Automotive art

With the unveiling of the stunning Audi Type C concept last year, Audi signalled a change in its design philosophy for future vehicles while drawing on some of the brand’s core design principles from the past. At a new exhibition recently unveiled at the Audi museum mobile in Ingolstadt, some of the most spectacular design studies from the past three and a half decades are on display showcasing the evolution of design at Audi with vehicles that are nothing short of automotive artworks.

Called ‘Design Legends’, the exhibition will run until July 12, giving visitors to Audi’s head office the chance to see models rarely on public display, with vehicles that reached for the stars in terms of their design vision as well as others which formed the basis for series production cars that literally took their concept design to the streets.

“It’s been 20 years since Audi museum mobile devoted an entire exhibition to design studies,” says curator Stefan Felber.

“Since then, our guests have repeatedly asked for a revival of this theme. Concept cars like the Audi quattro Spyder and Audi Avus quattro have returned to our museum, joined by a few studies we’ve never hosted before, such as the Audi e-tron Spyder and the Aztec.”

In addition to less well known models like the Aztec, the Audi TT Coupe showcar from 1995 is immediately recognisable, a concept creation which was such a hit at the Frankfurt International Motorshow that it became a series production reality with just three years with practically no changes – and went on to become one of the brand’s most iconic designs.

In addition to the many showcars on display, the Design Legends exhibition also includes many of the original design drawings and even some of the early clay models used to refine the iconic shapes. These include a cutaway of the Audi e-tron GT and the early ‘Drift’ model which ultimately became the Audi S1 Hoonitron quattro designed and specially built for the late Ken Block’s film Electrikhana.

Of course while a trip to Audi’s museum and head office is always a worthwhile experience, it is also a significant journey, so for those not able to make the Design Legends exhibition in person, the next best thing is to experience these amazing cars via the Audi Tradition app.

Also an invaluable tool for those visiting in person, the Audi Tradition app allows scrutiny and in-depth investigation of cars on exhibit, offering comprehensive history and information on each car, as well as 360 degree views and in some instances, even the recorded sound of the car’s engine.

Quite aside from showcasing current exhibits and vehicles on show in the museum at any time of your choosing, the app – which is available from the App Store for free download to iOS and Android smartphone – also allows you to connect to the Audi Tradition website, the Audi Tradition online shop which in turn allows you to purchase accessories, literature and even spare parts for many of the brand’s modern classics.

It also offers a city tour of Ingolstadt itself as well as information on the Audi museum at Neckarsulm, coming Audi Tradition events throughout Europe and Britain, as well as plenty of historical background on the brand and links to other Audi social media channels. The Audi Tradition app is an invaluable tool for motoring enthusiasts and fans of the Audi brand, and if you are planning a trip to Germany in the coming months, a visit to Ingolstadt and the Design Legends exhibition should definitely feature in your plans.