This 1992 Audi Concept Hid a Surprise Under Its Skin - AllCarIndex

The 1992 Audi Avus quattro concept car stood as one of the most striking and technically ambitious concept vehicles of its era. Presented at the Geneva Motor Show, it was more than a styling exercise – it was a showcase of Audi’s engineering vision for lightweight construction, advanced drivetrains, and uncompromising performance.

A Name with Motorsport Heritage

The name “Avus” was a deliberate nod to history. It referenced the legendary Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße (AVUS) in Berlin, a 10-kilometer circuit built in 1921 that became synonymous with record-breaking speeds. On March 6, 1934, Hans Stuck piloted the Auto Union 16-cylinder P racing car there to a world record with an average speed of 217.11 km/h, reaching nearly 270 km/h on the long straight. Auto Union cars went on to dominate at AVUS, claiming eight world records and numerous race victories before crowds of up to 400,000 spectators. For Audi, AVUS was not just a place, but a symbol of technical progress – a connection the Avus quattro concept was designed to honor.

Design: A Modern Interpretation of the Silver Arrows

The Avus quattro drew heavily on the visual language of Auto Union’s Silver Arrows of the 1930s. Its polished aluminum bodywork, hand-formed from individual panels, featured wide, rounded wheel arches and short overhangs. At just 1,174 mm tall and 4,424 mm long, it had the stance of a thoroughbred racer, with its cockpit positioned far forward and its body hunkered low between massive 20-inch wheels.

The car’s aluminum spaceframe chassis was a two-piece tubular structure designed for maximum strength and minimum weight. The rear section could be detached along with the complete drivetrain, facilitating maintenance and replacement. The entire car weighed just 1,250 kg, an achievement that highlighted Audi’s dedication to lightweight engineering.

Audi’s designers left the body unpainted, allowing the polished aluminum to speak for itself. The result was a pure, technical aesthetic with no decorative elements beyond those dictated by function.

Powertrain: The Experimental W12

At the heart of the Avus quattro sat an innovative 6.0-liter W12 engine producing 509 PS at 5,800 rpm and 540 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The W12 layout was unconventional: three banks of four cylinders arranged in a “W” configuration with a 120-degree angle between the outer banks. This compact design allowed the engine to be no longer than a conventional inline-four, making it ideal for a mid-engine sports car layout.

The engine featured 60 valves – three intake and two exhaust per cylinder – with dual overhead camshafts per cylinder head. Its lightweight aluminum crankcase, cylinder heads, and oil pan kept weight under control. Performance figures were remarkable: 0–100 km/h in approximately 3 seconds and a top speed near 340 km/h, placing it on par with contemporary race cars.

A six-speed manual transmission, linked to Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system, delivered power to all four wheels. The drivetrain was connected via a rigid central tube that housed the driveshaft. Front and rear Torsen differentials and an electronically controlled front-axle lock ensured optimal traction under all conditions.

Chassis and Handling

The suspension design reflected Audi’s motorsport experience from IMSA GTO and DTM racing. Double wishbones front and rear, combined with precise geometry and low unsprung masses, provided exceptional wheel control. An electronically controlled active rear-wheel steering system improved agility at low speeds and stability at high speeds.

Braking performance was equally advanced. Ventilated discs on all four wheels were paired with an ABS system enhanced by lateral force sensing, which maintained stability even when braking mid-corner. A tire pressure monitoring system was also integrated – a forward-thinking feature in 1992.

Interior: Functional and Luxurious

Access to the cockpit was via hydraulically assisted canopy sections that swung upward and forward. Inside, Audi combined motorsport minimalism with carefully chosen luxury materials. Grey leather dominated, accented by red leather seats and carpets, with natural wood inserts running from the doors to the engine bay.

The dashboard, mounted to the inner body sides, created a floating effect and freed up forward space under the vast windscreen. Large, round instruments recalled 1930s racing cars, while modern systems such as airbags and Audi’s procon-ten safety system ensured passive safety matched the car’s performance potential.

Kevlar bucket seats, a central tunnel housing the rigid drivetrain tube, and visibility into the mid-mounted engine through a near-vertical rear window reinforced the car’s purpose-built nature. Despite its compact footprint, the Avus offered 300 liters of luggage space split between front and rear compartments.

Significance

The 1992 Audi Avus quattro concept was never meant for production, but it signaled Audi’s future direction. Its polished aluminum construction foreshadowed the Audi Space Frame technology that would appear on the A8. Its W12 engine concept laid the groundwork for the production W12 powerplants used later in the A8 and Volkswagen Phaeton. Most importantly, it reaffirmed Audi’s commitment to combining lightweight engineering, quattro technology, and motorsport heritage in the pursuit of progress.

The Avus quattro remains a landmark concept – a bridge between Audi’s storied racing past and its technological ambitions for the future.