Audi Design Legends exhibition at Audi museum mobile

Audi Tradition presents Design Legends exhibition in Ingolstadt, featuring iconic Audi concept cars and design studies. Explore key models and design history.

In Ingolstadt, Audi has opened a new special exhibition at the Audi museum mobile titled “Design Legends,” dedicated to concept cars and design studies from the past five decades. The exhibition will run until July 12, 2026, marking the first major design-focused showcase at the museum in over twenty years.

At its core, the exhibition is not just about individual vehicles but about the evolution of Audi’s visual identity. The brand emphasizes that its signature design language—defined by clean lines and restrained surfaces—emerged through a complex creative process, with concept cars playing a central role in shaping that direction.

The display brings together a range of iconic models, many of which have achieved legendary status. Among them are the Audi quattro Spyder and Audi Avus quattro from 1991, as well as the Audi TT show car from 1995, which transitioned to production with minimal changes. Later concepts are also included, such as the Audi Nuvolari quattro and the electric Audi PB 18 e-tron. The exhibition also features rare studies like the Audi e-tron Spyder and Aztec, which had not previously been shown at the museum.

Each vehicle represents a specific stage in Audi’s development. The Avus quattro, for example, demonstrated the potential of aluminum construction, later realized in the production Audi A8. Meanwhile, the quattro Spyder served as an experimental platform for lightweight engineering and mid-engine quattro architecture. In this sense, the concept cars are presented not as isolated design exercises, but as tangible steps toward future production technologies.

Beyond the finished vehicles, the exhibition offers insight into the creative process itself. Sketches, renderings, and clay models from Audi’s model workshops reveal how ideas evolve into final designs, providing a rare look inside the brand’s design studios.

The experience is further enhanced by a digital component. The Audi Tradition app acts as an interactive companion, offering detailed texts, audio guides, and 360-degree interior views that are not accessible in the physical exhibition. In some cases, users can even hear engine sounds, adding another layer to the presentation.

The return of a design-focused exhibition after two decades reflects sustained public interest in this aspect of the brand. According to curator Stefan Felber, visitor demand played a key role in reviving the theme. In this context, “Design Legends” can be seen not only as a retrospective, but also as a renewed emphasis on design as a core element of Audi’s identity.