Audi is finally ditching the confusing naming system for its models

Audi has finally come to its senses and realised that issuing a car with a badge detailing its estimated power band doesn’t really… work.

The ‘nomenclature’ system was introduced back in 2017 as a reformat to its model naming code, and yes, we were (and still are) just as puzzled as you. It essentially took an already confusing metric, which highlighted a given car’s engine capacity, and replaced it with a series of numbers signalling a car’s power, between 30 (109-128bhp) and 70 (536bhp or more). Praise the heavens, it’s now in the process of being dropped.

We’re already seeing the advantages take shape since some of Audi’s current large SUV lineup are adopting much simpler trim disambiguations, including the Q8 e-tron and the recently revealed Q6 e-tron. The latter, for instance, is only being launched as an entry-level, all-wheel drive ‘Quattro’ and a flashier ‘SQ6’, with a range-topping ‘RSQ6’ expected at a later date. Can you feel the headache easing?

We expect this change to roll over to any petrol and diesel-powered models forecast, too, like a future A5 or A7 (and their corresponding trim levels). And while they will likely still adopt some name extensions to provide partition, such as TDI (Turbocharged Direct Injection) or TFSI (Turbo Fuel Stratified Injection), this too could be phased out moving forward.