Audi's 2025 Concept C

On the left is a classic Audi TT.  On the right is Audi's 2025 Concept C car, its production version intended to act as a "halo" enhancing Audi's brand identity, as the TT did in 1998.

Audi's online press statement when the Concept C was revealed is here.  A Motor Trend article about test-driving it is here.

Concept C is electric-powered by a Porsche-designed system.  That availability is likely why the C was green-lighted for production despite the collapse of electric vehicle (EV) sales.  The sunk cost likely propelled enough inertia.  Also, because the car was a reputational "halo" not expected to make a profit, low sales levels were always expected.

In 2024 Massimo Frascella was appointed to lead Audi styling, and the Concept C is one of his earliest efforts on the job.  An online Auto&Design interview with him is here.  Frascella favors simplicity, something I think is needed,  given the current fashion for confusing sheet metal sculpting.  Some recent electric cars feature simple, curved shapes, and the Concept C abaft of its front end follows that theme.

The production C might appear late 2027.  Supposedly most of the design will be carried over.  That said, the after part of the passenger greenhouse seems unsuitable for a production car, and I've read that a Targa bar and retractible roof section will appear in showrooms.  We shall see.

Photos for this post are via Audi.

Gallery

Overhead view with part of its development crowd.  The aft part of the passenger compartment greenhouse offers almost no outside visibility, and is unlikely to see production.  Unless the driver is provided 180-degree rear television coverage on some kind.

EVs don't require radiator grilles, so Frascella's solution of reducing the Audi vertical grille to a reflective slab makes intellectual, if not aesthetic, sense.  However, the flanking vertical slots (I presume for frontal brake cooling) are aerodynamically problematical and might not reach production "as is."  Despite Frascella's desire for simplicity, the front strikes me as being too fussy and overly intellectualized.

Too-huge wheels and short overhang.  The roof profile is similar to that of the TT.  Body side sculpting is subtle.

The C looks best, most conventional, from this perspective.  The lack of rear visibility is obvious.