audi says it s serious about bringing back real buttonsAudi has confirmed it will abandon its screen-heavy interior design philosophy within the next 24 months in favor of physical buttons and dials.The sudden pivot is a corporate admission that the modern trend toward pure touchscreen interfaces has frustrated buyers and cheapened Audi's previously stellar interior experience.Audi Chief Technical Officer Rouven Mohr confirmed the shift, saying that future models will debut a new interior concept called "Radical Next." The goal is to aggressively shrink display sizes and haptic touch pads while re-engineering the physical switches that once defined the brand's premium image.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe decision kills off Audi's current "Digital Stage" dashboard layout-which debuted just a few years ago-making it one of the shortest-lived design eras in the company's modern history.audi says it s serious about bringing back real buttonsThe rush to put every vehicle function into a central screen was partly driven by automotive cost-cutting and the assumption that a single "global car" could satisfy every market. Instead, Audi's research revealed a regional divide: while Chinese buyers favor massive displays and digital avatars, Western buyers overwhelmingly demand physical controls they can operate by feel without taking their eyes off the road.Moving forward, Audi will split its approach. Its standalone Chinese sub-brand, AUDI, will continue developing screen-centric cabins to stay competitive in Asia, while the core four-ring global brand will pivot back to analog haptics and authentic material quality. Mohr emphasized a strict "no fake materials" policy for future Western models, noting that if a trim piece looks like metal or carbon fiber, it must be real.audi says it s serious about bringing back real buttonsEngineers have been told they must restore Audi's historically celebrated tactile experience-every physical rotary dial and toggle switch must move with a distinct, mechanical "click."AdvertisementAdvertisementThe back-to-basics design philosophy will not appear overnight, as automotive development cycles require substantial lead times. Upcoming internal combustion models currently in the pipeline, including the three-row Q9 and the updated standard Q7, will still launch with the outgoing multi-screen dashboard layouts. However, the new tactile approach will roll out sequentially across the brand's next wave of high-profile vehicles starting in 2028, led by the A4 E-Tron sedan and wagon, the Q7 E-Tron utility vehicle, and a production sports car based on the Concept C roadster.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
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