Audi to rename its entire line-up and use even numbers for EVs
Combustion-powered variants to be badged with odd numbers, battery-electric models to get even numbers and e-tron nameplate to be droppedAudi is hatching plans for a dramatic shake-up of its entire model line-up in order to help buyers differentiate between its all-electric and combustion-powered models.
As part of the German car-maker’s radical model name restructure, in the future combustion-powered Audi models will feature an odd number while EVs will be named using an even number.
Beginning from next year with the introduction of the battery-powered Audi A6 e-tron, combustion-powered versions of the sedan and wagon will be renamed as the A7, says Autocar.
The new naming strategy will continue later on in 2024 with the arrival of the Audi Q6 e-tron, which will be sold alongside the Q5, and will see some of the most established Audi models renamed.
Explaining the new strategy to Autocar, Audi tech boss Oliver Hoffmann said the odd-even nameplate differentiation was the easiest way to help clarify to buyers what powers each future Audi model.
“It is to have a clear structure for our customers. In the B-segment today, we have the Q5, and you could say that there is a Q5 ICE and we would bring the Q5 e-tron, maybe, but we decided we would have a clear strategy for our model line-up.
“One example is the A6. The A6 is a car which is in our core segment, and we will show that with the upcoming A6 e-tron. This is our main model in the C-segment, and the future is fully electric, so therefore we decided to give the even numbers to the BEV cars.”
Once the strategy is established, Hoffmann said Audi would then phase out its ‘e-tron’ all-electric powertrain identifier as it will no longer be necessary.
“In the future, A6 will be clear as the battery-electric vehicle. It will be the A6 e-tron, like the Q6 e-tron, but if anyone says ‘this is the Q6’, you know it is the battery-electric vehicle. You don’t have to use the e-tron badge, or ICE badge.”
Despite potentially dropping the ‘e-tron’ moniker for its model names, Audi is expected to continue to use the badge to identify its all-electric powertrain, in a similar way to what it already does with the TDI (diesel) and TFSI (petrol) names.
Related: Audi A6 Avant e-tron revealed with 700km range
Related: SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW: Audi A6 e-tron to spawn electric RS 6
Related: Audi to play numbers game with engine names
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