Here's What 15 Current Audi Models Would Look Like Without The Infamous Singleframe Grille
Audi’s so called “Singleframe” grille is one of the most questionable design features of the last decade. First introduced on the 2004 facelift of the Audi A8, it became a signature feature of every Audi ever since - which caused many discussions. Some people like it, most people say it has become too big, and other people say that it makes all Audis look the same - but still Audi has kept the design for more than 10 years.
German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport has asked Photoshop-specialist Theopilus Chin to imagine how current Audi models would look like with a more traditional split grille - and here are the results.
#1: Audi A1
The smallest car in Audi’s line-up really doesn’t need such a big grille, right? I quite like the photohopped version - just tweak the shape of the grille a bit so it doesn’t look quite as much as a pig, and it’s ready to go into production without the Singleframe!
#2: Audi A3
Next up, we’ve got the A3, Audi’s rival for the Volkswagen Golf (or the Jetta in this case, as this appears to be the saloon) - doesn’t it look better without that huge grille? Sure, it may take some getting used to, but I really quite like it.
#3: Audi S3 Cabriolet
Here we’ve got the convertible version of the A3, and especially from that angle, the split grille looks great - and even meaner than the standard one!
#4: Audi A4
It’s got this traditional vibe to it, right? A throwback to the time when all Audis had split grilles - for example the first generation of the A4.
#5: Audi A5 Sportback
Sadly, this isn’t the new A5, because at the time these renders were made, it wasn’t available yet. Still, you get the idea, right?
#6: Audi A5 Cabriolet
This generation of the A5 convertible is - in my opinion - the best looking Audi ever made. And to be honest, the split grille doesn’t make it look any worse.
#7: Audi A6 Allroad
Which one would you rather be tailgated by? The grille on wheels or the pig on wheels? Seriously though, tweak the shape of the upper grille a bit, and this thing is ready to hit production.
#8: Audi S6
This S6 ended up looking a bit sad and dazzled - but at least it doesn’t have this monstrous grille anymore.
#9: Audi A7 Sportback
Dang, this A7 looks mean! The split grille really emphasizes the width of the car.
#10: Audi A8
I don’t think Angela Merkel would mind if her state car would look like this.
#11: Audi Q3
I have to admit, the Q3 without the Singleframe looks downright ugly. But I’m confident the designers at Audi could make it work - if they wanted to.
#12: Audi Q5
Again, this is sadly the old model - but still it looks promising! Audi should really give this a go.
#13: Audi Q7
And now the biggest grille of them all, big enough to eat a Smart car - it just looks so much better after the split-grille-treatment, right?
#14: Audi TT
The TT is another one of these models where the split grille just works out brilliantly. It should have come like this from factory!
#15: Audi R8
And finally, the R8’s split grille version also looks very convincing. Please Audi, give it a try!
These renders were made to show the possibilities of Singleframe-less Audis - it’s very unlikely that we will ever see them on the streets, though. Audi will just keep enlarging their grilles until the entire front of the car is covered in them - but hey, at some point, they will have to make them smaller again, right?
What do you think about the Singleframe - Yay or Nay? And do you like these alternatives? Comment below!
Tobi aka The Stig’s German Cousin
Comments
Some of them look better with singleframe grille and some better Splitted imo.
And I hate the splitted A5s the singleframe ones are way better
I actually really like the big grille.
In my opinion the A1 and A8 are the only ones who actually look better with this smaller grille.
I’m not sure if I should like that
I don’t like the smaller grill. Haters welcome.
Most of the cars look better with single frame grills. Especially because you see that they where designed to be as a single frame. And I like the shouting mouth (grill) very much.
But without the single frame grill you see what a leg of new ideas Audi got.
Fun Fact: Theophilus Chin, the designers behind those spilt grille Audis, is a Malaysian.
Nice work.
I was wondering where this name might come from :D
Haven’t heard about him in a long time. It seems that he has disappeared…
Some manage to look good or ok with the split grille
I agree!
RentalTheDinosaur (Tuxedo Mafia Boss Leader) (Friendly Local Fantasy Man) (Black Salami Squad) (Meme Commando) (Hans Gruber lookin ass) (Generalmao)
They all look so friggin weird. I guess it’s because I’m used to the single frame grill very much!