Audi is in a state of transition. The brand is working on a new, more angular styling language, and it's managing the tough balancing act of introducing new EVs without completely abandoning the combustion-powered vehicles that remain popular. During its 2026 annual media conference, the company's CEO, Gernot Döllner, made several big announcements about the brand's future, including confirming some upcoming models. He was also quite optimistic about the brand's future, saying:"Our growth targets through 2030 are both realistic and ambitious — and we are squarely aligning our position in our core regions of Europe, the US, and China to achieve them."- Gernot Döllner, Audi CEO Two New Halo Models For The Audi Lineup AudiThe most exciting announcement from Döllner was that he confirmed a production version of the Concept C (pictured above). He said production would begin in 2027. "The Audi Concept C offers a very concrete glimpse of what Vorsprung durch technik will mean in the future, both inside and out, the concept car is our visualized target. It shows our customers, stakeholders and all employees, where we are headed," Döllner said.The Concept C debuted in 2025 and showcased a fresh look for the brand. Its shape had several inspirations, including the original Audi TT, the R8 supercar, and even the brand's Auto Union roots. The company never detailed the powertrain specs. Our speculation is that the output would be from 300 horsepower to 500 hp, depending on the trim level.AudiThe last-gen Audi TT went out of production in 2023. Other than the high-performance RS3, the brand hasn't had a compact-ish sporty vehicle since then. While these are niche vehicles, they often give a brand a focus that can then be applied in small ways to other products.While the Concept C is probably the most exciting announcement from Döllner, the three-row Audi Q9 (prototype pictured below) is likely to be the company's new money-maker. The Q9 reportedly shares a platform with Porsche's upcoming seven-seat model. As Döllner says:“The new Audi Q9 strengthens our position in the US and defines the top of our portfolio. And with the A2 e-tron, we are bringing a highly efficient entry point into electric mobility to market in fall 2026 — a clear statement on efficiency.” Expect A Rivian-Related Model In 2028 CarBuzz Döllner also announced another new product. He said that in 2028, there would be "the first Audi built on the new E/E architecture from RV Tech — a joint venture between the Volkswagen Group and Rivian.” This means the models would have computers with what the company calls a "scalable and future-proof electronic architecture." Other details remain a mystery.Döllner wants to focus on the American and Chinese markets in the future. He said: "The industry — and Germany as a whole — needs to reinvent itself. Today, the US and China are driving the major technology trends, while Germany and Europe have fallen behind. Innovation for customers must therefore become the top priority again."It's not entirely clear what he means by this statement. The general concept appears to be that Audi needs to place greater emphasis on technology going forward.CarBuzzThe company's financial announcement stated that its revenue rose to 65.5 billion euros, and its operating profit was 3.4 billion euros, with net cash flow of 3.4 billion euros. The premium brand is doing well, but it has to keep up in an ever-changing market. Premium-vehicle buyers often want something different from the norm to signal that they paid more for a high-class vehicle.Source: Audi
