The New Audi A4 Should Look A Lot Like The Brand's Cool New Concept Car

• Audi confirms next-generation A4 will be fully electric, inspired by the bold Concept C design.
• Model to feature Rivian-developed tech with up to 500 miles of range and 400 horsepower.
• Blends physical controls with advanced software — a return to the tactile “Audi feel.”

The new, electrified Audi A4 has been confirmed. CEO Gerhard Döllner says the model is a “focus” for Audi, and will draw inspiration from the recent Audi Concept C, the brand’s vision for a small, electrified sports coupe. The model is also rumored to benefit from Volkswagen’s technical partnership with Rivian, leveraging the American company’s hardware.

Audi’s Electric A4 Will Usher In A New Era

A report from Autocar indicates the Concept C will form the basis for many Audi models going forward, the electric A4 included. Audi’s CEO says the car will also leverage the same reliance on physical controls, while keeping digital elements present, but in the background: “You have less virtual buttons in the car and more haptic elements, because that’s definitely the customer requirement we get from the market: customers want to have specific functions and direct access. And it gives us the ability to bring back materiality to the interior of the car – that real metal feeling, the ‘Audi click’, so also emotion. But underneath it’s a central computer unit with zonal computers behind, so that’s no contradiction. It fits together.”

The report alleges that Audi will use the Concept C’s chief styling cues, like its upright grille, LED light clusters, and a minimalist silhouette in the new A4’s design language. Underneath, it’ll likely be one of the first Audi models to benefit from VW’s partnership with Rivian. Hard specs aren’t clear yet, but rumors indicate co-developed vehicles like the new A4 and the upcoming VW ID 1 will have much greater range and performance than outgoing Volkswagen Group EVs and hybrids. Range-topping models could be nearing 400 horsepower with close to 500 miles of range.

Audi The New A4 Has To Walk The Walk, Too

Audi’s production interpretations of the Concept C represent a chance to get out in front of competitors. Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz have doubled down on larger screens and a heavy-handed approach to adding the latest tech. Should Audi be able to provide similar functionality with less digital interference, the brand’s reputation for bold, trend-bucking designs and engineering could be renewed. In doing so, Audi has the opportunity to differentiate itself from competitors in a way it hasn’t done in recent memory, as next-generation EVs from BMW and Mercedes-Benz look to continue their respective approaches to design and technology.

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