It may seem peculiar, but Audi’s decision to differentiate between their traditional and electric cars is finally coming to light. Recently, the German car manufacturer revealed that gasoline or diesel powered models will bear odd-numbered names, while electric vehicles will sport even numbers. This shift was first reported by the German publication Stimme.
This aligns with earlier reports indicating that the A3 might transition into an all-electric EV, likely rebranded as a new A4. Subsequently, the current A4 sedan could be renamed as the A5 in its next iteration. The publication also mentioned that the upcoming A6 will be known as the A7, although it remains uncertain if a medium-sized electric sedan will fill the A6’s spot in the future. According to reports, there may not be direct successors to the sleek models like the A5 Sportback and A7 in the gasoline engine lineup. It appears that these stylish models will solely exist as EVs.
Audi hinted at this strategy by prefixing their upcoming electric crossovers with the “E-tron” label, unlike their previous practice of naming them all “E-tron S” or similar. For instance, the original E-tron has transformed into the Q8 E-tron and is accompanied by the Q4 E-tron, with the Q6 E-tron slated to join the lineup soon. The naming of the E-tron GT remains uncertain, although it is likely to receive an even-numbered designation.
Audi’s approach is mirrored by other German automakers like Mercedes-Benz, who are also planning to integrate electric vehicles into their standard nomenclature by phasing out the EQ designation. Additionally, BMW is exploring potential alterations to its naming conventions, as evidenced by their recent trademarking of new model names.
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