Call the plastic surgeon; Audi might produce the face-melting Sport quattro concept

By Stephen Edelstein January 3, 2014

As concept cars go, the Audi Sport quattro is a pretty good one. And soon it may be more than just a concept.

Introduced at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, the plug-in hybrid Sport quattro has a chance of seeing production, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said no decision has been made, but that a production version isn’t off the table. The positive feedback the concept has received could turn the tide.

Audi clearly isn’t done with the Sport quattro; it plans to unveil an updated version at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show next week. It’s also not the first concept Audi has based off the legendary Coupe quattro rally car in recent years, indicating that there is more than a little interest in reviving the model with the company.

The Sport quattro is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and an electric motor, producing a combined 700 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. However, a production version may get a less-exotic powertrain, such as a standalone V8 or a smaller turbocharged engine.

At least the Sport quattro won’t be in danger of losing its attractive proportions. The concept is based on the MLB platform, which will underpin the next A4 and other Audi models.

If nothing else, perhaps the Sport quattro will form a styling template for the next A5 coupe.

With the R8 supercar and numerous high-performance RS models already in the lineup, it’s admittedly hard to see how a 700-hp plug-in hybrid could fit into Audi’s future plans.

Still, the quattro is one of Audi’s most legendary models, and who wouldn’t want a car with the Sport quattro’s combination of performance and efficiency? No wonder Audi hasn’t consigned it to the warehouse just yet.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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