Skip advert
Advertisement

New names for new Audis: German brand tinkers with model range yet again!

Odd numbers for ICE cars and evens for EVs are no longer in the plan as Audi backtracks on its naming strategy

Audi A6 Avant - 'A6' badge

Audi has confirmed that it will return to a simpler naming structure for its range this year, dropping its insistence on naming its ICE models with odd numbers and EVs with even. The change reverses the company’s plan to differentiate its vehicles based on their powertrain, and a car’s badge will now instead purely be based on its size and segment. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

This fresh system will kick off with the new Audi A6 on March 4, when the model will be revealed with the same name as its all-electric A6 E-tron sibling. Before now, Audi had been expected to name the ICE-powered A6 the A7, following on from what it had done with the new Audi A5, which replaced the previous-generation A4

Marco Schubert, Member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at Audi, said, “This decision is the result of intensive discussions and also follows the wishes of our customers, as well as feedback from our international dealers. Our nomenclature now provides all customers worldwide with an intuitive orientation in our portfolio. We choose the names of our models in a way that reveals size and positioning at first glance.”

Now, cars featuring an all-electric powertrain will simply utilise the E-Tron moniker to make them stand out from their ICE equivalents. Audi has yet to comment on whether the new A5 will back-track to its A4 moniker, but it does now open the door for Audi to build both ICE and all-electric versions of the same car in future – something that was not previously on the cards.

This will apply to all of Audi’s A models, S models, RS models and Q models in the future, with Sportback, Avant and Allroad variants still signifying a variation of body shape within the main model line-up. 

Subscribe to the UK's favourite car magazine: get Auto Express delivered every week...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior staff writer

Senior staff writer at Auto Express, Jordan joined the team after six years at evo magazine where he specialised in news and reviews of cars at the high performance end of the car market. 

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

The Audi Quattro is back! ABT has recreated the icon, and it’s got 523bhp
ABT representatives standing next to the ABT Audi Quattro

The Audi Quattro is back! ABT has recreated the icon, and it’s got 523bhp

Only 30 examples of reimagined rally legend will be built, and they were all sold within hours of the car being unveiled
News
2 May 2025
Cutting-edge new AUDI E5 Sportback is the 776bhp, 480-mile EV estate… that we won’t see in the UK
AUDI E5 Sportback on display at Shanghai Motor Show - front

Cutting-edge new AUDI E5 Sportback is the 776bhp, 480-mile EV estate… that we won’t see in the UK

First offering from the joint venture between Audi and SAIC will, very confusingly, be sold by new AUDI sub-brand
News
23 Apr 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
8 Apr 2025
Shanghai Motor Show 2025: what all the big car brands are up to
Shanghai Motor Show 2025 - header

Shanghai Motor Show 2025: what all the big car brands are up to

The Shanghai Auto Show is now an established part of the automotive calendar – we’ve got a full list of show debuts
News
25 Mar 2025

Most Popular

Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it’s a “monster”
VW Golf GTI badge

Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it’s a “monster”

VW is taking the iconic hot hatchback brand into the electric era with the new Golf GTI EV already in development…
News
13 May 2025
Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change
Protyre area manager Simon Hall inspecting a Vauxhall Corsa's tyre

Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change

The number of MoT failures caused by worn tyres is on the rise, and experts are calling for mandatory follow-ups on advisories
News
12 May 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper
Renault 5 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper

The modern-day Super Cinq comes with a super price. It’s our Deal of the Day for 14 May
News
14 May 2025