Audi is reportedly working through an “intense concept phase” of a spiritual successor to its iconic TT sports car that’s set to be revealed “within five or 10 years” and with a different name.
As reported by Autocar, the German carmaker is experimenting with different silhouettes for its TT replacement, noting it will be different from the outgoing model that ended production late last year.
“We are taking a blank sheet of paper to see what is the right ‘icon’,” said Audi spokesperson Daniel Schuster to Autocar.
“It’s not just about looking at what we have now and saying ‘it’d be cool to make it electric’. It’s really about what would be a great addition to the range.”
Mr Schuster added it’s important for Audi to continue to differentiate between its regular and high-performance RS models, and said there has to be an “icon on top”.
Audi Sport GmbH managing director Rolf Michl told Autocar developing an electric successor to the TT is a “huge job” for the company because it “didn’t want to lose existing customers”.
“I wouldn’t just orientate myself on sizes, concepts, designs. You have to have a base portfolio that has to be sorted out very well,” said Mr Michl.
“And then the car has to fit to this portfolio and to the Audi brand. This is quite a unique job.”
Mr Schuster stopped short of describing what the electric Audi TT successor will look like, but noted it “would not just be a replacement”. There will also be a range-topping performance version.
The German carmaker’s approach reportedly won’t be to “take the engine out, put an electric motor in and you have a TT with an electric engine”, according to Mr Schuster.
“It will be different, but emotional,” added Mr Schuster.
In addition to trialling different silhouettes for the electric Audi TT replacement, the German carmaker is also reportedly working on different soundtracks.
Unlike Hyundai and Dodge which are recreating internal combustion engine (ICE) sounds for its electric vehicles (EVs), Audi won’t emulate the five-cylinder soundtrack of its iconic TT RS for the electric successor.
“We won’t use the five-cylinder sound for it because the TT was a unique concept that fitted perfectly in that time. Therefore, we have to find another thing for the future,” said Mr Michl.
“Honestly, we had some prototypes where we reproduced the five-cylinder sound and it didn’t fit at all. So it has to be an orientation to the customer but it has really to be specific. Silent is the new loud.”
Audi head of technical development Steffen Bamberger told Autocar it’s “too complicated” to recreate the nuances of a combustion engine for an EV.
Instead the German carmaker has invested “a lot of money” in other synthesised interior and exterior sounds.
Dynamic driving and agility will remain a key part of this electric Audi TT successor, however Mr Michl said it will include a “much wider” spread of driving behaviours.
“You will be surprised. For us, the RS DNA has to be reflected. It is not better or worse. It is just different,” added Mr Michl.
MORE: Everything Audi TT
