Audi may take Quattro Concept to production - plan in the works

Audi is developing a production plan for the Quattro Concept as the automaker considers building a limited series of the model, according to a report by Autocar.

"We are rethinking standard processes to make it possible. We know how to engineer it already," said Stefan Reil, chief of development at Quattro GmbH, Audi's performance division, in an interview with the British car magazine.

The Quattro Concept is based on the RS5 and was created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Audi Quattro all-wheel drive system. It is powered by a 2.5 liter, 5-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 300 kW (408 PS / 402 hp) and 480 Nm (354 lb-ft) of torque. The car weights in at just 1,300 kilograms (2,866 lbs) and manages the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in an easy 3.9 seconds.

But Audi faces some challenges in taking the Quattro to production.

First off, Audi's partner in the Quattro Concept development is ItalDesign, which currently has no production capability. And Audi has little experience in building specialty editions in very low volume and it can't set a price that is too high.

"We need feedback to see if it is possible. Audi has no heritage in building 200-500 cars that are really exotic. But it won't be over €100,000 (£87,600/$139,000)," Reil said in the story.

Audi may get some help, though, from sister brand Lamborghini, which has a lot of experience in producing supercars with lots of carbon fiber components such as the Quattro has.

Said Reil, "This car and Lamborghini are in the same exotic corner."