Currently reading: Audi Sport Quattro could make production as performance GT
Audi's performance-based Sport Quattro concept could be built to sit between the TT and R8 in the firm's model range

The Audi Sport Quattro concept has production potential as a performance GT to sit between the Audi TT and Audi R8 in the firm’s line-up, technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg has revealed at the Detroit motor show.

The Sport Qauttro was seen as a high-performance 690bhp hybrid at the Frankfurt motor show last September, prompting speculation that it would usurp the R8 as Audi’s performance flagship.

But Hackenberg said such a model, if it were to make production, would require a big investment and would need to be built in greater numbers as a result, therefore making it the firm’s mid-range sporting GT makes more sense

The Sport Quattro was as much about showing the versatility of the upcoming new MLB platform, which will underpin all Audi saloons and SUVs bigger from the Audi A4 and Audi Q5 up.

“There are many driveline possibilities for the car,” said Hackenberg. “It has a lot of potential due to the platform, one of them very powerful. If we have a car on the modular system, we can take other drivelines. It has a potential for bigger volume. To make this car requires a big investment, and it makes sense for us to widen its potential.”

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Mark Tisshaw

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Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

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philcUK 16 January 2014

make it happen

The conundrum for Audi is how to place this commercially at cost at least. Despite VAG halo loss leaders like the Veyron or Porsche hypercars – the original ghost of the Quattro still haunts them. The Paris salon test, including the rally version, were muted as coach built specials that would place it at a price point on the R8’s level to break even.

Clearly - that was discarded as they are too different a proposition to justify that and it would be in contradiction to the proposed A9 range topper so we are doomed it appears, to get a lesser interpretation of it.

And that’s fine – a Quattro reborn should eschew the economic pitfalls of it’s ancestor and be, as it was always intended to be, an accessible route into thrills.

Times have moved on and there are many more players in the field but Audi could pull this off – easily. It will be a Frankenstein thing – but it could also be brilliance. If nothing else – just to shut up the troll harpies and their green ranting on the lack of innovation.

JIMBOB 15 January 2014

Indeed....

Ideally, the TT needs to stay sub £30k and not expand in size significantly. There would be room for an out-and-out 'Audi Quattro' range to replace the A5 and A7, with a 2+2 shorter wheel base 'Quattro E2' flagship for £60k. This would make the range a bit less confusing.
Roadster 15 January 2014

Audi don't have a clue about this model

Does Audi actually have a clue about how and when it's going to produce the Sport Quattro and where it'll sit in their range? Or is it going to be one of those concept cars which changes every time it's wheeled out at a motor show with the goal posts continually changing before it eventually reaches the showrooms? This car could so easily have made production within a couple of years of the first version of the concept car appearing.