can really be made small and thin, and there are four elements in the daytime running lights that reflect Audi’s four rings. Switch on the headlamps and shutters reveal four more, giving a menacing look.
On the side, there's a crease that's so sharp it could cut your trousers if you walk too close, while the alloy wheels which look similar to those used on the original TT and A2. It’s also interesting that Audi seems to have abandoned the much-hated cameras and gone back to door mirrors (I'm very happy about that).
The Concept C is really low, at 1.29m it’s not as tall as any previous Audi TT, and is only a little higher than an R8. This is partly because the batteries aren’t underneath your feet, like they are in most electric cars. In the Concept C they're stacked behind the seats, which means that you sit lower - like you would in a sportscar. It should also mean that it has perfect weight distribution, like a mid-engined car. So Audi says, anyway!
There is more controversy at the back, as there's no rear window - like a Polestar 4. Fake vents house camera and lights, while the proper tail lamps mirror the pattern on the front lights. A large chunk of this rear section lifts up as part of the mechanical ballet which sees the targa-style roof section fold away into the mid area.
Battery, Charging and Efficiency
While Audi is being a bit coy about the technical bits, we have a few clues. Like Audi did with the Q6 e-tron, this car will share big bits with a Porsche. In this case the new, all electric Boxster and Cayman.
So we can expect an 800v system and a battery that'll be smaller than in the Q6 and Macan, but has the same sort of range because the car is lighter and more aerodynamic – so expect more than 300 miles and really quick charging. Audi has also revealed the weight which, at just 1,690kg, is unusually light. That's less than an R8 Spider!
Motors, Performance and Handling
Driving the Audi Concept C is like riding in a time machine, only you don't really know which direction it's currently traveling. On the one hand, the show car throws you back to a time when Audis - like the first TT - were truly design icons, and when the cockpit was all about the sensual thrill of operation and not the endless fiddling with a touchscreen. It's no coincidence that the delightfully numerous buttons on and around the steering wheel in the Concept C feel real and authentic again, clicking delicately when pressed. And it's not without reason that the screen disappears behind a console if you really want to concentrate on driving.
I sincerely hope that both of these aspects of the concept car’s interior make it to production; I’d buy one just for the sense that this is a car that’s absolutely modern and integrated, with all the infotainment stuff that we expect today, yet also has the simple benefits of an analogue interior that many Audi fans lament the loss of.
On the other hand, that electric powertrain makes the TT concept feel somehow alien and futuristic. There’s no synthesised fake engine noise, as with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N - although there are rumours that it might get faked gearshifts, like the Hyundai. The Audi emits just a subtle whir, but you can feel the potency that it’s got. It feels faster, even, than the Audi TT RS did. The Concept C shoots towards the horizon, and you have to remember to take a breath because there’s a moment when you fear you might have gotten yourself into a bigger adventure than you'd intended upon.
But, just like the TT back in its day, the Concept C rewards hard driving, and with every passing mile you find out more about what it can do. You begin to really feel how manoeuvrable and light the car is. The fact that this reborn icon won't be a four-wheel drive quattro will disappoint many an Audi loyalist, but it enhances the driving experience immensely. With power going to the rear wheels, it allows the Concept C to feel playful and light-footed as you swing it through tight turns; not quite as nose-heavy and prone to washing wide as many powerful, quattro Audi’s can be. In fact, such is its poise and responses that you could even argue that this will rival the forthcoming electric Porsche 718, as well as the Porsche 911 range. Which is a clever move from Audi, isn’t it? It's certainly covering all bases.
Then, I had a chance to slide the Audi’s targa roof back under the ribbed back, and experience the TT of tomorrow on its way back from its second side as a roadster. Taking it easy, and enjoying the Audi with fresh air to spare, and the chirping of birds and rustling of autumn leaves gives this an entirely different appeal; it suddenly transforms into a genteel touring roadster. It’s got more than one character, the Aud Concept C, but I didn’t tire of any of them. If Audi can keep this breadth of ability and depth of character for the production car, it's onto a winner.
Practicality and Boot Space
The Audi Concept C does, in fact, have both a boot space and a 'frunk' (a small space under the bonnet of the car). With those batteries stacked behind the seats and the car designed to allow for the same amount of boot space whether you've got the roof up- or down, there are clear pointers towards this being a fairly versatile car when it does make production. We can't really say more than that, as Audi's been a bit coy about giving specifics like boot capacity, but it's clearly intending for the new Audi TT to be usable every day.
Interior, Design/Styling and Technology
Audi is famous for its interiors, but there have been a few misses recently, partly because the quality was a bit off but also because they were just too busy. The Concept C previews a new direction which is beautifully simple and clean. The seats are covered in a wool material that looks like the sort of suit I can’t get away with anymore, and there's lots of aluminium bits.
So, where is the 70-inch screen with another one for the passenger? The CC introduces something called Shy Tech, with elements that are only visible when you need them. So the 10.4” screen? It folds away. Haptic buttons on the panels can be hidden and others are made from beautifully crafted aluminium with a proper ‘click’ when used. The instrument panel is fixed of course, but changes colour when you choose different modes.
Overall, it represents a great balance between the over-complicated cockpits of some rivals and the stripped-out simplicity of a Tesla or Volvo.
Price and Equipment
There’s no official word on prices for the production car, but the last TT cost around £45k and the new one will be more, for sure. The MG Cyberster which is this car’s obvious rival starts at £55k. There’s also going to be the Polestar 6, and maybe, possibly, we’ll all be surprised by the appearance of the long-lost Tesla Roadster. They’re likely to be nearer six figures though. So if I had to guess? Say £70,000 as a starting point. We won't see it on the road any time soon, either. The new, electric Audi TT that will be born out of the Concept C is rumoured to be arriving in 2027.
Verdict
What do you think? Are you stunned? Will there be queues at Audi dealers again? Is it an open and shut case for you? I think it is just the right side of outrageous, and shows that when it comes to design less is sometimes more. It reminds me of a better, cleaner version of the new Jaguar.
When the TT made the transition from the concept car to production, it looked even better. Let’s hope they are just as brave when the Concept C becomes the Audi TT.
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