Audi design finds its minimalist groove again with Concept C

Fans of the TT rejoice—there’s a new Audi two-seater on the way. The German automaker just unveiled Concept C, a stylish and minimalist sports car that marks the start of a new styling philosophy and, hopefully, a return to the bold designs that brought it so much success.

There are design cues and links back through Audi’s history, but this is no pastiche of a retro design as we might have seen from J Mays. Rather, Audi’s design team under Chief Creative Officer Massimo Frascella says that the design influences include one of Adolf Hitler’s pre-war Silver Arrows racing cars, the 1936 Auto Union Type C—Audi being one of the four brands that combined to form Auto Union.

Audi Concept C seen from the rear 3/4s
The design is deceptively large—bigger than a TT or even an R8.


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Aud

Audi Concept C back half in profile, roof up
The Concept C has a targa top—here, it’s on.


Credit:

Audi

Audi Concept C back half in profile, roof down
And here, it’s off.


Credit:

Audi

The slats that cover the Concept C’s rear bring to mind the cooling louvres at the rear of the Type C, necessary to let the heat generated by its monstrous V16 engine to escape the rear engine bay. But I also see some of the streamlined Rennlimousine in the Concept C’s slab sides.

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