Audi Sport Quattro

Its taut, sinewy body squats purposefully on 21-inch centre-locking wheels with a five twin-spoke design, and its low-slung, foursquare look is largely attributable to an overall  length of 4,602 millimetres, a generous width of  1,964 millimetres and a height of just 1,386 millimetres, underpinned by a wheelbase of 2,784 millimetres.

Like the Audi Sport quattro, the Audi Sport quattro concept was designed in the spirit of motorsport. None of its design solutions are an end unto themselves. Each is driven by a technical function, and several pay homage to the quattro models of the early 1980s. These include the angular, flat C-pillars and the rectangular double headlights featuring Audi's groundbreaking Matrix LED technology, which will be available by the end of this year in the new generation Audi A8.

The front of the show car is characterised by the hexagonal single-frame grille with a new, sculpted grille insert, a typical element borrowed from motorsport. The grille is part of Audi's new design philosophy and provides a first glimpse at the future design of the high performance production models.

The grille's lower section is virtually vertical; the upper section follows the line of the bonnet. The low grille emphasises the width of the car. Two large, vertical blades divide each of the large air inlets, and their form is taken up by the creases in the bonnet. The Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) splitter is shifted far to the front, in the style of a racing car.

The proportions of the rear of the car are defined by the combination of a flat greenhouse and broad shoulders. The spoiler at the lower edge of the rear window underscores the car's width. Another distinctive element at the rear of the show car is the CFRP diffuser, which extends far upward. Similar to the single-frame grille, its upper section is honeycombed, whereas the lower section houses two large, oval tailpipes.

Archetypal Audi attention to detail is evident in the lightweight CFRP construction for the flared sills and the power door handles which extend automatically to meet an approaching hand. To complete the look, the four rings adorn the front, the rear, the air outlets behind the front wheels and the C-pillars.

The purity of purpose carries over to the interior of the Audi Sport quattro concept. The lightweight construction typical of Audi is reflected both in the design and in the choice of materials. Viewed from above, the slim dashboard is reminiscent of the wing of a glider. The support structure of the interior is a carbon shell that also serves as a storage compartment in the side doors. Elements like this make lightweight construction visible.

All important information is displayed in the fully digital instrument cluster, another show car feature. The multifunction sport steering wheel is used to switch between a number of virtual 3D displays. Choices include a Race mode with central speedometer, track information and a stopwatch, for example, or the Setup mode with detailed information about numerous race circuits. In addition, the touchwheel of the characteristic Audi MMI control unit makes it easy to enter information.

The plug-in hybrid drive endows the Sport quattro concept with sporty performance from a system output of 700PS and system torque of 800 Nm (590.05 lb-ft). Power flows through a modified eight-speed tiptronic transmission to the quattro powertrain, which features a sport differential on the rear axle. According to the applicable standard, the show car is also capable of up to 113mpg, equating to CO2 output of 59 grams per kilometre.

The combustion engine is a 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8. It produces 560PS and 700 Nm (516.29 lb-ft) of torque. The cylinder on demand (COD) system, which deactivates four cylinders under part load, and a start-stop system make the sonorous eight-cylinder unit very efficient.

Located between the 4.0 TFSI unit and the transmission is a disc-shaped electric motor producing 110 kW and 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft). It draws its traction energy from a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery in the rear with a capacity of 14.1 kWh. The show car is charged via an Audi wall box, which uses intelligent charge management to ensure the optimal feed of energy to the lithium-ion battery. The Audi Sport quattro concept can cover up to 31 miles on electric power alone. An intelligent management system controls the interplay between the two drives as needed, and the driver can choose between various operating modes.

The customer can choose between various characteristics for the Audi Sport quattro concept depending on the operating and driving strategy. A choice of three modes is available. EV mode is for purely electric driving; Hybrid mode for maximum efficiency and Sport mode for maximum performance.

In EV mode, only the electric motor is active. With a peak electric output of 110 kW and 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft) of torque, electric driving both inside and outside the city is possible. An active accelerator indicates the transition to hybrid operation to the driver so that he/she can consciously control the switch between electric and hybrid driving modes.

In Hybrid mode, environmental and route data are used to compute the optimal use of the electric motor and combustion engine for fuel efficiency and implement this via the operating strategy. If navigation is active, the route is optimised for efficiency. This mode also includes the ability to customise the operating strategy. If the driver wants to retain a certain amount of electric range or to drive certain route segments on electric power, they can use the Hold or Charge function to precisely adjust the charge of the battery even without charging from the power grid.

In Sport mode, the operating strategy sets the drive system for maximum power and performance. The electric boost function supports the combustion engine in all driving situations. The energy management system ensures that the battery always has sufficient charge.

When the V8 and the electric motor work together, the Audi Sport quattro concept accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 3.7 seconds – much like the powerful Audi rally cars once did. Its top speed is 189mph.

The lightweight construction concept also plays a large part in this dynamic performance. The occupant cell combines ultra-high-strength steel panels and cast aluminium structural elements. The doors and wings are made of aluminium, and the roof, the bonnet and the rear hatch are made of CFRP. The result is a kerb weight including the battery pack of 1,850 kilograms.

The front suspension features five control arms per wheel; the rear suspension follows the Audi track-controlled trapezoidal link principle. Tautly tuned springs and dampers connect the Audi Sport quattro concept firmly to the road. The dynamic steering varies its ratio as a function of driving speed. The brake callipers grip large, carbon fibre-ceramic brake discs, and the tyre format is 285/30 R 21.