Another turbocharged, high-displacement Audi performance car, right? Wrong. Just another variant of the already potent Audi S8? Wrong again. This stunning vehicle is the Audi Sport Quattro Concept, set to be officially unveiled at next week’s 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show. And get this — it’s a 700-horsepower hybrid.
Following in the footsteps of the Porsche 918 Spider and the Ferrari LaFerrari, this Sport Quattro Concept packs a massive gasoline engine along with a performance-oriented lithium-ion battery pack. In the Sport Quattro’s case, the same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 found in the new RS7 and the Bentley Continental GT V8 accompanies a 14.1 kWh battery pack and electric motor. An advanced 8-speed Tiptronic transmission  routes power to the car’s AWD system, featuring a sport differential in the rear. Altogether, this combination of performance parts produces a massive 700 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque, enough to rocket the car to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 190 mph.
The “Sport Quattro Concept” name harkens back to some of the great Audi performance cars of the last forty years. The “Ur-Quattro” car of 1980 was Audi’s first race-spec vehicle, and its production ignited the demand for the sure-footedness that Quattro AWD provided. Even more famous, however, was the Sport Quattro of 1983, a vehicle specifically designed to conquer the World Rally Championship. With a very short wheelbase and a respectable 306 horsepower to play, the Sport Quattro won rally race after rally race. Most importantly, however, the vehicle won the 1987 Pike’s Peak Hill Climb with driver Walter Röhrl behind the wheel. Audi claims that the introduction of the Sport Quattro Concept in 2013 serves to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the original Sport Quattro.
The car isn’t solely about performance — bold design and creature comforts come standard as well. The interior is graciously appointed, with high-quality, soft-touch materials all around. A heads-up display, Audi’s famous MMI system, and an A/C control unit built directly into the air vents help to maximize passenger comfort. Outside dimensions are no less impressive. Striking, Audi-exclusive “Matrix LED” headlamps grace the modern front fascia of the Sport Quattro Concept, giving us a hint of what future Audi design may hold. Gorgeous LED wraparound taillights cover an R8-like rear end, completing the car’s very sport effect.
In addition, the Sport Quattro Concept is fuel-conscious, garnering an average of 94.09 MPG in show car form. For those of us even more concerned about economy, the vehicle’s 150 horsepower electric motor can operate in EV-only mode for approximately thirty miles. Certainly beats driving a Prius.
The Sport Quattro Concept points to the future of efficiency and massive performance that awaits Audi customers. No longer will driving pleasure and efficiency be mutually exclusive. Stay tuned for more details and releases during next week’s 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show, September 10-11.
Please enjoy this TFLcar.com video of the 2013 Audi S8, a performance vehicle very similar to the Sport Quattro Concept.
