The Breakdown
- Audacious Automotive is a UK startup that's reimagining the Ur-Quattro with less weight and V8 power.
- The engine, taken from an RS4, will be supercharged to deliver over 600 horsepower.
- Audacious Automotive will build you one if you provide two donor cars and around $470,000.
The Audi Quattro, or Ur-Quattro, remains a holy grail machine for those who worship at the altar of all things all-wheel drive. The original car had a roaring turbocharged five-cylinder engine that punched well above its weight class, plus a rally-bred AWD system and suspension setup.
The cleverly named Audacious Automotive, a UK-based car builder, plans to bring the Quattro back to life. This time, however, the car features lightweight bodywork and a few more cylinders. The Ur-Quattro meets another Audi legend: the 4.2-liter V8 from the RS4.
The initial proof of concept of this mash-up will be constructed from steel and aluminum. Audacious has shared plenty of photos of the project as it's coming together, and the fabrication work looks amazing.
Additionally, that V8 seems to fit rather well in the snout of this beast. After all, the original setup for lots of Audi products is an engine pushed fairly far forward. This car stays true to that lineage, for better, for worse, or simply for packing reasons.
Audacious says the 4.2-liter V8 will be good for north of 600 horsepower, once it bolts on a supercharger. And this example will not be the only one built, as the company hopes to attract buyers for more units.
You'll need to supply both an RS4 and Ur-Quattro donor car, which could be a challenge. Or not, since you'll also need to cough up around $470,000—which means you would clearly have the money to also secure the two required donor vehicles.
That's a ton of money. But the production versions of the car will swap out the metalwork for a full carbon-fiber body. Still, in spite of the amazing fabrication work and the potential of the finished product, the financial ask is certainly... audacious.
Motor1's Take: The Audi 4.2-liter V8 remains one of the best-sounding mills money can buy. Pairing that motor with one of the greatest vehicles to wear the four-ring badge is a match made in motoring heaven.
I'm curious how many folks will stomach the cost of entry, though.
Source: Audacious Automotive via Hagerty
