Audi is launching a series of updates for the A5, A6, Q5, A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron models, all of which have been launched globally in the last year and a half.
The oldest model in the quartet is the Q6 e-tron (March 2024), followed by the A5 (July 2024), A6 e-tron (July 2024), Q5 (September 2024) and A6 (March 2025).
Leading the updates is the steering wheel, which replaces the capacitive sliders on both spokes with physical scroll wheels.
A spokesman said this Engine1“The reason for the change is feedback from customers who have increasingly requested operation with physical controls.”
This update is currently missing from Audi’s latest model, the second generation Q3. The quartet of models listed above receive the Q3’s infotainment and instrument interface, which features a simplified structure, larger on-screen icons and the ability to display smartphone navigation instructions on the instrument screen.
The in-car gaming system now supports wireless controllers like those used on gaming consoles.
The physical aspects of the interior remain untouched, with most of the vehicle’s functions still accessible via on-screen buttons or steering wheel controls.
There may be more interior changes coming for these models when they receive their mid-life facelifts. Unveiled in September, the Concept C supposedly foreshadows a return to high-quality knobs, buttons and switches.
Other changes include a new Dynamic Plus driving mode for the S5 and S6 e-tron, which retunes the all-wheel drive and torque vectoring systems to provide a “particularly intense driving experience”.
On the electric A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron, the regenerative braking system has been redesigned so that it can bring the vehicle to a stop without using the friction brakes.
The A6 also has the option of digital matrix micro-LED headlights, which are not only brighter but can also display symbols on the road ahead if the driver deviates from the lane or the car detects icy conditions. A factory-installed 4K dashcam is now on the options list for all five model series.
The voice assistant has been updated with ChatGPT integration. It can also access other vehicle systems and automate common driver routines, such as raising the vehicle when crossing train tracks or activating adaptive cruise control on a highway.
In Germany, the updated cars will appear in showrooms from the beginning of 2026. It is unclear when these changes will be available in cars sold in Australia.
MORE: Discover the Audi showroom
