Audi Says We Hear You, Ditches Fake Exhaust Tips On New Cars

If you’re sick and tired of the fake tailpipe trend, we’re happy to report there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Audi pledged to add real exhaust tips on all future models based on the PPC architecture, starting with the all-new A5 and S5.

According to an Audi spokesperson, the reason behind the welcome change is “customer feedback” on the design of their models. Audi infamously stuck fully blocked plastic pipes (all four of them) on the diesel-powered S4, S6, and SQ5, with the real exhaust tips hidden under the rear bumper. Thankfully, this isn’t the case with the gasoline-powered examples of these cars sold in North America.

More: 2026 Audi SQ7 Flaunts Quad Exhaust In First Spy Photos

Speaking to Auto Express during the launch of the new A5 and S5, the Audi spokesperson confirmed that: “All PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) cars will have hot tailpipes, functional tailpipes”.

Besides the new A5, this includes the next generation of the Q5, Q7, and A7 (successor of the A6), making up for most of Audi’s ICE-powered models. The representative did not comment on the smaller, MQB-based models like the A3 and the Q3, although these already get functional exhausts – at least on the performance-focused Audi Sport models.

The successor of the Audi SQ5 is expected to drop the fake tailpipes.

The real tailpipes will be applied in all gasoline, diesel, and hybrid versions of the PPC-based Audis, so there won’t be any exceptions.

Our spy shots have already confirmed the presence of real pipes on camouflaged prototypes of several future Audi models. Most of them come with either two rectangular units, or quad round tailpipes for a sportier effect. The Audi Sport division uses even larger oval tailpipes on the RS models, although it has yet to be confirmed if this design trait will be carried over in the future.

The quad tailpipes on the new Audi S5 Avant are functional.