By Jordan Grim • October 22, 2025 • 03:02 AM (ET)
By Jordan Grim • October 22, 2025 • 03:02 AM (ET)
The Audi Concept C has taken a major step from concept to reality. After its debut at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich, the striking prototype has now earned street-legal status in Germany, signaling that this isn’t just a showpiece—it’s a working preview of Audi’s next-generation electric sports car set to arrive in 2027.
Most concept cars rarely leave the auto show floor. They exist to showcase design ideas, not to hit the road. It has taken a different route. The Concept C has received official road approval, complete with German license plates, allowing the company to test it in real-world conditions.
Getting a concept approved for public roads isn’t a small task. It involves meeting complex safety and technical requirements, from lighting and braking systems to emissions and electronic standards. The achievement shows just how close Audi’s engineers are to a production-ready version.
Visually, the Concept C blends familiar cues from several of the brand’s icons. The sharp, low-slung stance echoes the R8, while the curved surfaces and proportions recall the TT. There’s also a nod to the Auto Union Type C race car, giving the concept a sense of lineage and depth.
Up front, the concept features narrow LED headlights framing a redesigned Audi grille. Vertical air intakes add character and purpose, while the rear end replaces a traditional glass window with louvers that flow into slim LED taillights above a sculpted diffuser.
Despite its futuristic form, the Concept C’s proportions lean toward the traditional sports car blueprint—long hood, short overhangs, and a low roofline. Audi’s designers describe it as “a balance between performance and emotion,” and the look fits that promise.
Inside, the Audi Concept C introduces a new interior philosophy built around simplicity and technology. The cabin features a 10.4-inch infotainment screen that folds seamlessly into the dashboard, paired with a digital instrument cluster.
The design is intentionally minimal, using clean lines and light materials to create an open, driver-focused space. Beneath the main display, Audi has added haptic controls for climate and infotainment adjustments, along with touch-sensitive door buttons.
While some may prefer physical switches, these digital controls align with Audi’s approach to integrating advanced interfaces in its future EV lineup. Whether these features make it to production remains to be seen, but they fit the concept’s sleek character.
Audi hasn’t shared detailed specifications yet, but the Concept C’s setup offers clues about the brand’s future performance direction. It features a rear-mounted electric motor with the battery positioned behind the seats, similar to a traditional mid-engine layout.
This design provides a lower driving position and balanced weight distribution, which should result in handling characteristics closer to a classic sports car than a typical EV.
The production version will reportedly share its underpinnings with the next-generation Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster. While Porsche plans to offer both gas and electric variants, Audi is committed to an all-electric lineup.
Expect the upcoming model to debut in rear-wheel-drive form, with Quattro all-wheel-drive variants following later. The focus will be on agility, driving dynamics, and an emotional connection between driver and machine—something Audi aims to carry over from its iconic combustion sports cars.
For Audi, the Concept C is more than a one-off show car—it’s a signal of what’s next. The automaker describes the upcoming production model as “a breathtaking all-electric sports car with exceptional dynamics,” and judging by the prototype, that claim feels grounded in engineering ambition rather than marketing talk.
The move also highlights the collaboration between Audi and Porsche, both under the Volkswagen Group umbrella, as they share development resources for high-performance EV platforms.
With its combination of retro inspiration, futuristic design, and proven Porsche architecture, the Concept C points to a new era for Audi—one that merges electric innovation with the soul of a true sports car.
The Audi Concept C stands as a rare example of a concept that doesn’t just imagine the future—it drives it. Street-legal, functional, and unmistakably Audi, it previews a 2027 production EV that could redefine what an electric sports coupe can be.
If the final model stays this close to the concept, it might just mark the next turning point in Audi’s evolution toward a fully electric performance lineup.