Audi shies away from rumors of sports car cancellations

Audi’s lineup could certainly use more spice. With no TT or R8 in the portfolio, a dedicated sports car is sorely lacking. Ingolstadt no longer even sells a coupe or convertible, after saying goodbye to the two-door A5 models some time ago. There is light at the end of the tunnel, however, as the Concept C previews a stunning new performance model. But just six months after its debut, rumors suggest it could be canceled.

Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that Porsche may pull the plug on the electric 718 due to high development costs and technical hurdles. Now, German business newspaper Handelsblatt (subscription required) claims that if the Boxster and Cayman EVs don’t materialize, the future of the Concept C could be in doubt.

We reached out to Audi for comment, and spokesman Daniel Schuster labeled the report as pure speculation and declined to comment further on the matter. Audi had previously told us that the Concept C would be based on an electric platform shared within the Volkswagen Group.

It is reasonable to assume that the vehicle will be closely linked to the electric Porsche 718 models. This would not only speed up development, but also reduce costs through economies of scale. Given their niche status, these cars are inevitably low-volume products, so every penny spent during the engineering phase matters.

Handelsblatt claims that if Porsche abandons the Boxster and Cayman EVs, Audi will face a difficult decision: either cancel the Concept C or buy Zuffenhausen’s platform and continue development on its own. That move would reportedly cost a nine-figure sum, which seems hard to justify for a sports car, let alone an electric car.

Photo by: Audi

The production-ready Concept C will indeed be fully electric. Some time ago, Audi spokesman Daniel Schuster said Engine1 the two-seater would be an EV affair only, with no plans for a combustion engine variant. As much as we would like to see an inline five or a V6 behind the seats, that is not possible.

We also heard that it would be offered exclusively with an electric retractable targa roof, as shown in the concept last September. As a result, a fixed-roof coupe is not in development. This marks a different approach from Porsche, as spy shots have revealed that both the Boxster and Cayman will get the EV treatment.

Photo by: Audi

Taking Motor1s: The Concept C is too important for Audi to cancel. While the company can’t realistically expect high sales volumes, this is exactly the kind of car that will draw customers into showrooms to buy something else. It could be the next TT or R8, although the chances of success would arguably be better with combustion engines.

The Concept C is more than just a halo car. It also signals a fresh design direction and a return to form when it comes to high-end interiors. Axing the project seems unlikely as it would undermine Audi’s efforts to take its brand to the next level after several lackluster years.

For now, the production version is still expected to arrive late next year. However, if Porsche ultimately cancels the electric Boxster and Cayman, Audi could face new hurdles that could push the Concept C’s launch beyond 2027.

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