The return of an Audi sports car does not disappoint
The departure of the Audi TT and R8 with no immediate replacements was sad news for Audi enthusiasts. Currently, the brand has no genuine sports car, but Audi’s CEO raised hopes when he mentioned a concept would be coming soon, describing it as the company’s “TT moment 2.0” recently—strong words when you consider the impact of the first-generation TT.
Ahead of the official reveal at the IAA Mobility Show later today, Audi Canada’s Facebook page mistakenly leaked a single image of the concept. It has since been taken down, but not before we got hold of it.
If The TT And R8 Had A Baby, It Would Be This
Audi Canada/Facebook
Even though the concept isn’t intended to directly replace the TT or R8, the sole profile image looks like a fusion of both cars, depending on where you look. Up until the B-pillar, it appears to be a more chiselled TT, but beyond that is a rear section that evokes a mid-engined sports car like the R8.
We can also see ultra-slim headlights and taillights, especially large wheels, and no traditional door handles. Of course, the mid-engined proportions matter little, as this will be an electric concept—and will likely spawn an electric production version at some stage.
The new Audi sports car is expected to share a platform with the new generation Porsche Boxster/Cayman EVs. That suggests it has a similar compact footprint to the TT, which remained one of the smaller sports cars on the market even in its third generation.
A New Gas-Powered Audi Sports Car Is Possible, Though
Audi
Back in June, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said the company will not limit itself to only electric cars from 2033, as previously indicated. Instead, he believes in powertrain flexibility for the brand, given that EV demand hasn’t been as strong as expected.
“Audi is launching from 2024-2026 a completely new line-up of internal combustion engine and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and that gives us complete flexibility for at least another seven, eight, maybe 10 years, and then we will see how our markets develop,” said the CEO at the time.
Asked specifically about the TT or R8 returning, he didn’t rule out the possibility, and said “there is room for Audi in such fields.”
That leads us to believe that this new sports car may eventually morph into a production version that has both gas and electric power. After all, Audi’s next RS6 is in line to get both electric and plug-in hybrid versions in its next generation, so why not apply the same strategy to this smaller sports car?
All will be revealed when the new concept is shown in full, which will happen later today at 3 PM Eastern time.
