Audi GT50: The Retro and Loud Return of the Five-Cylinder Engine

This unique concept car, built by the brand’s apprentices, features a retro racing aesthetic reminiscent of the classics from 1989 .

The GT50 is the latest special project from the apprentices at the Neckarsulm training center . The concept pays tribute to the five-cylinder engine . This engine became an Audi hallmark . Other automakers abandoned it long ago . Currently, at Audi, it survives only in the RS3 . Therefore, the RS3 served as the donor vehicle for the GT50 .

The GT50’s design resembles a race car from the late 80s . It swaps curves for three-box aggression and defined lines . The design incorporates aero-driven surfaces . The most striking features are the massive turbofan wheels . Furthermore, it features an old-school grille . This pays homage to the legendary 90 Quattro IMSA GTO and 200 Quattro Trans-Am .

The Five-Cylinder Engine Untouched

Under the hood, the 2.5-liter turbo five-cylinder engine from the RS3 remains unmodified . It maintains the original 394 hp . The engine is the center of the tribute . Fans know this engine is capable of generating almost 100 additional hp with the most basic tuning mods .

This unusual engine design offers the smoothness of a six-cylinder . However, it has the simplicity of a four-cylinder . The five-cylinder engine powered monsters like the original road and rally Quattros . Audi is widely expected to launch an even more powerful special RS3 soon . This model could potentially top the AMG A45 for horsepower . The GT50 feels like the warm-up act . It is a nostalgic reminder of the five-pot engine . The concept was revealed in an Instagram post by the German news website Stimme .