This is Audi's second go at a successor to the original Sport Quattro, and this time around there are big changes under the hood. Debuting at the 2013 Frankfurt auto show is the Audi Sport Quattro Concept, highlighted by a power train that includes a twin-turbo V-8 plug-in hybrid, a significant departure from what powered the original Sport Quattro about three decades ago. That rally-bred car featured a turbocharged inline-five that was linked to Audi's then-new and revolutionary Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi first teased us with a possible Sport Quattro successor at the 2010 Paris Motor Show when it released a concept powered by a straight-five pulled from the TT-RS coupe. It was the perfect homage to the original. Better yet, it was mated to a six-speed manual.
Version two of the Sport Quattro Concept is much different. Now we have a plug-in hybrid system with a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 that's been making its way into much of Audi's lineup, including the S8 and the RS 7. In fact, the concept's V-8 matches the RS 7's output at 560 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. In between the engine and eight-speed auto is an electric motor that brings total output to about 700 hp. A 14.1 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery is mounted toward the rear of the coupe and provides enough power for 31 miles of range in pure EV mode. A Hybrid mode is available for maximum efficiency, but Sport mode will squeeze the most performance out of the power train. Audi claims a 0-62 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph. On paper, the two-seat Sport Quattro Concept appears sophisticated and fast, though we wonder how it'll perform on the road. Sure, it has a sophisticated sport differential at the rear axle that should provide loads of grip, but the hybrid hardware adds weight. The original Sport Quattro tipped the scales at a svelte 2838 pounds. The first concept from 2010 was impressively light, weighing in at just 2866 pounds. Now, concept version two is nearly double the weight, at 4079 pounds. This is despite the lightweight construction that relies on aluminum, carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (used for the hood and rear hatch), and carbon fiber-ceramic brake discs.
While some may lament the loss of the inline-five, producing a Sport Quattro successor is a no-brainer for many reasons. For starters, Audi has already spent many years and cash developing the car (the first concept alone was said to be worth more than $5 million), and there's the number of new products coming from its competitors to consider. That said, it's still unknown if this will be a low-quantity car or something we'll spot just as often as an R8. Speaking of which, the Sport Quattro should, assuming it becomes a reality, sit between the R8 and RS 5 in Audi's hierarchy. You could also expect a launch date of 2015, which would be right in time for the 35th anniversary of the Quattro system itself.
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| QUATTRO FRONT VIEW |
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| BACK VIEW OF QUATTRO |
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| INTERIOR COCKPIT AUDI QUATTRO |
Version two of the Sport Quattro Concept is much different. Now we have a plug-in hybrid system with a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 that's been making its way into much of Audi's lineup, including the S8 and the RS 7. In fact, the concept's V-8 matches the RS 7's output at 560 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. In between the engine and eight-speed auto is an electric motor that brings total output to about 700 hp. A 14.1 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery is mounted toward the rear of the coupe and provides enough power for 31 miles of range in pure EV mode. A Hybrid mode is available for maximum efficiency, but Sport mode will squeeze the most performance out of the power train. Audi claims a 0-62 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph. On paper, the two-seat Sport Quattro Concept appears sophisticated and fast, though we wonder how it'll perform on the road. Sure, it has a sophisticated sport differential at the rear axle that should provide loads of grip, but the hybrid hardware adds weight. The original Sport Quattro tipped the scales at a svelte 2838 pounds. The first concept from 2010 was impressively light, weighing in at just 2866 pounds. Now, concept version two is nearly double the weight, at 4079 pounds. This is despite the lightweight construction that relies on aluminum, carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (used for the hood and rear hatch), and carbon fiber-ceramic brake discs.
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| SQUAREBOX HEADLIGHTS |
While some may lament the loss of the inline-five, producing a Sport Quattro successor is a no-brainer for many reasons. For starters, Audi has already spent many years and cash developing the car (the first concept alone was said to be worth more than $5 million), and there's the number of new products coming from its competitors to consider. That said, it's still unknown if this will be a low-quantity car or something we'll spot just as often as an R8. Speaking of which, the Sport Quattro should, assuming it becomes a reality, sit between the R8 and RS 5 in Audi's hierarchy. You could also expect a launch date of 2015, which would be right in time for the 35th anniversary of the Quattro system itself.
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| ALLOY RIMS |
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