Audi Quattro concept

The concept car is being presented as a one-off tribute to the original Quattro of 30 years ago and the fire-breathing Group B rally car it spawned, but there is a chance a similar model could go into production if it gets a positive reaction from the public.

“It is a concept car paying homage to the original Quattro and 30 years of Quattro technology,” Audi board chairman, Rupert Stadler tells Carsguide.

However, he hints that a positive reaction could see it make it into showrooms in some form or other.  “First of all we want to hear what the public opinion is, then we will have to work. We are looking for good feedback,” Stadler says.

If it fails to make it into showrooms, there is a good chance some of the design themes of the concept will be blended into future sporty Audi models.

The Quattro concept car is based on an S5 with a 150mm shorter wheelbase, a 40mm lower roof and 200mm has been cut out of the rear overhang. It seats four, but the rear seats are only for little people or big people on a short trip. The custom-made body, which features massively pumped out guards, is primarily made of aluminium but carbon-fibre has been used for the bonnet and rear hatch.

A prominent bonnet slit rams air into the turbocharged in-line five cylinder that belts out 300kW and 480Nm. This is a variation of the direct injection five-cylinder engine available in the brutally fast RS5.

Given the concept car only weighs 1300kg, there is enough power to sling it from 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds. Surprisingly, the concept car is able to complete the 100km combined fuel economy test cycle using just 8.5 litres, which is impressive for such a potent model.

Audi has fitted it with a six-speed manual gearbox which is fed through a constant Quattro all-wheel drive system which can send up to 85 per cent of torque to the rear wheels under extreme acceleration.

The Quattro concept suspension is made largely from alumimum, as are its chunky 20-inch wheels.  As for the brakes, front six piston calipers grab onto carbon-fibre and ceramic composite discs which Audi says suffer very little fade and are 4kg lighter per corner than smaller steel discs.