Audi Quattro Concept
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Quattro, which was first shown at Geneva in 1980, Audi has taken the wraps of a beautiful new concept at the Paris Auto Show. This Audio Quattro Concept, in Col de Turini white paint, is a striking automobile, clearly a futuristic interpretation of the original Quattro. We can only hope that the good folks in Ingolstadt decide to build a production version of this car.
The particulars: The foundation of this Quattro Concept is the Audi RS 5, one of the brand’s sportiest production vehicles. Audi shortened the wheelbase by 5.9 in. and lowered the roof by around 1.6, compared to the 4-seat RS 5. The Quattro Concept, a 2-seater, has a heavily modified body made mostly of aluminum, but the hood and rear hatch are carbon fiber. Weight is down to 2866 lb., which is almost exactly the same as the Audi Sport Quattro from 1984. For an idea of how potent the new Audi Quattro Concept is, it has a power-to-weight ratio on par with the 525-bhp Audi R8 V10 supercar.
Under the hood, you might expect a V-8. Rather, Audi has opted to use a turbocharged inline-5 that comes from the Audi TT RS, which is coming to the U.S. next year. In the Audi Quattro concept, this stout longitudinally mounted engine is tuned to produce 408 bhp, which Audi says will accelerate the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in only 3.9 seconds. The car has a 6-speed manual transmission, and torque delivery is 60-percernt rear-biased for a proper sporty feel. That stated, the Concept Quattro’s crown-gear center differential is a compact, lightweight unit that can vary the torque between the front and rear axles over a broad range. The Audi Quattro Concept also features the sport differential, which actively distributes torque between the rear wheels. When turning into or accelerating in a curve, the majority of the torque flows to the outside wheel, enhancing the rear-drive feel.
As for the look of the Concept Quattro, it’s clear that there’s an A5 and an RS 5 in the car’s genes, but it’s a car with a much more aggressive overall appearance. Muscular C-pillars pay homage to the design of the original Quattro. What’s more, with its minimal rear overhang, short overall length of 158.6 in. and a 102.3-in. wheelbase, this car has agility written all over it.
Other cool details include LED headlamps, carbon-ceramic brake rotors, large fender flares, 20-in. center-lock wheels, and an air outlet on the right side of the hood that helps the turbo 5-cylinder breathe. Also, there’s a single-frame grille without chrome trim, and the large carbon-fiber spoiler integrated into the rear hatch extends automatically as needed and can be adjusted for maximum downforce. Last, to pay proper respect to the original Quattro as the winner of numerous World Rally Championships, a so-called “prayer book”—the classic rally copilot's track description—can be displayed on the dash in racing mode. This provides precise information about the route ahead for an authentic rally feel.
Let’s hope the road ahead for Audi finds the Quattro Concept in production soon.
Now just price it reasonably (aka, under 50k.... ya, I'm dreaming) and you'll have a winner!