Effectively, that did not final lengthy.

In March 2023 Audi introduced plans for a brand new naming scheme to raised differentiate fuel automobiles from electrical autos. EVs have been supposed to make use of even numbers, whereas fashions with combustion engines have been set to make use of odd numbers. The nomenclature was nonetheless very a lot alive final November when the subsequent A7 was introduced because the A6’s substitute. Now, the German luxurious model is reverting to the previous automobile naming technique.

Going ahead, the numbers will as soon as once more refer strictly to the scale of the automobile moderately than the kind of powertrain. To tell apart combustion-engined automobiles from totally electrical fashions, one of many following suffixes will likely be included: TFSI for gasoline, TFSIe for plug-in hybrids, TDI for diesels, and e-Tron for EVs. For higher differentiation, Audi will stick with the suffixes denoting the kind of physique type: Sedan, Avant, or Sportback. 

We will all agree that Audi shouldn’t have modified its naming technique within the first place. It additionally should not have applied that complicated naming scheme based mostly on the powertrain’s output. How are individuals supposed to instantly establish a “55 TFSI” or a “40 TDI”? Fortunately, that bizarre double-digit naming scheme is gone, too. Cadillac had an analogous concept, however used torque numbers to differentiate between fashions. Regardless of being an American model, it determined to go together with Newton meters as an alternative of pound-feet.

Subsequent-generation Audi A6 Avant rendering by Motor1

The following-generation A6 would be the first mannequin to make use of Audi’s new/previous naming scheme. It was purported to be rebranded because the A7, however not anymore. The revamped mannequin with combustion engines will premiere on March 4 and can sit alongside the purely electrical A6 E-Tron. A brand new RS6 Avant is within the works, however there are worrying studies it would drop the V-8 in favor of a plug-in hybrid V-6.

Audi will proceed to make use of “A” for automobiles and “Q” for crossovers. Nonetheless, the smallest fashions in every class will likely be faraway from the lineup, because the A1 and Q2 will likely be discontinued on the finish of their life cycles. The technique will solely to fashions which can be set to look sooner or later, which suggests current autos will not be going to be renamed. So the brand new A5 will not return to the A4 identify.

The corporate with the 4 Rings had supposed to go purely electrical by 2033, but it surely’s now staying “versatile” after realizing individuals aren’t prepared to surrender on automobiles with combustion engines so quickly.