More Audi "Ur-Quattro" revival rumors surface, debut expected in 2010
Rumors of Audi's plan to resurrect the Ur-Quattro continue to persist, with Auto Motor und Sport reporting that the highly modified A5 is due to arrive sometime next year.
According to the German pub and coinciding with earlier reports, Audi plans to bring the curb weight down to around 3,000 pounds by using scads of aluminum along with polycarbonate windows in place of their glass counterparts. Further weight reductions will come from a lightweight set of 19- or 20-inch wheels and carbon ceramic brakes, while an active rear spoiler, magnetic-ride suspension system and a raced-out interior are rumored to be part of the package.
Naturally, Audi's all-wheel drive system will be the centerpiece of the reborn Ur-Quattro, but there's still plenty of questions surrounding the coupe's powertrain. Audi has supposedly decided to nix the idea of fitting its 4.2-liter V8 and will instead use either a new, twin-turbocharged V6 (odd, considering the automaker put all its efforts into creating a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 for the new S4 and A6) or possibly the 2.5-liter five cylinder currently fitted to the TT-RS in a historical nod to the new Ur's ancestry. If AMuS is to be believed, expect output somewhere between 300 and 425 hp – and there's also talk of a hybrid variant that would allow for a 20-mile electric-only commute (something about a snowball comes to mind...). Regardless, if the Ur-Quattro does come to fruition, expect it to debut sometime next year to coincide with the original's 30th anniversary, with pricing set considerably north of the current S5.
[Source: Auto Motor und Sport | Image Source: AutoBild]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BigMcLargeHuge 8:51AM (6/30/2009)
Bring on the homage engines!
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audi_arena 8:52AM (6/30/2009)
My first reaction is that this seems way too much fun to be seriously considered for production by Audi. However, I have been hearing about the Ur-quattro more than usual from Audi corporate lately.... hmmmm
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zamafir 9:23AM (6/30/2009)
never driven an rs6, rs4, tt-rs, or r8 have u?
JD 10:07AM (6/30/2009)
I agree, all nonsense. So the line-up would be: A5, S5, Ur-Quattro2, RS5 - but both the RS5 and Ur Q2 will have similar performance except the RS5 will be out-done by the Ur Q2 in terms of technology, MPG, Weight, Braking Performance, etc. The ONLY way I can see this happening is if the Ur Q2 comes in priced above the $75k USD (theoretical) RS5.
A hot 400+ horsepower supercharged Q5 seems much more likely to happen and much more realistic as they have already introduced the concept.
audi_arena 12:01PM (6/30/2009)
I have driven every audi performance car that has come to the United States so far, and while they are all fabulous vehicles each in thier own way, none of them are absolutely pure, raw sports cars, like this one sounds like it will be.
I am told (by one of the few americans that has driven it) that the new V10 R8 is even more refined and smooth than the original. Raw, ball's-out sports cars just aren't what Audi is about right now. Because of thier enginering superiority they are focusing on making the flat out BEST all around cars on the planet. As much as we purists love the niche obnoxious performance machines, the general public does not...
zamafir 4:12PM (6/30/2009)
Got it. Well I think that's the problem. Audi's not going to be BMW. BMW was (a little bit is) BMW. They're where customers go if they want to sacrifice certain practicalities for more tail slides, etc.
That said, I've yet to have as much fun on the track as I had in the R8. There's different degrees, different preferences, and the ability to deftly and smoothly execute every turn, emerge from every corner faster and faster and faster, right off the street, will remain one of my most 'fun' car memories. (soon to be superseded by the R8 V10, which, as you've mentioned, I've also heard is riotously entertaining from those who've driven it - in this case the spyder).
RamblinReck89 8:54AM (6/30/2009)
So it's some sort of an RS5/R8 crossbreed?
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jrfalcone1 8:59AM (6/30/2009)
I say use the 5 cyl to give propers to the original. you can turn that thing into a beast with the proper boostage.
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Alex 9:01AM (6/30/2009)
I am glad to hear that they are likely not considering the V8. With all the work they are doing to keep the machine light, it would be a shame to add all that heft right up front. But with all the work being done to make this car light, why toss in 19" or 20" wheels? 18" seems like the perfect size for a road car. It'll fill the wheel well, keep rotating mass down; anything more just seems like excess.
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zamafir 9:26AM (6/30/2009)
I'll believe it wen I see it. There's about zero sense in audi offering an A5, S5 (now with 3.0Tupercharged), and RS5 and than a four distinct model in just the coupe's lineup. it'd make a lot more sense for the RS5 to get this magic weight reduction treatment. But I'm still not buying it. Nothing on this platform weighs that little, the only car which comes close is the TT and it has aluminum everything, including the chassis. I've not heard of a car manufacture simply switching production over from steel to aluminum for a single halo car to further bloat an already growing number of cars within a single model. BS.
And yes, Audi would need to employ the same technique as the TT to get the weight of the significantly larger and heavier (regardless of powerplant used) A5 down to the TT's heft.
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JD 9:58AM (6/30/2009)
I doubt seriously this rumor carries an ounce of weight. While I do know that
Audi is working on a revolutionary new Quattro drivetrain for
upcoming models that will revolutionize All Wheel Drive platforms as we know it, this model makes no sense in terms of their current
line-up. The RS5 should get all of the great technology not yet
another level of trim within the model line. Imagine how upset an
Audi RS5 customer would be when this 'Ur Quattro successor' arrives
with less weight, better MPG, a smaller engine to get it to 60mph in the low
4 second arena, and highly expensive carbon ceramic brakes that would easily
swell the price to something similar to an RS model. Talk about backlash!
I also doubt there would be a twin turbo V6 when Audi already is pumping up the
3.0T supercharged engine to 408bhp in the Q5 to get it to 60mph in
4.2 sec. So in my opinion this is all nonsense.
The RS5 will be released early next year (debuting at the end of this year) and no
car company is wasting money right now on outlandish projects during
such economic conditions and time of recession. Just another false rumor.
CH 9:26AM (6/30/2009)
If AMuS is to be believed, expect output somewhere between 300 and 425 hp – and there's also talk of a hybrid variant that would allow for a 20-mile electric-only commute...
And it will run on photosynthesis and the only things that come out of the exhaust will be fairies and unicorns.
If you want to build a hommage to the Ur-Quattro, then please don't add weight by giving in to the greenlings to "look greener". Forget that, you don't need a hybrid for this car, make the A2 or A3 hybrids but not a "R"5 Quattro.
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Max Palmer 9:53AM (6/30/2009)
They should just bring back the real Ur-Quattro. Or would that be Ur-Ur-Quattro now.. :-P
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DCragtop 10:31AM (6/30/2009)
eh; you've seen one Audi lately you've seen them all. I like the Quattro concept/idea but this car needs more homage design cues than placing a rings decal on the side.
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Bigboy 11:55PM (7/08/2009)
If they do the Ur-Quattro, why not a new Coupe GT for the masses?
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PAUL 10:42AM (6/30/2009)
Autobild Sportscar is not Auto Motor und Sport
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Redline 10:49AM (6/30/2009)
5 cylinder please! I'm a sucker for tradition.
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der_beobachter 12:07PM (6/30/2009)
Sorry guys, but as mentioned before:
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/die-rueckkehr-des-audi-ur-quattro_923005.html
AUTO BILD SPORTSCARS isn't Auto Motor und Sport oder Sportauto – in Germany they are the biggest contenders ...
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PG 1:25PM (6/30/2009)
And like every really awesome car Audi/VW makes (S3, Scirocco, etc.) there isn't a chance in hell it will come to the U.S.
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PG 1:38PM (6/30/2009)
Oh, and don't forget the RS6 wagon!