AUDI DEBUTS NEW SPORT QUATTRO CONCEPT CAR AT 2013 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW

AUDI SPORT QUATTRO CONCEPT

Audi's latest vision of a successor to the revolutionary Sport Quattro debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
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 Motor Show is the Audi Sport Quattro Concept, highlighted by a powertrain 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 powertrain. 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 2038 pounds.

The first concept from 2010 was impressively light, weighing in at just 2066 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.

Styling is similar to the previous concept, but three years has given Audi plenty of time to improve the look. Up front, the hood no longer features the center-mounted air scoop, though the passenger-side air vents remain. The grille pattern switches to a honeycomb pattern and is now framed with brushed-metallic trim.

The lower air dams have been widened and the headlight units feature the new Matrix LED system that will debut on the updated A8 flagship sedan later this year. From the side, the 21-inch rims feature a more intricate design; the front fenders now include vertical air vents, and the rocker panel features a deeper crease. The front fenders and haunches appear wider and now include a crease that provides a bit more definition.

The short wheelbase of 109.6 inches (and overall length of 181.1 inches) makes it shorter than the RS 5 and helps mimic the unmistakable proportions of the original Sport Quattro. Out back, the bolt-on spoiler used in the first concept gives way to an integrated version and the taillights are now tilted inward.

Changes for the carbon-fiber-heavy interior include a flat-bottom steering wheel, revised HVAC and MMI infotainment controls, and a new digital instrument panel that is highlighted by a center-mounted tachometer.

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.