With the classic TT sports car officially ceasing production at the end of last year, many car enthusiasts are asking: Does Audi's sports car spirit remain? The answer may lie in...This all-electric concept car, codenamed Concept Con.
Audi plans to launch a brand-new all-electric sports car to succeed the TT and R8. This new car will not only use the same SSP Sport platform as the Porsche 718 EV, but will also incorporate simulated mechanical shifting and classic engine sounds, attempting to rediscover the thrill of gasoline-powered cars in the silent electric era.
More Than Just a Reskinned 718: The Centrally Positioned Battery Layout is Key
Although it shares a platform with Porsche, this new Audi model demonstrates a strong degree of independence in its design logic.
To avoid the problem of excessively high seating position (like sitting on a stool) caused by the traditional "battery floor" layout in electric vehicles, Audi adopted a "vertical stacked battery" (E-Core) layout similar to that of traditional mid-engine sports cars. The battery pack is centrally located behind the cabin and in front of the rear axle.
There are two main advantages to doing this:
• Sit in a lower posture:The driver's buttocks can be close to the ground, regaining the ground-hugging feel that a sports car should have.
• Concentration of center of gravity:The weight distribution is simulated with a mid-engine layout, reducing the moment of inertia during steering and improving handling agility.
The vehicle's dimensions are approximately 4520 x 1970 x 1285 mm, making it larger than the TT and closer to the size of the R8 or 911. To offset the battery weight, the entire vehicle will extensively use aluminum alloy and carbon fiber, aiming to keep the weight around 1690 kg, which is almost on par with the R8 V10 Spyder.
Simulate "gear shifting" and "engine sound": regain driving rhythm
In terms of performance, the new car is expected to offer a single-motor rear-wheel drive (300 hp) and a dual-motor all-wheel drive (600 hp) version, filling the performance gap between the R8 and the TT RS.
But the most interesting aspect lies in the "realism" at the software level. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner revealed that the new car will feature a virtual gear shifting system. When the driver pulls the paddle shifter, the motor will instantly adjust the torque output, simulating the jerkiness and impact of shifting gears in a mechanical transmission. At the same time, a simulated 2.5T five-cylinder engine sound will play inside the car.
Gernot Döllner believes this is not a gimmick, because when driving at the limit, the human brain needs to judge the rhythm of entering a corner through sound frequency and vibration feedback, and an overly smooth electric car will blur this perception.
The design returns to minimalism, and physical buttons are revived.
In terms of exterior and interior design, the new design director, Massimo Frascella, used the minimalist language of "Radical Next" to create the vehicle. The new car does not rely on exaggerated lines, but instead creates an aura through precise proportions and large curved surfaces, reminiscent of the original TT.
The interior design is a counter-intuitive attempt. In an era where screens are getting bigger and bigger, Audi has chosen to be restrained – the center console retains only a foldable 10.4-inch screen, and insists on keeping physical buttons with mechanical damping on the steering wheel and in the center console area, allowing the driver to operate core functions blindly at high speeds.
Analysis: Using "Imperfection" to Combat Homogenization
Audi's new sports car, expected to go into production in 2027, reflects the rethinking of traditional automakers in their electrification transformation.
When horsepower becomes cheap (any electric SUV can easily break into the 3-second club), the value of a sports car is no longer simply about acceleration figures, but about "character." Simulating shift shocks and engine noise—designs that seem "inefficient" or even "redundant" from an engineering perspective—are actually key to differentiating electric sports cars.
Audi is trying to tell us that future luxury sports cars won't be selling batteries and motors, but rather a meticulously tuned "sensory experience." If we can still feel the ritualistic quality of mechanical operation in an electric car, perhaps the discontinuation of the TT won't be so sad.
