Another Frankfurt Motor Show debutant has made an early appearance – Audi’s plug-in hybrid Sport Quattro Concept.
Audi being Audi, the Sport Quattro isn’t your run-of-the-mill plug-in hybrid. Zero to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds and maximum power of 515kW addresses that one!
Oh, and fuel consumption is just 2.5l/100kms – that’s less than a Toyota Yaris.
Power comes from Audi’s 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 TFSI engine with 412kW/700Nm on-tap, and a 110kW/400Nm electric motor. That’s 515kW/800Nm combined – wow!
And here’s an interesting by-play: the Sport Quattro Concept obviously has design links to the legendary Sport Quattro which appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1983 and dominated the World Rally Championship (note the rectangular C-pillar and ‘blistered’ wheel-arch flares). That car had 225kW of power.
Measuring 4,602mm in length, offering a wheelbase of 2,784mmm width of 1,964mm and height of 1,386mm, the Audi Sport Quattro concept is low and wide. This is accentuated by its 21-inch alloy wheels.
The double rectangular headlights pay homage to Audi’s 1980s supercar but in fact debut Matric LED technology which will be seen in production car for the first time later this year in the updated Audi A8.
Also at the front is a hexagonal single frame grille which is part of Audi’s new design philosophy and a carbon-fibre front splitter.
At the rear is a massive carbon-fibre diffuser, rectangular tail-lights (another Quattro cue) and an active spoiler. Carbon-fibre is also used for the flared sills, C-pillars air outlets and even the four-ring front badge.
Inside the Audi Sport Quattro Concept takes a distinct turn towards motorsport with grey trim, sports seats and slimline dashboard. Instruments are fully digital and the 3D displays are controlled via the multifunction steering wheel.
However Audi is already talking about “customer this” and “customer that” for the Sport Quattro so our feeling is a production version of this stunner is just around the corner. Another day, another scintillating Audi it seems.
