The Audi Concept C May Be Electric, But Gas Isn’t Dead Yet

[Source: CarBuzz]

The award-winning Audi Concept C is one of the most anticipated Audi products in a long time. It is not just a new model but a new identity for the German automaker. However, there is one thing that is holding it back from truly driving Audi enthusiasts wild. That is the powertrain. The Concept C is an EV. And according to a recent report by CarBuzz, the Concept C will remain an EV and no ICE version is planned. However, it just might spawn other ICE sports cars. 

For years, it seemed inevitable that every future Audi performance car would eventually become fully electric. But according to Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, the reality is proving far more complicated, especially in the United States.

Döllner recently admitted that Audi’s earlier “one-size-fits-all” EV strategy no longer works globally. While Europe and China are expected to become heavily dominated by electric vehicles, he believes the American market will remain focused on combustion engines and hybrids for at least the next decade. That is a major statement from one of Audi’s top decision makers and one that will likely excite enthusiasts worried about the future of gas-powered Audis.

Audi has already started adapting its strategy around regional demand. The brand is prioritizing the U.S. market with products like the upcoming flagship Q9 SUV, and flexibility within the broader Volkswagen Group lineup gives Audi room to continue offering different powertrains depending on the market.

That naturally raises questions about the stunning Audi Concept C. Unfortunately for enthusiasts hoping for a screaming turbocharged five-cylinder or twin-turbo V8 under the hood, Döllner confirmed the Concept C itself will remain fully electric. Audi reportedly sees the car as a low-volume halo model aimed primarily at EV-friendly regions such as the West Coast and parts of the East Coast.

Still, Audi is not completely shutting the door on future combustion-powered sports cars. In fact, Döllner openly suggested the company could continue building performance models powered by combustion engines or hybrids. His definition of “sports car” was fairly broad, however. He pointed to the new RS 5 as an example of a modern Audi sports car, despite its four-door layout.

That leaves plenty of room for speculation. Could Audi eventually build a new hybrid-powered R8 successor? Could the next RS 6 continue with a powerful plug-in hybrid V8? At this point, Audi is clearly leaving its options open rather than committing entirely to one future.

For Audi enthusiasts, that may be the biggest takeaway. The Concept C may be electric-only, but the sound of combustion engines may still remain part of Audi’s performance identity for many years to come.