Audi Concept C Preview

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 Audi’s R8 supercar too – that measures 4.44m long and 1.93 wide. It’s a big car. 

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, er truly inspirational car, the third-generation Audi A6.

Audi calls it the ‘vertical frame’ and it’s certainly distinctive. Mercedes are also going for big grilles on its new electric cars. Jaguar have a whopper on the front of their new car too. 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. There are four elements in the daytime running lights which reflect Audi’s four rings. Switch on the headlamps and shutters reveal four more, giving a menacing look. 

On the side, there is this crease which is so sharp it could cut your trousers if you walk too close, and 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. 

The Concept C is also really low – at 1,285mm it’s not as tall as any old TT and is only a little higher than an R8. 

Partly this is because the batteries aren’t underneath your feet like they are in most electric cars. In the Concept C they are stacked behind the seats.

This means you can sit lower, like you would in a sportscar. It should also mean it has perfect weight distribution, like a mid-engined car.

There is more controversy at the back, as there is 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. 

Interior

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. There was too much going on. So the Concept C previews a new direction which is beautifully simple and clean. 

The seats are covered in a wool material looks like the sort of suit I can’t get away with anymore, and there is 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 which 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 seems to represent a great balance between the over-complicated cockpits of some rivals and the stripped-out simplicity of a Tesla or Volvo.

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 which is 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. 

These battery packs are mainly stacked behind the seats and down the central spine of the car between the driver and passenger, meaning it can be lower overall and should also have the weight distribution of a mid-engined car like the R8.

Audi has also revealed the weight - which at just 1,690kg is unusually light - it’s less than an R8 Spider, for example. 

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.

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 CC becomes the TT.