Audi Concept C remains on track for a 2027 production debut, with the brand dismissing speculation tied to the uncertain future of the electric Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman.
The sleek two-door concept was unveiled in September last year, showcasing a dramatic new design direction for Audi that drew comparisons with the polarising Jaguar Type 00 Concept. Since then, questions have been raised about the project’s future following reports that Porsche may have shelved its electric 718 program due to financial pressures and cost overruns.
However, Audi has denied suggestions that the Concept C could meet the same fate. Speaking to Motor1, the German brand described reports of cancellation as “pure speculation”, stopping short of offering further confirmation but maintaining the project remains active.
Platform links and Porsche uncertainty
While Audi has not officially confirmed technical details, the Concept C is widely expected to share its electric platform with the upcoming Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman EVs, reflecting the Volkswagen Group’s strategy of sharing architectures and components to reduce development costs.
This approach mirrors past collaborations within the group, including the previous-generation Audi R8, which was closely related to the Lamborghini Huracán.
Yet unconfirmed reports from Germany suggest Porsche has put the electric 718 twins on hold after the project suffered significant delays and budget blowouts, amid broader concerns about EV profitability. Porsche posted a 10 per cent global sales decline in 2025 and has reportedly scaled back its electric ambitions as a result.
If the 718 EV program were to be cancelled entirely, Handelsblatt claims it could cost Porsche billions of euros, while also casting doubt over the commercial viability of Audi’s Concept C, given the shared development costs.
Audi’s EV strategy under pressure
Audi itself is navigating a challenging period, with reports of a sharp profit collapse in the first half of 2025 leading to the brand being labelled a “crisis case” within the Volkswagen Group.
Despite this, the Audi Concept C is understood to form a key pillar of the brand’s long-term turnaround strategy. The project was confirmed after the company’s financial losses and the closure of its Belgium manufacturing plant, signalling the brand’s intent to push ahead with halo EV models.
In recent months, Audi has also cancelled plans for a high-performance RS6 e-tron wagon and agreed to sell the majority of its stake in famed Italian design and engineering house Italdesign to US firm UST, highlighting the scale of its restructuring efforts.
Sales recovery and EV momentum
Signs of recovery are emerging, however. Audi’s global sales decline improved from 5.9 per cent in the first half of 2025 to a three per cent year-on-year drop for the full year, with 1.6 million vehicles delivered worldwide.
Electric vehicle sales rose strongly, with 223,000 EVs sold globally, an increase of 36 per cent. In Australia, Audi delivered 1585 electric vehicles in 2025, placing it 14th in the national EV sales rankings.
Overall, Audi Australia recorded a 4.4 per cent year-on-year sales increase, climbing one position to 18th in the national market.
What’s next for the Audi Concept C?
The production version of the Audi Concept C is set to be electric-only, with no internal combustion or hybrid variants planned for its 2027 launch. If it reaches showrooms as intended, it will represent a major step in Audi’s efforts to reassert itself in the premium performance segment while accelerating its transition to electrification.
For now, Audi remains adamant that the project is alive, even as uncertainty continues to swirl around its Porsche sibling.
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