Audi's stunning concept car celebrates 50 years of 5-cylinder engines
What's the story
Audi has unveiled a unique concept car, the GT50, to mark the 50th anniversary of its iconic five-cylinder engine. The creation comes from Audi's apprentices in Neckarsulm, Germany. Each year, these apprentices design an extravagant one-off concept as a tribute to a historic model or as a glimpse into future projects. The GT50 is the latest addition to this tradition.
Design inspiration
GT50: A tribute to Audi's 5-cylinder legacy
The GT50 was created to honor 50 years of five-cylinder Audis, starting with the second-generation Audi 100 in 1976. The engine configuration is one of the rarest in mass production, and Audi is the only automaker still using it today. The new concept is based on the RS3, which currently uses a straight-five engine.
Motorsport tribute
GT50 pays homage to Audi's racing heritage
The apprentices have transformed the RS3 into a tribute to some of Audi's most successful five-cylinder race cars, such as the 90 Quattro IMSA GTO and 200 Quattro Trans-Am. The GT50 features a blocky, three-box silhouette with minimalist, aero-optimized surfacing and retro visual cues like an old-style front grille. It also features huge turbofan-style wheel designs that pay homage to these motorsport icons.
Engine specs
GT50's performance and future prospects
While no specific details have been revealed for the GT50 concept, it is powered by the same 394hp 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine as the standard RS3. Audi is also expected to further celebrate its five-cylinder legacy next year with a new track-ready special edition of the RS3. This model could be based on the Performance Edition and would be more powerful than Mercedes-AMG A45, making it the world's most powerful internal combustion engine (ICE) hot hatch.