It’s never felt more important to look to the future. And the Audi RS e-tron GT* is an ideal car to pave the way. Henrik Wenders, Head of Brand at Audi Germany, calls it ‘the flagship of the brand’, blending luxury, sustainability, sportiness and design into a complete work of art. Marc Lichte, Head of Design, says the RS e-tron GT is the most stunning car he has ever worked on.
And it doesn’t stop there. This car also stands for Audi’s consistent push into the mobile future – powered by 100 years of tradition. Lichte explains the brand’s design success. ‘We think 10 years into the future before drawing a single line,’ he says. The focus is on trends as much as on key requirements. ‘You only have to look at the megacities and the growing world population to see that the car is becoming more and more essential as a living space,’ he adds.
Audi has anchored the slogan ‘Future is an attitude’ at the core of its brand. This yearning for innovation is also the recipe for success for three women: art historian Mon Müllerschön, restaurateur Sandra Forster and designer Carolin Sangha, all visionaries in very different fields. Here they open up about their take on modern luxury, their ambition for the decades to come and how the RS e-tron GT aligns with that vision.
Future-facing
Sandra Forster
As a leading restaurateur in Germany, Sandra Forster sees eating and drinking well as luxuries she never wants to do without. Her passion for pleasure makes her one of the liveliest forces in Munich gastronomy. With five different restaurants across the city, she’s committed to creating new places where people can do what really makes them happy: meet up, have a meal together and dance the night away.
‘It looks like in future, going out won’t mean feeling attached to one place so much as being transported freely to different places,’ Forster says. ‘Like Charlie Scout, an open-air version of our Charlie club, which will be located at the Gasteig cultural centre in Munich.’
For Forster, being able to move freely from one place to another is both necessary and life-enhancing, as she crosses the city from market hall and restaurant to nursery and club. ‘I used to think that you should really feel a car, that it should actually rumble along. Now I love that driving can feel so smooth,’ she says.
‘My wish for the future, for driving? Luxury that’s practical. And it’s got to look good. Just like the Audi RS e-tron GT.’
The new luxury
Mon Müllerschön
Mon Müllerschön lives life for her greatest passion. The art historian curates and oversees large collections and is always on the lookout for unique pieces. Authenticity is what makes her fall in love with a work of art, and the character inherent in each piece is what matters most. The idea of luxury in the traditional sense has long been obsolete as far as she’s concerned.
‘The word luxury originates from waste or surplus. In my opinion, real luxury nowadays is a sort of conservation, where we handle our planet’s resources responsibly,’ she says. ‘I have two sons and I’m concerned for their future. That’s why I’m excited about innovation, about bold ideas, about everything that makes our future better.’
Müllerschön considers the Audi RS e-tron GT a mobile work of art. ‘I love the design. When I’m driving an electric car I get a thrill each time. Of course it’s a bit unexpected that the car doesn’t rattle and roar. But I experience the new quiet in our world as a great luxury and asset. The quieter it is, the better you can hear the subtle tones. And that’s what counts when you’re searching for something really special.’
A love of design
Carolin Sangha
As Creative Director for Fashion and Interior Design at her agency, Casa57, Carolin Sangha enjoys pushing the boundaries with her creations. Born and raised in India before moving to Germany, the designer says she draws upon her familiarity with multiple cultures in her work. ‘I always have my eyes wide open, and I find my inspiration everywhere,’ she explains.
Having experienced Audi’s latest creation first-hand, Sangha describes the car as: ‘calm, attractive, reserved. The Audi design is immediately recognisable: no unnecessary, fussy chrome details. Trimmed down to the essentials.’ Even the interior passes her aesthetics test. ‘No clutter, no useless techie gadgets. There’s nothing to distract you and you’re surrounded by purist design.’
In her own designs, whether they be furnishings or fashion, Sangha applies a keen editing eye and often takes a streamlined approach. In fact, she considers this her secret for a better quality of life. One way she’s able to filter out the noise is through regular meditation.
‘I love the calm,’ she says. ‘My life is frantic, and I draw strength and creativity from peace and quiet.’
*Official fuel consumption for the Audi e-tron range in mpg (l/100km): N/A. CO2 emissions: 0g/km. The Audi e-tron GT is a battery electric vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. Figures shown are for comparability purposes and may not reflect real-life driving results. Zero emissions while driving. Model shown is the Audi RS e-tron GT. Features optional equipment.
To discover more about Audi and the innovative new RS e-tron GT, visit progress.audi
