Audi has put a lot of effort into improving the exterior styling of its vehicles over the last several years, but many still ding the German automaker for having too many derivative designs. However, that criticism should subside in the coming years as Audi is working to better differentiate its individual models.
Under the leadership of design director Stefan Sielaff, Audi has launched a new exterior design initiative dubbed AQR – A for Audi (which covers sedan and hatchback models), Q for Quattro (SUVs) and R for sports cars. The AQR project is intended to help set Audi’s individual models apart from one another.
“We know that some people think our saloons look too alike and are well into a project to change that,†Sielaff said, “we will mainly do that with the proportions of those cars.â€
He added: “And it will mean differences, say in the way the headlights meet up with the grille; the design details will be different.â€
But while Audi seems to have a clear path for the design of its next-generation of internal-combustion vehicles, the automaker is still deciding how it should style its forthcoming electric vehicles. Some within the company argue that Audi’s Evs should mirror the styling of the rest of its range while others think they deserve unique styling.
“Some people are saying we don’t change the styling for a diesel and petrol car.†Sielaff said. “But there is another view that, for example, a steam locomotive looks very different to an electric one. We’ll have to see how this one works out.â€
References
1.’Audi ‘deeply’ into…’ view
