Audi 'deeply' into design revamp. Next gen Audis will not look much alike

[Ultimate Car Guy]

Chill down people!

We are just discussing about a sh tload of buttons here

Exactly, in my opinion there are a $#!t load of buttons! Thats why i don't like the the interior design. I feel that there are too may buttons and hence find it difficult to use.

What we're arguing about over the past few of posts is that Footie is trying to change the way i feel. Which, when you think about it is absolutely stupid. Its like someone trying to convince me that their girlfriend is more attractive than my girlfriend - its so stupid.

Seriously Giannis, have a look at the other threads and read Footie's posts (see the upcomming M3 thread). He's doing the exact same thing and its really frustrating members such as myself.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Finally...Jeez.

Also:

1. Will they actually do it, or this just some marketing crap?
2. If they do go through with it...Take notice other Automakers *cough*BMW*cough*...

 

[Deckhook]

Just like MMI there are buttons surrounding the controller. To change volume control you can use the button on the steering wheel, pretty easy. What I dislike about MMI is to counter-clockwise to move down a list.

The counter-clockwise is something to get use to but I actually agree with it because the menu is to the left, I don't think there is really a right or wrong way but if you are use to the other then I see your point.

 

[mod9]

The similarities of Audi's cars is the only thing that keeps away from buying an Audi, so this is a welcomed move to me. They are wonderful cars but they look too much alike.

But then, my favourite brand, BMW, has recently followed that boring strategy.

 

[Poverty]

the A7 is stunning IRL

 

[Human]

Design is the new premium - and from what we can see from spy photos's of the next A3, Audi is lacking in that department.

Ugly? Funky? Weird? Artistically correct or exciting? Whatever you wanna call cars i.e. the new BMW F20 1er, that is the new premium (according to contributors like Scott27). So naturally Audi will follow suite and jump into the trend

Just look at the stunning A-class Concept and it's clear M-B is following the same route. Luckily this new found 'premium' is - going forward - concentrated on the entry level offerings and younger/new buyers. Re-inventing 'premium' by design or style is a survival strategy - let's hope it works, it has to for survival in the long term. Motor manufacturers with low volume output (especially premium manufacturers) needs the new trends and to re-invent themselves for survival or risk being merged with or taken over by high volume manufacturers.

Audi may be excluded from the takeover risk because they have the mighty VAG behind the them but they need to stay competitive.

 

[K-A]

Yes it is worse. Mercedes recent products at least feel solid and actually hold up in terms of wear and tear, even if the material texture itself isn't the last word in refinement (Pre FL C & E). The newer ones even go further (FL C & CLS) and correct this shortcoming. They're every bit worthy of the Mercedes name and class leading in build and feel.

Related: At that same Auto Show that I was at, there was a fellow inside the W212 when I was looking at it, who seemingly-affectionately said that "It reminds me of M-B's from the 80's, like the SEL cars". I said "EXACTLY"!

 

[K-A]

I read a review in Car or Autocar recently, where they actually tested the time it took to do everyday things on the 3 systems. Command was the quickest system to change songs, set up bluetooth, enter destinations etc. It also had the best voice command system. What lets command down is the graphics. They're very simple next to the slick BMW professional system. MMI on the other hand looks like a game console.

I've used all 3

I was gonna say the exact same thing, perfectly said. IMO, COMMAND is the simplest, easiest to use, most functionally-sound version of the 3 (I have very limited use of MMI, but my initial experiences with it weren't exactly user-friendly-esque). What it lacks of the high-tech look and feel of iDrive, which is on a whole different level in that regard.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Command being quckiest probably due of the graphics being more basic. You have to agree the graphics is bad and kinda dull and not very modern/fresh like Idrive. 3D graphics is now available for Idrive.
The review I read said that Idrive and MMI to have a more user friendly interface. Also voice recognition for Comand had some issues and they were more impressed by voice recognition for MMI.

Yeah Just me, I did say the Mercedes graphics were very simple next to the 'Slick' BMW. They need to upgrade the look now to match the BMW, which looks very nice in the upgraded professional set up, but less impressive in the standard set up. That said the ease of use is exemplary. I just bought a 125i with professional navigation, and I'm pretty used to the interface after a week. The search functions and integration with the vehicle diagnostics etc. are also superior to Mercedes Command.

My own experience with MMI was that the system is quite easy to use as well, but the graphics look like a game console from the late 90's or early 00's. Audi is trying much too hard to be 'cool'.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Just like MMI there are buttons surrounding the controller. To change volume control you can use the button on the steering wheel, pretty easy. What I dislike about MMI is to counter-clockwise to move down a list.

Yeah the counter clockwise movement makes absolutely no sense. Audi being different for difference sake? Is it not a natural human instinct to twist a knob clockwise?

 

[conneem]

The similarities of Audi's cars is the only thing that keeps away from buying an Audi, so this is a welcomed move to me. They are wonderful cars but they look too much alike.

But then, my favourite brand, BMW, has recently followed that boring strategy.

Recently but only going back to what they used to do after a short lapse. It's nothing new for a marque's range to look very similar

All these BMW's were for sale at the same time.

Pretty much all car makers have a brand image to keep their car instantly recognisable as their certain brand and have done so for a very long time

 

[Deckhook]

Any brand with an image to uphold try to portray this image across all of the models to some degree and don't want to take too many chances, as you pointed out BMW next only are doing it now but also did it in the past. If anything Bangle era had the biggest variation. Even if Audi stir things up I bet we will still see those familiarities between the models.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I've just spent the weekend and 2,000km with the latest A6. I have to say, the iDrive is slightly ahead of MMI in terms of user friendliness. The biggest problems I had with the A6? The Stop/Start button being quite far away from it's logical place (by the steering column). Trying to skip tracks on the CD, one had to feel around for the small button which is hidden behind the auto shift lever. When wanting to access the "Menu" of the MMI, you have to move your hand quite a way back to press it, and often forcing you to not just take your eyes off the road, but actually look down into the cockpit, as it's very difficult to "feel around". At night time it's even worse with a sea of red buttons indistinguishable from each other.

 

[klier]

Recently but only going back to what they used to do after a short lapse. It's nothing new for a marque's range to look very similar

All these BMW's were for sale at the same time.

Pretty much all car makers have a brand image to keep their car instantly recognisable as their certain brand and have done so for a very long time

But what you don't appear to realize is the fact that Audi is one of the biggest copycat car companies in the world. Audi's brand identity is carefully CREATED by looking at other car companies and what they did in the past. Everything they do is based on what others have already done.

the A7 is stunning IRL

If stunning means absolutely hideous, then yes.
God, such an awful disaster that car is!!! So ugly it makes the Panamera look pretty. No joke.

 

[Zafiro]

If stunning means absolutely hideous, then yes.
God, such an awful disaster that car is!!! So ugly it makes the Panamera look pretty. No joke.

Oh man thats so wrong in so many ways. Panamera is ugly and A7 makes Panamera even worse looking. No joke.

 

[martinbo]

A7 is drop-dead fabulous in real life. A style icon in my opinion and completely at odds with the way it photographs - it looks better with each passing day. Panamera gets more ugly with every day. That's where the difference comes.

 

[conneem]

But what you don't appear to realize is the fact that Audi is one of the biggest copycat car companies in the world. Audi's brand identity is carefully CREATED by looking at other car companies and what they did in the past. Everything they do is based on what others have already done.

Why do you take anything said about BMW almost personally and feel the need try and bad mouth other brands, I was replying to a post that mentioned BMW's current range has being very similar only to highlight that BMW(and pretty much all car makers) have had very similar looking ranges for quite some time and it is not a modern trend. I was not even being critical of it, a brands products have to have instantly recognizable appearance traits and those mid 80's BMW's I pictured were so far ahead in looks compared to it's competitors at the time (for the under 60 market) they had no need to deviate from a cohesive design.

 

[K-A]

But what you don't appear to realize is the fact that Audi is one of the biggest copycat car companies in the world. Audi's brand identity is carefully CREATED by looking at other car companies and what they did in the past. Everything they do is based on what others have already done.

Can't this be said about practically any car company? Styling wise, one thing that Audi has over either of its competitors is a unique look to them, and damn is it unique, as they keep that same language going on forever! M-B and BMW are also unique, but both have been copied a billion times over.

Audi innovated decorative LED's at the front of a car, used for styling purposes, which everyone and their Mother have salivated like dogs on raw meat, to copy, and out-copy, and out-out copy.

As for the A7 VS Panamera, to me the Panamera kills the A7 in looks. The A7 looks okay, but it doesn't have the presence of a Panamera at all. At the Auto Show, I don't think anyone was even paying attention to the A7 (the A6 was practically collecting dust, BTW, I was able to literally relax in that car for 10 minutes), while the Panamera's all have lines to get in.

 

[Deckhook]

A7 is drop-dead fabulous in real life. A style icon in my opinion and completely at odds with the way it photographs - it looks better with each passing day. Panamera gets more ugly with every day. That's where the difference comes.

These two cars are like marmite, you either dig them or you don't. Klier obviously digs the Porsche but just not as much as if it had had a blue and white propeller on it's bonnet.

Can't this be said about practically any car company? Styling wise, one thing that Audi has over either of its competitors is a unique look to them, and damn is it unique, as they keep that same language going on forever! M-B and BMW are also unique, but both have been copied a billion times over.

Audi innovated decorative LED's at the front of a car, used for styling purposes, which everyone and their Mother have salivated like dogs on raw meat, to copy, and out-copy, and out-out copy.

As for the A7 VS Panamera, to me the Panamera kills the A7 in looks. The A7 looks okay, but it doesn't have the presence of a Panamera at all. At the Auto Show, I don't think anyone was even paying attention to the A7 (the A6 was practically collecting dust, BTW, I was able to literally relax in that car for 10 minutes), while the Panamera's all have lines to get in.

All you have to do is watch the car designers at motorshows, they are all over their competitors cars getting ideas and inspiration for their next project. Audi's LEDs started a treand that has been copied the world over, BMW's iDrive has been adapted by it's rivals and heaven knows how many technology firsts that Mercedes have created that are used by the rest. Cutting edge technologies and designs are only cutting for 6 months tops.

As for the Panny and A7, I like each but for seperate reasons. The Panamera isn't the prettiest car but it sure does have some presence about it and the A7 has an elegance that isn't common for a car this size, sure the backend isn't it's best angle but the others make up for that in my mind.