Audi has been hinting for the last couple of years that it may produce a modern version of its iconic Quattro, and now to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sport quattro, it is set to reveal the strongest indication yet at the Frankfurt Motor Show - in the form of the Audi Sport quattro concept. Audi has fitted the show car with a plug-in hybrid drive system that claims to deliver some rather impressive performance figures.
Exterior
Undoubtedly the original Audi Sport quattro is one of the Ingolstadt brand's most recognisable designs and so it is easy to see the influence of this coming through into this new concept. The car has minimal overhangs and a wheelbase of 2,784mm. The overall length is 4,602mm while the car is quite wide at 1,386mm - adding to its sporting presence.
The low-slung design features a tip of the cap to the old Sport quattro in the form of a thick, angular C-pillar, which extends right the way to the end of the short boot lid and is met on the sides by some muscular looking shoulders over the rear arches. In contrast to the rest of the car, the rear is a straightforward - almost conventional - design.
Virtually every panel on the Sport quattro concept features taut lines while the overall stance of the car hints at the serious levels of performance Audi claims. The front-end features a new take of the large corporate grille. The new hexagonal single-frame grille holds a new type of mesh that adds to the racing theme of the car and could show the way for a future reworking of mainstream Audi faces, especially as the need for more cooling through greater use of turbocharged engines comes in. Additional cooling intakes either side of the grille dominate the rest of the front bumper design while venting behind the front wheels channel air along the door towards those bulging rear arches.
The front end of the Sport quattro also features Audi's new Matrix LED headlight units, which are set to appear as an option on the updated A8 saloon later this year. These units feature numerous individual LED bulbs, which work with upstream lenses and reflectors and can be individually activated or deactivated according to the situation allowing them to effectively bend light around on-coming cars.
Interior
The interior of the Sport quattro concept is very driver-orientated and displays a new direction in Audi's cabin design. The multi-function steering wheel evolves to now include the engine start button and drive select controls, as well as the ability to select electric-only mode.
A simplified dashboard is home to one large digital display, which, as well as showing the usual speedometer and rev counter, can also display different menu screens that the driver can toggle through either via the steering wheel or the MMI touchwheel located on the centre console. This centre console also is home to a uniquely styled gear selector and a highly simplified stereo control, which features just a volume dial and a touch-sensitive strip with six options.
Mechanicals
At the core of the Sport quattro concept is a high performance package that blends twin-turbocharged petrol power with an advanced plug-in hybrid system. The engine is a four-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 560hp and 700Nm of torque. This TFSI engine also features cylinder-on-demand technology, which can deactivate four cylinders when the engine is not under load - when cruising on the motorway, for example. Helping conserve yet more fuel around town is a start-stop system.
Paired up with the 4.0-litre TFSI engine is an electric motor that itself produces 150hp and a healthy 400Nm of torque. This draws its energy from a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery in the rear of the car with a capacity of 14.1kWh. This can be charged via a wall box charging point just like an electric car or also through regenerative braking while driving.
The Sport quattro is capable of being driven by engine or with the two combined. In pure electric mode the 400Nm on offer should give the car some impressive levels of acceleration although no range has been quoted - expect it to not last too long when calling upon all that grunt. Audi claims that, with both engines working together, the Sport quattro concept can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.7 seconds, which, considering the car's 1,850-kilogram mass, isn't that bad. Top speed is quoted at 305km/h. Helping all that come to a halt are carbon fibre ceramic disc brakes.
Anything else?
The Sport quattro concept is as much about fuel economy and energy efficiency as it is about performance. Audi claims that, despite the significant performance levels on offer, the car is capable of returning (in certain conditions) fuel consumption of just 2.5 litres per 100 kilometres (113mpg). For now though it still remains just a concept.