by Audi’s Design Controversies
Recent Audi designs have sparked some debate, with both successful examples and failures. For instance, the new A6 Avant looks stylish and proportional, while the Q4 e-tron seems designed without inspiration.
Chinese Design as Inspiration
Audi’s European design team should take a closer look at what their Chinese colleagues have achieved with the all-electric E5 Sportback. This model demonstrates how Ingolstadt can update its global electric vehicle aesthetic by combining familiar Audi precision with a sharper look.
Each version of the E5 Sportback has the same overall silhouette, but with appropriate enhancements, there is plenty of room for visual drama.
Transformation into a Wide-Body Version
These renderings from Sugar Design depict it in a wide-body version inspired by the RS6 Avant, and it looks absolutely brilliant. Who said electric cars have to look boring?
The E5 immediately looks much more formidable with a darkened front section, which on the standard model is usually painted in the body color. Adding black makes the complex LED lines more noticeable.
Furthermore, lowering the car and installing a new sharp splitter makes its appearance much more aggressive. The RS badge is also a nice addition.
Detailing of the RS Version
Like a true RS model, the E5 Sportback was also imagined with extended wheel arches at the front and rear. It also stands on large wheels and, like the standard model, has a contrasting glossy black roof.
The stylistic changes are completed by a new darkened rear section, which, like the front, has a transformative effect on the car’s overall design.
Prospects for the Global Market
For now, it’s not worth expecting Audi to transfer key design elements of the E5 to global markets. However, given how quickly the model gained popularity in China, borrowing some of its visual ideas could be a good step for the global model range.
This concept highlights the growing importance of the Chinese market for global automakers, where consumers demonstrate bolder design tastes. The rapid adoption of the E5 Sportback by local buyers could signal to Audi the need to update its design language in other markets, especially in the electric vehicle segment where visual appeal is often a key success factor.
