Audi Quattro Reborn: V8-Powered Restomod Costs $470K

A British startup, Audacious Automotive, is undertaking a project to recreate the iconic Audi UR Quattro, but with a significant modern twist: the engine from a B7 RS4. Founder Mac Zaglewski described the effort to Autocar as “an exercise of continuation, rather than modification,” despite substantial mechanical departures from the original vehicle.

Instead of the original Quattro’s 2.1-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine, Audacious Automotive is installing a 4.2-liter V-8 engine sourced from the 2006 RS4. Zaglewski justified the decision by questioning what direction Audi might have taken with the platform had development continued, suggesting a lighter V-8 configuration could have been a logical progression. “If Audi carried on with the platform, would it end up close to this and would it end up being a lightweight V8 rather than a heavy five-cylinder?” he told Autocar.

The choice of the B7 RS4 as a donor vehicle was deliberate, according to Zaglewski, as it allowed for the retention of the UR Quattro’s longitudinal engine layout and rear-biased power delivery through a Torsen differential. Crucially, the RS4 also offered a manual transmission option, a feature Audacious Automotive sought to preserve.

The engine will not remain stock. Audacious Automotive plans to add a supercharger, pushing the power output beyond 600 horsepower, a substantial increase over the RS4’s original output of over 400 hp. The company also aims to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle by more than 500 pounds compared to the RS4, utilizing a combination of steel and aluminum in the initial build, with plans to transition to carbon fiber for production models.

The exterior styling is still under development, blending elements of the classic rally-inspired Audi S1 Quattro with a more contemporary aesthetic. The first vehicle will be constructed using a mix of steel and aluminum, but future production models are slated to feature ultra-wide carbon fiber bodywork.

Commissioning an Audacious Quattro requires the provision of two donor vehicles – a Coupe and an RS4 – and a substantial investment of approximately $470,000.