Hot! Audi: What's Next?

[Design FIRST]

The brief video has me intrigued. But I admittedly have some trouble identifying precisely what is being shown. Is it the car's nose and front portion of the hoodline ?

 

[Esp5]

Audi tease a new concept

In a world dominated by visual noise, ⁣
clarity begins with a reflection.⁣
⁣
“Origin” ⁣

April 20-26, Milan Design Week 2026⁣

Audi on Instagram: "In a world dominated by visual noise, ⁣ clarity begins with a reflection.⁣ ⁣ “Origin” ⁣ April 20-26, Milan Design Week 2026⁣ ⁣ #Audi #MilanDesignWeek2026 #ZahaHadidArchitects"

110 likes, 4 comments - audi on April 17, 2026: "In a world dominated by visual noise, ⁣ clarity begins with a reflection.⁣ ⁣ “Origin” ⁣ April 20-26, Milan Design Week 2026⁣ ⁣ #Audi #MilanDesignWeek2026 #ZahaHadidArchitects".

www.instagram.com

This should be Clarity's first foray into more down-to-earth sedan or SUV lines than the special "C Concept TT," perhaps something closer to production.
*It's strange that the China Auto Show is happening right around that time and they're not presenting it there...

According to @Design FIRST , there will also be an AUDI presented soon, but it's a different vehicle from the "other" brand.

 

[Design FIRST]

Perhaps we are not discussing a possible concept vehicle per se. Maybe simply subtle, isolated visual theme nuances that will appear in and on future "Radical Next" products ?

 

[Jonathan19]

Audi could hybridise RS3's five-pot to keep it on sale in Europe

Audi RS3's five-cylinder engine could be saved by hybrid power, says Audi Sport boss | Autocar

Current 2.5-litre 'EA855' engine falls foul of Euro 7 emissions regulations coming into force in November

www.autocar.co.uk

 

[Shellshock]

they need to, and its easy to do it...Audi needs the ice cars since they are looking great compared to their e-tron variants where Mercedes and bmw are one/two steps above

 

[Design FIRST]

This should be Clarity's first foray into more down-to-earth sedan or SUV lines than the special "C Concept TT," perhaps something closer to production.
*It's strange that the China Auto Show is happening right around that time and they're not presenting it there...

According to @Design FIRST , there will also be an AUDI presented soon, but it's a different vehicle from the "other" brand.

Yes, the SAIC-AUDI vehicle is an altogether different animal. It will be an actual automobile. More innuendo is surfacing that Audi AG's Milan Design Week appearance will be focused on an audiovisual collage of isolated images that project the spirit and mood of the company's approaching new design paradigm.

Hence, an actual concept vehicle appearing in Milan would be quite the surprise at this point. It would be cool though, as seemingly as unlikely as it now seems.

But hey...we'll see what the real deal is soon enough.

 

[Esp5]

will be focused on an audiovisual collage of isolated images

A huge scam then lol

 

[Design FIRST]

A huge scam then lol

A disappointment in any case. A bit like the 2019 Audi Days event. Interesting illustrations, blurred backround images and partially tarp-cloaked actual vehicles/mock-ups that looked very interesting. These disappeared following the event.

 

[Design FIRST]

...and this was an official Audi AG rendering presented at the 2019 Audi Days event. It only appeared at that venue and then disappeared into obscurity.

I recall the speculation that this may have teased the "Landjet".

 

[Jonathan19]

It will be an actual automobile. More innuendo is surfacing that Audi AG's Milan Design Week appearance will be focused on an audiovisual collage of isolated images that project the spirit and mood of the company's approaching new design paradigm.

WTF, please don't tell me it's just this.

 

[Gor134]

A disappointment in any case. A bit like the 2019 Audi Days event. Interesting illustrations, blurred backround images and partially tarp-cloaked actual vehicles/mock-ups that looked very interesting. These disappeared following the event.

That concept was cancelled and instead we got the ugly blob A6 e-Tron

 

[Design FIRST]

WTF, please don't tell me it's just this.

...not that I know for sure, mind you.

 

[SKY]

A disappointment in any case. A bit like the 2019 Audi Days event. Interesting illustrations, blurred backround images and partially tarp-cloaked actual vehicles/mock-ups that looked very interesting. These disappeared following the event.

Very similar approach to the one taken by MB with its new grille.

 

[Esp5]

Given that the auto show in China is next week and that Mercedes and BMW will be presenting their most important vehicles of the decade—key to increasing their market penetration there—the GLC EQ and the iX3, we mustn't forget the enormous size of the internal and external competition they face (much greater than in the rest of the world where they are largely alone, except for Lexus?).

This includes the new AUDI-SAIC SUV, which "coincidentally" will also be presented there and which, judging by its size and specifications, appears to be a carbon copy of the other two, but will cost perhaps two-thirds as much. And that's excluding the Q6 e-tron, which I don't consider up to par (I don't know how Audi will manage to sell two vehicles of the same size in the same market, when the cheaper one is the more advanced).

That said, and with dozens of comparable Chinese models aspiring to be premium at lower prices, it will be very interesting to see what happens there. I consider the Xiaomi YU7 SUV the main obstacle, as it has the size of an X5, the price of an X1, the technology of the capsule that just returned from the moon, and the appearance of a Purosangue, quite a challenge.

Also I wonder what will happen whith the germans brands in the rest of the world when all these Chinese "premium" ships finish the invasion they started in Europe and eventually land in the USA.

 

[Design FIRST]

Given that the auto show in China is next week and that Mercedes and BMW will be presenting their most important vehicles of the decade—key to increasing their market penetration there—the GLC EQ and the iX3, we mustn't forget the enormous size of the internal and external competition they face (much greater than in the rest of the world where they are largely alone, except for Lexus?).

This includes the new AUDI-SAIC SUV, which "coincidentally" will also be presented there and which, judging by its size and specifications, appears to be a carbon copy of the other two, but will cost perhaps two-thirds as much. And that's excluding the Q6 e-tron, which I don't consider up to par (I don't know how Audi will manage to sell two vehicles of the same size in the same market, when the cheaper one is the more advanced).

That said, and with dozens of comparable Chinese models aspiring to be premium at lower prices, it will be very interesting to see what happens there. I consider the Xiaomi YU7 SUV the main obstacle, as it has the size of an X5, the price of an X1, the technology of the capsule that just returned from the moon, and the appearance of a Purosangue, quite a challenge.

Also I wonder what will happen whith the germans brands in the rest of the world when all these Chinese "premium" ships finish the invasion they started in Europe and eventually land in the USA.

Indeed, Xiaomi is leaving me mighty impressed. Of course, Chinese government support of their automobile industry is massive. But still, the YU7 and new, revised SU7 appear to be magnificent automobiles.

As for the SAIC-AUDI E7x SUV: It appears that "Clarity" has already started there. In terms of design, I perceive it to be leaps and bounds above the SUV offerings from Audi AG.

 

[Rolf]

The Audi RS6 saloon is certainly looking very aggressive and a big difference and improvement on the regular A6. Going to give the M5 and BMW a few sleepless nights.

 

[Jonathan19]

Look like it will not be a concept car but some architecture by Zaha Hadid Architects

See. Pause. Feel. ⁣
Together with Zaha Hadid Architects, Audi introduces „Origin“ at Milan Design Week 2026. The installation expresses purpose that resonates through both form and function.⁣
It is Audi‘s vision shaped by clarity, technicality, intelligence, and emotion.⁣
Join us in Milan ⁣
April 20–26.⁣

Audi on Instagram: "See. Pause. Feel. ⁣ ⁣ Together with Zaha Hadid Architects, Audi introduces „Origin“ at Milan Design Week 2026. The installation expresses purpose that resonates through both form and function.⁣ It is Audi‘s vision shaped by clarit

335 likes, 4 comments - audi on April 18, 2026: "See. Pause. Feel. ⁣ ⁣ Together with Zaha Hadid Architects, Audi introduces „Origin“ at Milan Design Week 2026. The installation expresses purpose that resonates through both form and function.⁣ It is Audi‘s vision shaped by clarity, technicality...

www.instagram.com

 

[Design FIRST]

Look like it will not be a concept car but some architecture by Zaha Hadid Architects

See. Pause. Feel. ⁣
Together with Zaha Hadid Architects, Audi introduces „Origin“ at Milan Design Week 2026. The installation expresses purpose that resonates through both form and function.⁣
It is Audi‘s vision shaped by clarity, technicality, intelligence, and emotion.⁣
Join us in Milan ⁣
April 20–26.⁣

Audi on Instagram: "See. Pause. Feel. ⁣ ⁣ Together with Zaha Hadid Architects, Audi introduces „Origin“ at Milan Design Week 2026. The installation expresses purpose that resonates through both form and function.⁣ It is Audi‘s vision shaped by clarit

335 likes, 4 comments - audi on April 18, 2026: "See. Pause. Feel. ⁣ ⁣ Together with Zaha Hadid Architects, Audi introduces „Origin“ at Milan Design Week 2026. The installation expresses purpose that resonates through both form and function.⁣ It is Audi‘s vision shaped by clarity, technicality...

www.instagram.com

So...as far as Audi (SAIC-AUDI) is concerned, only the (perhaps very remote) possibility of a SAIC-AUDI "E6" 4 door GT EV sedan concept for Audi China 2026 in Beijing remains. The actual series production version will be officially presented sometime in 2027 according to automotive media reports.

Otherwise, it's the MEB EVO A2, Q7, Q9 and the C9 RS 6 sedan/Avant. All representing the trailing end of the Marc Lichte design era. Not so interesting, but that's just me.

 

[Esp5]

As for the SAIC-AUDI E7x SUV: It appears that "Clarity" has already started there. In terms of design, I perceive it to be leaps and bounds above the SUV offerings from Audi AG.

I see it more as a simple rebadged version of the current Q6 e-tron; it's the exact same silhouette without the creases in the sheet metal or the grille. IMO, it's still not very desirable. Clarity, on the other hand, will be a much more profound, game-changing proposal based on what we've seen so far.

 

[Design FIRST]

I see it more as a simple rebadged version of the current Q6 e-tron; it's the exact same silhouette without the creases in the sheet metal or the grille. IMO, it's still not very desirable. Clarity, on the other hand, will be a much more profound, game-changing proposal based on what we've seen so far.

Yes, "Clarity" is expected to highlight an extremely precisely machined, razor-sharp contoured, minimalistic rigidity that will be in dialogue with smooth organically integrated, highly cut wheelarch surfacing/openings housing very flush fitting wheels.

While SAIC-AUDI presents clean, organically integrated surfaces, there is more evidence of ellipsoidal, concave and convex sculpturing.

"Clarity" being tense minimalism and the SAIC-AUDI route being a more surface complex cubism ?