Audi has moved decisively to shut down speculation around the future of its long-rumoured electric sports car, widely seen as the spiritual successor to the Audi TT. In an internal letter to employees, CEO Gernot Döllner confirmed that the production version of the Concept C remains firmly on course for a launch next year.
The message, first reported by German publication Donaukurier, was aimed at calming internal concerns following industry chatter about potential cancellations within the Volkswagen Group’s EV portfolio. Döllner made it clear: the project is alive, progressing, and strategically important for Audi’s future.
Porsche Partnership Remains Intact
At the heart of the discussion is Audi’s technical collaboration with Porsche. The new two-seat coupé, referred to internally as the C-Sport, is being developed alongside Porsche’s upcoming electric 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman. The models are set to share core components including the platform, battery technology, drivetrains, and key electrical architecture.
According to Döllner, concerns over Porsche’s role are unfounded. “The delivery of the platform by Porsche is not in question,” he wrote, emphasising that development is moving forward in “good collaboration between Team Porsche and Team Audi.”
This reassurance comes amid leadership changes at Porsche, where Michael Leiters took over as CEO on 1 January 2026. Subsequent reports suggested the new leadership was reviewing costs and potentially reassessing the electric 718 programme, fuelling doubts about knock-on effects for Audi.
EV Speculation Meets Strategic Reality
While Bloomberg reported that Porsche was evaluating multiple scenarios as part of wider cost controls, Audi’s leadership appears keen to separate strategic review from project cancellation. Döllner’s communication signals that, despite internal debates across the Group, the C-Sport remains a locked-in product.
For Audi, this car represents more than just another EV. It is a brand statement: compact, emotional, and performance-led at a time when many electric models skew large and utilitarian.
Concept C: Design and Engineering Preview
The direction of the production model was previewed by the Concept C unveiled at the Munich Motor Show last September. With compact proportions, a tight two-seat cabin, and a clear driver-first focus, the concept hinted at a return to Audi’s lightweight sports car DNA, reinterpreted for the electric era.
Measuring around 4350mm in length, the dual-motor coupé is based on a heavily reworked version of the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture. Notably, the battery is positioned behind the driver rather than under the floor, enabling a lower seating position and a more traditional sports car driving posture.
A New Design Chapter for Audi
The C-Sport also marks a turning point in Audi’s visual identity. It is the first model styled under new design chief Massimo Frascella and will introduce a revised front grille and design language set to influence future Audi models.
In short, what this really means is that Audi is using the electric sports car not just to replace the TT, but to redefine what performance, design, and emotion look like in its electric future. And for now, that future is very much on schedule.
