Audi has just revealed its ‘quattro concept’ in Paris as a tribute to the 30th anniversary of the original car’s debut back in 1980. There’s plenty to like about the concept machine but what’s extra hot is that, like the original, it’s powered by a turbocharged 5-cylinder.

In this case, though, the 2.5-litre mill makes a stonking 300 kW and uses a 6-speed manual transmission to, of course, power all four 20-inch wheels with 480 Nm of torque. Stopping the bease are chunky carbon-ceramic discs wearing 6-piston grippers.

With its high-output 5-cyl and lightweight construction, this new concept can hit 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds and return an impressive fuel economy of 8.5 liters/100 km.

Based on the much-loved RS5, Audi’s top designers shaved 150 millimeters off the wheelbase – now 2.6 meters – and chopped the roof by 40 mm in an attempt to immediately save weight. Dimensions are stated as 4.28 m long, 1.86 m wide, and 1.33 m tall.

In order to reach the 1,300 kilograms target, Audi used aluminum and carbon fibre in liberal doses. The bonnet, hatch and spoiler are made from carbon fibre and the rear seats have also been thrown out and replaced with a small luggage shelf.

In terms of exterior styling the front fascia is an all-LED light setup, in between sits Audi’s signature wide-mouth grille and the retro-inspired bonnet scoop is above.

The interior is well detailed but suitably spartan with two 18-kilo passenger seats with either three- or four-point harnesses. The driver will make use of a fully digital display which has two modes, “normal” and “race”. When choosing race mode, Audi says the graphics “revisit and refine” original Quattro’s digital display.

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