The Quattro Spyder Concept Was the R8 Before the R8
Audi's gorgeous Quattro Spyder should have been put into production, but costs ultimately killed it.
Foreshadowing the Future
The Audi Quattro Spyder Concept debuted at the 1991 Frankfurt Motor Show, but even today, it's easily one of the prettiest cars we've ever laid eyes on. But perhaps more importantly, the concept was concrete proof that Audi was serious about building a mid-engine supercar, coupled with the less-feasible-for-production Avus that debuted just a month prior.
Photos: Audi
Not Feasible
The problem with the Quattro Sport, of course, was Audi's planned price - 100,000 German marks (or around $56,000 U.S.), which they believed was just too much to make this a feasible seller. Audi believed that the Quattro Sport's market would have been quite small at the time and that they wouldn't be able to sell enough copies to make any money.
Photos: Audi
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Tremendous Interest
That decision was still somewhat surprising, however, given the public's immensely positive feedback for the car after its debut in Frankfurt. After the Quattro Sport's unveiling, rumors quickly spread that Audi was planning on moving it to production, and dealers reportedly took thousands of advanced orders for them.
Photos: Audi
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Perfectly Proportioned
Sadly, that never happened. And it's a real shame because the Quattro Sport concept is one of those cars that wears a timeless design. Even today, the car looks amazing and not at all outdated. It's clean, well-proportioned, and quite the opposite of outrageous. And things just get better the deeper you go.
Photos: Audi
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Familiar Layout
The Quattro Sport shares a few characteristics with the R8 that would eventually make Audi's mid-engine dreams come true - the engine layout, an aluminum body, and a two-seater interior cabin. Power came from a 2.8-liter V6 engine that delivered 172 horsepower (128 kilowatts) and 181 pound-feet (245 Newton-meters) of torque, which sent power to a Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system via a five-speed manual gearbox specifically adapted for the concept.
Photos: Audi
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Exceptionally Light
Obviously, that's not enough power to set your hair on fire, but the Quattro Concept was exceptionally light as well - it weighed just 1,100 kilograms or 2,425 pounds. By today's standards, that's a total featherweight of a car. And the roof panel was even removable, so you could actually enjoy a bit of wind in your hair when you so desired.
Photos: Audi
>>Join the conversation about the Quattro Spyder Concept right here in Audiworld.com.
Sought After
It's truly a shame that the Quattro Spyder never made it to production because we're convinced that it would be a highly sought-after car in today's enthusiast world. And, we imagine a pretty big hit back in the early '90s, too.
Photos: Audi
>>Join the conversation about the Quattro Spyder Concept right here in Audiworld.com.
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