Audi Concept C DRIVEN: first impressions of two-seat electric sports car

Several concept cars have been revealed in 2025, but few are more anticipated for production than the Audi Concept C.

Revealed in September, the Concept C previews a two-seat sports car that will go on sale in 2027 – and Move Electric’s sister publication Autocar has been given an exclusive drive of the prototype.

The Concept C was first detailed in Milan and then displayed at the Munich Motor Show. It derives inspiration from several Audi models, including the 1930s Auto Union Type C racer, the Audi TT coupé and the R8 supercar, and introduces a whole new design language under new design chief Massimo Frascella.

At the launch, Audi merely described the two-seat concept as being “drivable”, but the firm has now revealed that it is significantly more advanced than most show cars. That means the working concept will give some indication of what the production version will be like to drive. 

Autocar is the only UK publication that has had a chance to drive the car on public roads, which took place in the Italian Dolomites - so read on for some exclusive information…

The Concept C prototype has been developed entirely in-house at Audi by a team of around 150 people. Design work was done in parallel with the development of the production version, which is expected to arrive in 2027.

The exact car pictured is effectively a one-off road legal and features working windscreen wipers, indicators, a horn and more. 

Audi did not confirm any technical details of the Concept C, but we can confirm it is rear-wheel drive and powered by a single electric motor. Other figures including battery size, power outputs, acceleration times, top speed, range or weight were also kept secret. The car’s top speed was aso limited to around 90mph.

Audi also didn’t confirm which platform the Concept C uses. It could either be a bespoke concept car platform, a modified version of the firm’s existing PPE platform or a new sports car platform, which would likely be shared with the upcoming Porsche 718 Boxtser and Cayman electric sports cars. 

Let’s head inside the car. The Concept C’s door is opened by pressing a haptic button positioned on bottom of the B-pillar, Audi has focused on the idea of ‘hidden technology’, which means the car features a minimalist dashboard layout.

To maintain a minimalist aesthetic, the central touchscreen is initially concealed upon entry. However, it rotates out from beneath the dashboard once the start button is engaged.

The seating position is low to the ground and purposeful, and a real contrast for most current EVs that use a skateboard chassis with the batteries built into the floor. 

The controls are intuitively arranged, with essential systems like the drive mode selector on stalks and physical buttons on the steering wheel.

The speedometer is positioned in a separate display just above the primary driver information screen, placing it closer to the driver's line of sight. Several haptic controls are also seamlessly integrated into the dashboard below the small central touchscreen.

However, while the touchscreen did provide some accurate information, such as remaining battery charge, it was largely a demonstration screen, and other crucial buttons were merely cosmetic.

Autocar experienced the Concept C both as a passenger and as a driver. In both situations, the Concept C demonstrates clear potential on winding roads.

Its acceleration is fast yet linear, offering the instant EV pace when the throttle is applied firmly, but with less harshness than many.

Reaching speeds of 50mph on open stretches, the car also tackles corners with gusto, highlighting its stability under load.

The Concept C boasts excellent forward visibility, feeling spacious even with the roof closed. Retracting the hard top, a first for Audi and a key feature of the production version, enhances the sense of space and openness. Audi acknowledged the technical challenges of this design but opted against separate coupe and roadster versions.

Although the production model will feature various drive modes and artificial gears, the concept car currently offers only one.

Despite this, it demonstrates strong acceleration and immediate throttle response. The steering is heavy yet responsive.

However, due to the brief, closed road section of Autocar's test and the presence of a guide vehicle, it was impossible to push the car through corners at speed to assess its handling capabilities during rapid direction changes.

Audi's team engineered a completely bespoke suspension system for Concept C, a design far more advanced than typical prototypes.

While it manages road imperfections reasonably well, the car's low ride height and stiff setup make bumps and undulations more pronounced than in vehicles with greater ground clearance.

The electric motor also generates considerable noise. While the concept utilises the motor's inherent sound, the production model will feature artificial engine noise to enhance driver engagement.

Given how little has been revealed about the Concept C’s technical details, from Autocar's short drive, it’s predictably impossible to gain any real conclusions about what the production version will be like when it arrives in 2027.

That said, the low-riding concept and compact dimensions give it a purposeful, dynamic feel lacking from many current performance EVs; with some refinement, this could be an intriguing and compelling offering.

Clearly then, the potential is there: while much of the focus on the Concept C at its unveiling was on Audi’s design future, the effort put into making this prototype as capable as it is hints at the statement it is intended to make about the dynamism of the firm’s future line-up.