A Tuning Shop is Reviving Audi’s Abandoned Mid-Engine Quattro Prototype

The Quattro RS001 is a little-known gem among Audi enthusiasts; this mid-engine rally car prototype was created in secrecy and subsequently destroyed under the orders of Audi’s former CEO Ferdinand Piech. Just one prototype was produced, and a mid-engine variant of Audi’s legendary Group B rally car faded into obscurity. However, Australian tuning firm EPSmotorsport is now building the car that Audi never completed, and it is nearing completion.

What distinguishes the RS001? In 1984, Roland Gumpert, head of Audi Sport, aimed to rectify the inherent flaws of the iconic Audi Sport Quattro by creating a mid-engine version. Piech rejected his proposal, prompting Gumpert to forge ahead and develop the prototype in secrecy. He even had Audi Sport driver Walter Rohrl test it in what was then Czechoslovakia, where Rohrl reportedly praised the vehicle for resolving many handling issues present in the front-engine Quattro.

However, the project’s secrecy was compromised when photographers captured images of the vehicle in testing, leading to Piech’s outrage. The prototype was seized and subsequently destroyed. Consequently, what could have been one of the most thrilling rally cars of its time was never able to progress beyond the testing phase, depriving the world of its potential.

Enter EPSmotorsport. They began the project with a 1990s Audi Coupe Quattro, completely stripping off the original body to create a new tubular Chromoly chassis. A carbon fiber body was crafted to reflect the original design. They procured a small model of the RS001 from Germany, scanned it, and scaled it up to ensure maximum accuracy, despite the first prototype being destroyed in the 1980s.

In terms of suspension, EPS’s “Audi Group S RS001” utilizes upper and lower rear control arms from an Audi R8, along with custom adjustable race dampers made by KW. The setup also features Alcon racing brakes, a sliding adjustable pedal box, Rotiform ROC-H wheels, and a dashboard that mirrors the original Quattro rally cars with authentic VDO gauges.

After nearly a year of dedicated work, the car is now on the verge of completion; EPS has just finalized the dynamometer testing and tuning of the engine. With the original rally car featuring a five-cylinder setup, EPS is following suit by using a high-performance, 2.5-liter turbocharged engine from current Audi RS models, which has been finely tuned to deliver 723 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. While an official curb weight has yet to be confirmed, EPS recorded a weight of about 2,160 pounds without the front end and nearly eight gallons of fuel. Therefore, once fully assembled and filled with fluids, the weight could realistically drop below 2,500 pounds.

You don’t have to be an Audi fanatic to appreciate this impressive project. It is a tribute to the adventurous spirit of rally racing from that era, assembled with exceptional care, meticulous attention to detail, and top-quality components. EPSmotorsport is sharing the entire journey, which they hope will culminate in the car being showcased at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.