Audi To Bring Physical Buttons Back In Its Upcoming Models

Audi’s bold Concept C is not only an announcement of a future electric sports car but also an introduction to a new design language and a more ergonomic interior. From Ingolstadt, they promise a return to real controls, i.e., physical buttons and switches for frequently used functions.

Although this electric athlete is not expected before the end of the decade, Audi is already correcting some of the shortcomings that plagued the new models and announcing changes.

In a surprising but welcome move, Audi has decided to abandon the touch-sensitive sliders on the steering wheels of five of its cars. The A5, Q5, A6, A6 e-tron, and Q6 e-tron models now feature physical volume dials to adjust volume and navigate the digital display menu. Although it is a small step, it is certainly a step in the right direction.

This change is unexpected, considering that all five cars are still relatively new to the market. The latest generation A6 was introduced just a few months ago, while the A5, Q5, A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron debuted last year. When asked why there is a rush to return the physical controls, Audi admitted that it had listened to customers’ requests. Spokesperson Michael Crusius explained the background to the update: “The reason for the change is feedback from customers who have increasingly requested physical control management.”

Audi has recently committed to improving its interiors in other ways as well. The company admitted that the quality of the interior had fallen in recent years but promised a return to its former glory. Oscar da Silva Martins, Head of Product and Technology Communications, said:

“Certainly, we’ve been better in the past in terms of quality, but we’re going to achieve that again.”

Audi isn’t the only manufacturer to go overboard with cost-cutting, resorting to cheaper materials and relying on oversized touchscreens. Even worse, some cars require a screen for almost all functions, eliminating virtually all separate controls.

That’s where the Concept C comes in, aiming to bring back the golden age of interiors with physical controls made of anodised aluminium and what the company describes as the unmistakable “Audi click.”

It’s a future that, according to many, can’t come soon enough.

• Also See: Production Of Audi Concept C: Electric Successor To TT And R8