Audi has announced a new worldwide model naming structure that will be linked to the car's power output, rather than engine displacement.
Traditional model series names – from Audi A1 to Audi Q7 – will remain unchanged. What will change is the addition of a two-numeral designation within the model family, the value of the new designations represents the power output of the individual model in kilowatts.
To do this Audi has created sub-classifications within the range based on performance levels. The new designations stand for the specific power output and apply to both combustion engines and to e-tron models with hybrid and electric drives.
For example, the numeral combination “30” will appear on the rear of all models with power outputs of between 81 and 96 kW. And “45” represents power outputs of between 169 and 185 kW. The two numerals will appear alongside with the engine indicator – TFSI (petrol), TDI (diesel), g-tron (natural gas) or e-tron (electric/hybrid).
The number combinations identifying the performance levels in the Audi product range increase in increments of five, and represent the hierarchy within both the model series and the brand’s overall model range.
The spectrum will initially range from the Audi A1 25 TFSI hatchback with 70kW, to the Audi A8 55 TFSI sedan with 250kW. The new designations will not apply to Audi's high-performance S and RS models.
“As alternative drive technologies become increasingly relevant, engine displacement as a performance attribute is becoming less important to our customers. The clarity and logic of structuring the designations according to power output makes it possible to distinguish between the various performance levels,” explains Dr. Dietmar Voggenreiter, Board of Management Member for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG.
The changes will kick off with the new Audi A8 generation towards the end of 2017. First among the two six-cylinder engines to be redesignated will be the 3.0 TDI with 210 kW – as the Audi A8 50 TDI, and the 3.0 TFSI with 250 kW – as the Audi A8 55 TFSI.
Audi will change the designations of the remaining model series in the current product range in time for the new model year changeover in the second quarter of 2018.
-Driven