After introducing a new system just two years ago, where even-numbered models represented EVs and odd-numbered models were reserved for combustion engines, Audi has now decided to scrap that plan and revert to its long-standing naming convention.  

It seems that clarity was not achieved with the previous system, prompting a U-turn that will see familiar suffixes return. EVs will once again carry the ‘e-tron’ badge, petrol models will retain ‘TFSI’, diesels will be labelled ‘TDI’, and plug-in hybrids will be marked as ‘TFSI e’.

This decision, according to Marco Schubert, Audi’s head of sales and marketing, is based on “intensive discussions” and feedback from both customers and international dealers.

In other words, Audi’s core audience wasn’t sold on the last naming update, and the brand is now giving the people what they want. 

The first model to adopt the reinstated naming structure will be the 2025 Audi A6 with internal combustion power, which is slated for a March debut.  

This follows last year’s unveiling of the A6 e-tron, which was introduced in Sportback and Avant bodystyles, alongside the performance-oriented S6. With this change, an internal combustion version of the A6 will not be badged as the A7, as was previously assumed under the earlier numbering strategy.  

Despite the shake-up, Audi has confirmed that there will be no retroactive name changes for models already on sale.  

That means the recently launched A5 sedan and A5 Avant will continue unchanged, despite the now-revised system suggesting that they should have different badges. The appearance of the A5 Avant nameplate now seems destined to be short-lived, at least in this format.

Audi’s decision to roll back its previous strategy suggests that the original plan of using even and odd numbers to differentiate EVs and ICEs may have caused more confusion than clarity.

Instead of drawing a clear line between combustion engines and electrification, it may have complicated things further for traditional Audi buyers who were accustomed to the TFSI, TDI, and e-tron distinctions.  

A Case of If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It?  

While Audi’s intentions with the previous EV vs ICE numbering system may have been well-founded, it’s clear that customers weren’t entirely on board. Instead of pushing forward with an arguably more logical structure, Audi has decided to return to what worked before.  

For those who have followed Audi’s naming conventions for years, this may feel like a reassuring return to familiarity. For those who were just getting used to the even-and-odd-numbered approach, it’s time to relearn the rules once more.  

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Rolls-Royce has recently unveiled the Black Badge Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’ Private Collection, a tribute to the ‘vastness and enigma of outer space’. The designers at Rolls-Royce drew inspiration from the Kármán Line, an invisible threshold located 62 miles above the Earth’s surface.

Limited to 62 examples worldwide, each representing a mile from Earth to the Kármán Line, this exclusive interpretation of the Black Badge Cullinan is available through Rolls-Royce’s prestigious Private Offices.

The exterior of the ‘Blue Shadow’ is adorned with a shimmering bespoke paint called ‘Stardust Blue,’ which perfectly captures the rich blue hues found in the upper layers of our planet’s atmosphere.

A satin-tinted grille surround and aero bumper inserts pay tribute to the thermal tiles found on spacecraft. The wheels of the Blue Shadow are subtly darkened using a translucent lacquer, completing the exterior aesthetic.

On the inside, the Rolls-Royce Starlight Headliner now features an intricate Moon embroidery, surrounded by a constellation of ‘stars’. Each ‘star’ is painstakingly added by hand, each with its own twinkling effect.

In a first for Rolls-Royce, the front and rear seats of the Blue Shadow both feature perforated artwork, inspired by the breathtaking view of Earth from space. Tiny perforations in the leather create a pattern reminiscent of ever-shifting clouds gracefully swirling above the continents and oceans.

The perforation pattern adorns the backs of the picnic tables as well. When lowered, these tables reveal a Piano Black veneer finish with a glass sparkle.

To complement the Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective has crafted a series of unique accessories.

An exclusive indoor car cover showcases a pattern reminiscent of the seats, and a bespoke luggage set complements the colour scheme of the Private Collection.

Additionally, clients can commission an exact 1:8 scale replica of their full-size Black Badge Cullinan Blue Shadow, complete with fully functioning exterior and interior lights, coach doors that open and close, and meticulous recreation of all the Collection’s details, including the Bespoke Illuminated Collection Treadplates.

I mean, got to flex it even in the living room right?

If you have insanely deep pockets, better be quick about ordering your Cullinan ‘Blue Shadow’. Orders are pouring in from Japan, Korea, Australia, and Singapore in the Asia-Pacific Region.

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