news

Audi TT to be axed, will be replaced by sporty EV

Audi has taken to its Annual General Meeting to announce it will be killing off the TT sports car after the current generation, and eventually succeeded by an 'emotive' EV.


Company chairman, Bram Schot, made the announcement during the AGM, citing the streamlining of the company's investments as the main reason for the decision.

According to reports documenting Schot's 'lengthy' speech, Audi's chairman said the company has been "involved in too many projects for several years", so now it will "concentrate maximum resources on [its] key projects" to simplify its model range.

Not a whole lot of detail was given regarding the eventual replacement for the TT, though Schot did confirm the replacement will be electric – e-tron coupe/roadster, anyone?

The future of the Audi R8 supercar is also uncertain, too. "Do we need a successor with a combustion engine?" Schot asked, "Does this fit with our vision?"

While answers to those questions were not provided, it's likely the fate of the R8 will be decided in the not too distant future – conflicting reports have been swirling of late about this.

Schot also confirmed the new Q3 Sportback will be revealed in July, also indicating the company plans to expand the Sportback brand "across our entire portfolio to A and Q models".

With that in mind, expect more coupe-like versions of existing models, namely the Q2 and Q5 crossovers.

Five new Audi EVs will be launched in 2020, with 20 electric models to be offered by the brand by 2025, according to Schot.

A number of the company's upcoming model launches will likely be crossovers, too, with Schot saying that "every second Audi is to be an SUV".

Beyond core range and volume sellers, Audi is already discussing the next-generation A8 limousine, despite having only being on sale for less than two years.

Schot said during the meeting that the next A8 "might well be all electric", and while a firm direction hasn't been decided on yet, Schot added that Audi is "thinking about revolutionising the top-end class with a completely new concept for the A8".

Without trying to burst Audi's bubble, it's been widely rumoured for a while now that Jaguar could be going all-electric for the next-generation XJ, which is a direct rival for the A8. The four-ringed marque might want to get a move on, then.

 

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent