Audi Quattro Concept revealed

Audi has revealed the first images of its new Quattro Concept due to be unveiled at next week's Frankfurt motor show, and its realistic detailing could seed a production vehicle. If that happens, expect it to be in a fairly limited edition, and to be priced towards the top of the Audi stable.

Like the predecessor that bowed at the 2010 Paris motor show, the new Quattro Concept has the same lowered roof and sporty lines. But it gets a considerable performance boost, with a new hybrid drivetrain that delivers a combined 515kW of power and peak torque of 800Nm.

That's a sizable lift over the previous concept's 300kW turbocharged five-cylinder 2.5-litre engine -- mated to a six-speed manual transmission driving all four wheels and getting them to 100kmh in 3.9 seconds.

Add CarsGuide as a preferred source in Google Search

Add CarsGuide as a preferred source in Google Search

The new hybrid drivetrain consists of a 412kW/700Nm four-litre twin-turbo V8 from the RS6 and RS7, plus an electric motor -- powered by a 14.1-kWh lithium-ion battery -- that tips in 110 kW and 400Nm.

An eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission sends drive to all four wheels through a new generation of the quattro al-wheel drive system. A 14.1-kWh lithium-ion battery powers the hybrid system. Audi claims the range to be 50km in all-electric mode, and the 0-100km/h time as 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 306km/h.

The Quattro Concept also features a start-stop system and cylinder deactivation that cuts off four cylinders under partial load. But there’s a price for the new technology -- the newcomer is also podged up, tipping the scales at 1850kg -- about 550kg more than the previous concept's 1300kg.

This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott