The Future Is Here: Audi’s Next-Gen Cars Must Be Seen to Be Believed
SHARP x Audi
Stepping into Audi Haus felt like stepping into the future, and not just because it looked like a set from the next Blade Runner. This pop-up at the recent Canadian International AutoShow was designed by famed architect Omar Gandhi as a showcase for Audi’s next-generation models. It ushered in a new chapter for the brand, one where motorsport pedigree meets progressive technology.
Whether it’s on design, innovation, performance, gasoline- or battery-power, Audi’s next-gen cars are here to set new benchmarks and break new ground. Of course, the Four Rings has always been ahead of the curve — that’s what defines the brand — but even by those lofty standards Audi’s next-gen feels like something special.
The SUVs
Even after watching all the videos online, seeing Audi’s all-new SQ5 and its all-electric Q6 e-tron counterpart in the metal for the first time left a lasting impression, especially when set against the monolithic backdrop of Audi Haus.
On the combustion-engine front, the story continues to evolve with Audi’s all-new SQ5, a high-performance member of the fan-favourite Q5 family. They’re all built around the new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, which is engineered to make the most of turbocharged engines and powerful hybrid systems. The SQ5 is the perfect example of what’s possible, upping the ante with a turbocharged V6 and a sharper chassis featuring adaptive S-tuned air suspension that adjusts automatically to optimize ride and handling. The 2025 model has undergone a comprehensive redesign that touches everything from its crisp exterior to its tech-laden interior. Inside you’ll find all of the same panoramic displays — dubbed the “Digital Stage” — as found on Audi’s entire next-gen lineup. More interesting than the screens, however, is the overarching human-centric design that ensures all this tech is helpful and easy to use.
Leading the charge on the electric SUV front is the groundbreaking Q6 e-tron family. It was the first model built on the aforementioned Premium Platform Electric (PPE), and as such it isn’t just another electric SUV, it’s Audi’s declaration of intent. With the quattro system reimagined for the electric age using dual-motor all-wheel drive, the Q6 and SQ6 e-trons define Audi’s future. They both drive with a mix of balance and effortless power that inspires confidence, making them feel supremely capable.
The Sedans
The long and low shape of Audi’s all-new and all-electric A6 e-tron (not to mention its sporty S6 e-tron sibling) will absolutely turn heads. Their proportions evoke the purposeful look of a private jet, and, like a jet, these Audis have been sculpted by the air. In fact, the S6 e-tron is the most aerodynamic Audi of all time. And, in the electric car world, aero is the killer app; the better a car cuts through the wind the more driving range you get.
The technological innovation here is more than skin deep. Audi’s new A6 e-tron family are built on the brand’s cutting-edge Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, which was designed from the ground up for battery power. What does that mean for you? More range and faster charging, among many other things. The A6 e-tron has the longest all-electric range in the current Audi lineup, at over 600 kilometres with the Ultra model. (That range estimate is based on preliminary testing by Audi, in accordance with Natural Resources Canada’s testing guidelines.)
The new S6 e-tron is the one we really want though; with 543 horsepower on offer, it’ll run the 0-100 km/h sprint in a neck-straining 3.9 seconds.
Don’t want to go all-electric? No problem. In Audi’s next-gen lineup, there’s no need to compromise.
The all-new Audi A5 and S5 sedans both offer a sophisticated combustion-engine driving experience that’s every bit as innovative and avant-garde as their electric counterparts. In the spacious new cabins, drivers will find an augmented-reality head-up display, an elegantly curved panoramic screen and an available 830-watt, 20-speaker Bang & Olufson stereo. If that’s not enough to entertain you, the S5 adds a turbocharged V6 churning out 362 horsepower.
Despite their obviously futuristic appearance, both sedans are still instantly recognizable as Audis. Note the wide single-frame grilles and muscular wheel arches that pay homage to the iconic 1980 Audi Quattro. The next-gen sedans are a perfect blend of Audi’s motorsport heritage with forward-looking design.
The World of Audi Sport
The return of the RS 3 to Canadian shores is cause for celebration among hardcore driving enthusiasts. This compact powerhouse holds the Nürburgring lap record for its class, delivering 394 raucous horsepower, quattro drive and a thrilling driving experience.
For those who demand the sort of driving thrills Audi Sport has built its reputation on, and the space to bring the whole family and their luggage along for the ride, the new RS Q8 performance stands ready with its 631-horsepower twin-turbo V8. It’s the most powerful internal combustion engine ever fitted to an RS vehicle, and a testament to Audi Sport’s ability to combine outright performance with uncompromising luxury.
But it was the new RS e-tron GT performance, the most powerful Audi ever built, that stole the show at Audi Haus. With 912 horsepower at its disposal and a push-to-boost function that unleashes eyewatering acceleration for 10-second bursts, it represents Audi’s ultimate vision of electric performance. Positioned front and centre as the first and last thing visitors saw when visiting Audi Haus, the RS e-tron GT performance left a lasting impression.
Walking through the architectural marvel that was Audi Haus, it became obvious 2025 isn’t just another year for the brand with the Four Rings — it’s the dawn of a new era, the beginning of a new chapter. Audi’s future is here, right now, today. If you haven’t seen it in the metal yet, well, you really should.
