British firm builds Audi Quattro-style car with 10,000-RPM V8

A British company is building a new car that pairs classic Audi Quattro styling with a modern RS4 drivetrain. The vehicle is called the Audacious Automotive IV.

The car uses the chassis and drivetrain of the Audi RS4 B7, with bodywork that recalls the original Quattro. A supercharged V8 is available as an option. The engine revs to 10,000 RPM. The company claims the car can reach a top speed of 200 mph.

The Audacious Automotive IV sits on Audi hardware but wears a different body. Its design takes cues from the Quattro, the boxy all-wheel-drive Audi that became a rally icon in the 1980s. The mix of a retro shape with a modern running gear is the core of the project.

Price, production numbers and a delivery date for the car have not been announced. It is also not known how many have been ordered.

Builders have long taken older Audi bodies and fitted newer mechanicals, and the Quattro has been a popular base for such projects. Using an RS4 chassis gives the car a proven platform, with all-wheel drive and a high-revving engine already in place.

The top speed of 200 mph is a figure the company has claimed. No independent test of the car has been carried out. Details on pricing, the number of units to be built and the timing of sales have not been announced.