New Delhi: Audi’s portfolio might have gone a bit too drab over the past few years. The R8 and TT retired a long time ago. The brand at this point doesn’t have a coupe or a convertible having also dropped the two-door A5 models a while ago. However, the Concept C might be a light in all of the darkness for motor enthusiasts, as it previews a new performance model.
Six months after being unveiled, there have been rumours that it could be canned. Earlier in the week, Bloomberg had said that Porsche could cancel the electric 718 due to the high development costs and delays owing to engineering complexity. German business newspaper Handelsbatt, have reported that if Boxster and Cayman EVs don’t happen, then the Concept C could also see canning.
However, Daniel Schuster, Audi spokesperson, spoke to Motor1 and said that it was just speculation. Earlier, it had been said that the Concept C would be based on an electric platform that would be shared with the Volkswagen Group.
It is, of course, safe to assume that the two EV Porsche 718 models will be closely linked. Doing that will not just speed up the development but also pull down costs. These cars, of course inevitably low-volume products, being very niche, and it counts how much money is bled on them.
Handelsblatt said that if Porsche discontinue to work on the EVs of the 718, then Audi have to choose to either shut down the project or buy the platform from Zuffenhausen and continue development on their own. That move would be quite an expensive move, more like an EV sports car.
Why is Concept C important for Audi?
Audi needs to bring the Concept C in the market
The Concept C, when going to production, will be a two-seater EV only prospective with no plans for ICE, so there is no return of a V6 or an inline-five. It has been said that it could come with an electrically retractable targa top, just like the concept car shows. This is a much different approach from Porsche.
Of course, for Audi, it is very important that the Concept C reaches the production stage and could draw the customers to the showroom. From an auto enthusiast’s point of view, even though an ICE coupe would be far more successful, the Concept C will be no less.