Hybrid Audi Quattro Sport concept for Frankfurt Motor Show

These are the first images of Audi’s latest Quattro Sport concept car, which will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

What’s more, Audi will actually build the car this concept previews. It will be made in limited numbers at the firm’s Neckarsulm plant in Germany, where the RS and R8 models are made, from 2016.

Due to the low production run, the new car will become the most expensive car that Audi makes, with prices set to start at around £125,000.

The new concept appears similar, although more aggressive, to the Quattro Concept that debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 2010. That concept was built as an anniversary present, and celebrated 30 years of Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive system.

The 2010 Quattro concept was built on a shortened version of the RS5’s MLB platform and used an aluminium and carbon-fibre bodyshell, which helped keep weight down to 1,300kg.

It was powered by a 402bhp version of Audi’s five-cylinder turbo engine – harking back to the original Sport Quattro rally car from the 1980s. The Quattro concept could hit 62mph from a standstill in 3.9 seconds.

However, the new concept is longer than the previous car, and is likely to be built on the full-size RS5 platform, with a wheelbase of 2,751mm, rather than the cut-down 2,600mm of the 2010 car. It also features four proper seats.

The design of the new concept is pretty similar, with many themes carried over, including the flared wheelarches, C-pillar shape with its Audi four-ringed logo and large, multi-spoke alloys that cover ceramic brake discs.

However, new additions include carbon-fibre side sills, a vent in the front wing and a built-in rear spoiler, rather than an active one. The new concept also ditches the central bonnet vent, inspired by the original Sport Quattro, and switches it for a vent in the right-hand side – aping the cut-outs in the bonnet used to cool the turbo of the original Sport Quattro.

The new car also features very slender, more aggressive headlights, with squared-off daytime running LEDs that looks similar in shape to the original 80s car’s lights, and much bigger intakes in the front bumper.

As to what’s under the bonnet, the new concept is unlikely to continue with the potent but thirsty 2.5-litre engine, as Audi seeks to add more power but increase efficiency to its models.

As it’s likely to be based on the RS5, which features a 444bhp 4.2-litre V8, we expect the concept to be powered by Audi’s newer turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 that’s used in the RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback. In those cars it develops 552bhp, but the concept is likely to feature at least 600bhp and 600Nm.

Sources have suggested that this will be supplemented by an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and the eight-speed auto gearbox. This will allow the car to drive around 30 miles on electric power. More importantly in this sporting model, it also could add around 140bhp and 500Nm of torque in a car that weighs around 1,400kg.

This would give a 0-62mph time close to three seconds, and a top speed of over 186mph.

The Audi will use a mechanical four-wheel drive system, with Audi’s Sport, torque-vectoring differentials working on both the front and rear axles.

The car will definitely debut at the Frankfurt show. However, given that the car was unveiled in a Tweet from Audi AG, an earlier online reveal ahead of the event is likely.