RS6 Avant

Make
Audi
Segment
Wagon

Few names are as hallowed in the world of rally as the Audi Quattro - the legendary rally car that sported all-wheel-drive and simply dominated the sport. Now, as part of the 40-year celebrations of Audi's famous all-wheel-drive system that propelled the rally car and others to victory, Audi has unveiled a new RS6 concept to celebrate. Meet the Audi RS6 GTO Concept, and don't forget to pick your jaw up off the floor.

Based on the standard RS6, which itself is a 591-horsepower fire-breathing family wagon, the concept has been styled to pay tribute to the original Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO racecar, famously piloted by Hans-Joachim Stuck in the 1989 season of America's IMSA series.

According to Audi, the concept was developed by a handful of apprentices at the Neckarsulm factory. The automaker is yet to confirm technical details, but visually, there's much to like about the concept. The paint scheme, for example, is a modern take on the original race livery that looks simply superb, while the white, one-piece hubcaps on the wheels instantly take us back to the glory days of Group B rallying. Red center caps and quattro badging are simple yet brilliant details we love.

Up front, the concept wears a heavily revised front fascia with a larger grille, GTO badges, air intakes on the hood, and a red front splitter. Down the side, the concept mimics the IMSA racer's massive side-exit exhaust, which could allude to the RS6 GTO having more than just visual upgrades. Considering the 90 Quattro IMSA GTO had 531 lb-ft and could sprint from 0-62 mph in 3.1 seconds, the standard RS6 is a fairly close performance match, though.

Inside the cabin, it's a full-on racer. The rear seats have been stripped in favor of a heavy-duty roll cage, and the pair of thrones up front have been replaced by Recaro race seats with red six-point harnesses to lock you in place. The side windows have been thrown out and replaced with safety nets, but other items such as the center console appear untouched.

According to Audi, the students who designed the concept were responsible for the initial idea, but Marc Lichte, Audi's head of design, was responsible for the final product. Don't expect the RS6 GTO to make production any time soon, though, as it's strictly a one-off. However, we wouldn't be surprised to see it appear at a few motor shows alongside the TT RS 40 Years of Quattro - the limited-run special edition that was revealed last month.