Audi is overhauling the cockpit experience across its PPE and PPC platforms, and the changes are more than skin-deep. Rolling out on 2026 model-year cars available to order from December, the refresh rethinks how drivers interact with screens, switchgear and the car’s behaviour — but note: these upgrades are factory-only and cannot be fitted to older cars. The update applies to combustion-powered A5 and Q5 models as well as the A6 and Q6 e-tron electric range, though the ICE-powered A6 saloon and Avant are excluded for now.
Visually, the dashboard gets a striking makeover. Expect redesigned menu structures and modernised graphics across the central display and driver’s instrument cluster, with several new background colour themes to counter the stark, sometimes hard-to-read black interfaces of today. One fan-favourite returns: a full map view on the driver’s display, restoring the kind of situational awareness that made Audi’s Virtual Cockpit memorable. Phone-mirroring tools such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are integrated more deeply, so navigation, media and apps can be shown directly on the driver’s screen and on the optional passenger display — a genuine step toward less distraction and faster access to key functions. Tactile changes are equally important. Audi is introducing a fresh steering-wheel control layout that brings back physical controllers alongside touch interfaces. That shift gives drivers quicker, more intuitive access to critical functions without hunting through menus.
The voice assistant receives a major upgrade too: new AI-driven software promises more natural language responses and a broader range of capabilities, turning spoken requests into meaningful, context-aware actions. Under the skin, software tweaks refine driving dynamics. Electrified models — the A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron — gain a recalibrated regenerative braking system designed to recover more energy and smooth out deceleration. Both cars are now capable of coming to a complete stop using only regenerative braking. The result is not just improved energy recuperation and therefore extended driving range, but also a gentler, more predictable stop when using adaptive cruise control, making highway driving and traffic flow feel calmer and more efficient.
Performance-focused drivers get targeted updates too. The S5 and S6 e-tron variants receive a Dynamic Plus drive mode that sharpens the character of the Quattro all-wheel-drive system and the optional Quattro Sport differential. In practice, that means faster torque distribution adjustments and a more engaging grip profile under hard cornering or spirited acceleration. In the S5 specifically, activating Dynamic Plus brings up a unique central rev-counter on the main driver display — a small but satisfying detail that signals the model’s sportier intent. A few practical notes: these changes are confined to cars built on the PPE and PPC architectures for the 2026 model year and cannot be retrofitted to older vehicles. Also, despite the breadth of updates, the ICE-powered A6 saloon and Avant will not receive these interface and software changes at launch.
Taken together, the package is a clear push toward a more connected, driver-focused cabin: richer visuals, smarter spoken controls, physical feedback at the wheel and software-driven efficiency gains for the EVs. For buyers ordering from December, the experience inside these Audis will feel both fresher and more cohesive — a thoughtful mix of sensory upgrades and practical improvements that sharpen everyday usability while nudging performance and efficiency in a positive direction.