Believe it or not, Audi’s beloved five-cylinder engine is already 50 years old. Next year it will be fifty years since the first five-cylinder debuted in the Audi 100 from 1976. To celebrate this milestone, a group of enterprising students has created a very special concept car.
Meet the Audi GT50. The project was developed by fourteen Audi students in Neckarsulm, Germany and lasted six months, led by their instructors and Timo Engler, Head of Automotive Technology, Logistics and Business Management Training in Neckarsulm.
At first glance, you’d never guess that beneath the GT50’s sharp, angular design lies a standard RS3 sedan. The students completely stripped the car and removed all the body panels (including the hood, doors, windows and trunk lid) before giving it a brand new, angular exterior.
The body is made of lightweight glass fiber reinforced plastic instead of traditional sheet steel or carbon fiber. The rear features a large diffuser and spoiler to improve aerodynamics, while the roof comes from a real Audi 80.
Photo by: Audi
The GT50 draws heavily from Audi’s racing heritage, with clear nods to icons such as the Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO. Audi itself admits that if the 90 Quattro were built today, “it could very well resemble the GT50 we see here.”
Inside, the RS3’s cabin was completely stripped and retrofitted with the appropriate racing equipment. The students even made a handmade roll bar, a process that took two weeks.
Power comes from Audi’s signature 2.5-liter TFSI five-cylinder engine. Although Audi hasn’t released official production figures, if it remains stock the engine will likely produce 394 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.
“With this project, our students demonstrate a remarkable capacity for innovation, passion and teamwork – qualities that characterize the new generation,” says Xavier Ros, Audi board member responsible for human resources.
This is also not the first time that Audi’s students have come up with something great. Remember the 2020 RS6 GTO? That came from Neckarsulm. The electric NSU Prinz? Yes, that was also the work of students. The GT50 is just the latest in a series of breathtaking concepts from Neckarsulm.
7
Source: Audi
#Audi #paid #perfect #tribute #fivecylinder #engine