What’s the deal with Audi’s new naming system?

The Audi model designation nomenclature has remained relatively unchanged for the last 20 years. Audi vehicles use a combination of letters and numbers to designate the model and engine. This post will go over both the model naming scheme, which has not changed, and the new power rating system that replaces the engine displacement badging.

Audi model naming scheme

If you look at the rear of any Audi model, you will see the model designation on the left-hand side. The letter indicates the type of vehicle. This is the breakdown of Audi model name designations.

A: Standard sedan, hatchback, or wagon

S: Performance-oriented sedan, hatchback, or wagon

RS: The highest performance sedan, hatchback, or wagon

Q: Standard SUV

SQ: Performance-oriented SUV

RSQ: The highest performance SUV

R: Used specifically on Audi’s flagship supercar, the R8

TT/TT S/ TT RS: The TT designation is used for Audi’s sports coupe. The three variants of the TT follow the same performance pattern as the sedans.

e-tron: Audi’s line of all-electric vehicles

The model letter is followed by a number. The number is an indicator of the physical size of the vehicle. For example, an A4 is a smaller vehicle than an A6. The performance versions are based on the chassis of the standard model (an RS6 is based on an A6, but optimized for high performance).

In the United States, the numbers used range from three to eight for all body styles:

3: A3, S3, RS3, Q3

4: A4, A4 Allroad, S4

5: A5, S5, RS5, Q5, Q5 Sportback, SQ5

6: A6, A6 Allroad, S6, RS6 Avant

7: A7, S7, RS7, Q7, SQ7

8: A8, S8, Q8, SQ8, RSQ8

What’s changed?

Audi and Volkswagen both used badging vernacular such as “2.0T” or “3.0 TFSI” on the back of their cars. These designations indicated the displacement of the motor in liters and whether or not it had forced induction (turbocharged or supercharged). A car with a 2.7T badge would indicate a 2.7-liter turbocharged engine. In the case of diesel models, the badging simply said TDI

Audi’s new naming system

Recently Audi has changed the naming scheme it will use for indicating the engine in its vehicles. Instead of showing the displacement, Audi models will now use a numeric system where each number correlates with a horsepower range, followed by an indication of whether the car is gas, electric, or diesel. The list below explains how Audi’s new naming system is broken down.

35 TFSI/TDI = 147-160 hp

30 TFSI/TDI = 109-128 hp

40 TFSI/TDI = 167-201 hp

45 TFSI/TDI = 226-248 hp

50 TFSI/TDI= 281-308 hp

55 TFSI/TDI = 328-368 hp

60 TFSI/TDI = 429-455 hp

70 TFSI/TDI = 536+ hp

For example, an Audi A4 will no longer carry just a TDI badge. Instead, depending on the power level, the rear of the car will be badged “35 TDI”. 

In the future, all vehicles in the Audi range will use this naming scheme. Now, when you see two Audi’s, one with 45 TFSI and the other with 55 TFSI on the back, you will know these numbers refer to how powerful the car is.

Alex’s Autohaus is an independent Audi specialist in Midvale, Utah. If you are looking for an alternative to the dealership, give us a call! Our technicians have the skills and training needed to work on all models in the Audi lineup. Give us a call or schedule an appointment today!