Audi Introduces New Naming Convention with Q6 e-tron

Transition to Electric Vehicles

The recent debut of the Audi Q6 e-tron marks the beginning of Audi’s next generation of electric vehicles. This launch also signifies a shift in the brand’s naming strategy, moving away from numerical distinctions between powertrains.

Evolution of Audi’s Naming Scheme

In 2017, Audi started adding two-digit numbers to the names of some vehicles to denote engine specifications. For example, the Q3 with a 2.0-liter engine producing 184 hp is labeled as “40 TFSI,” while a more powerful variant generating 228 hp is known as “45 TFSI.” However, these numerical designations are now being phased out due to the rise of electric vehicles in Audi’s lineup.

Elimination of Numeric Suffixes

The Q8 e-tron was one of the first models to remove numerical suffixes from its name, with the Q6 e-tron following suit. This move simplifies Audi’s naming conventions and aligns them with the brand’s electric future.

Future Naming Strategy

According to Florian Hauser, Audi’s head of sales and marketing for electric vehicles, the brand will differentiate between front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models using the “quattro” name. Audi plans to use prefixes like “SQ6” for performance models and suffixes like “Performance” for variations in battery size, eliminating the need for numerical identifiers.

Simplifying the Ownership Experience

By streamlining its naming conventions, Audi aims to make it easier for customers to understand and differentiate between its vehicles. This transition will not only apply to electric vehicles but also extend to internal combustion models in the future.

Conclusion

As Audi moves towards a more cohesive naming strategy, the brand is set to abandon numerical suffixes on its vehicles. While the numbers may still appear on sales documents, their removal from vehicle badging reflects Audi’s commitment to simplifying its lineup and enhancing the ownership experience for customers.