Techno Classica Weekend Edition: 1991 Audi Avus Quattro

Antti Kautonen

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A suitable counterpart or companion piece for the restrained and tasteful – albeit orange – Quattro Spyder is the Avus concept, all bulges and polished surfaces. This is also a 1991 car, and mid-engined, but somehow it couldn’t be more different.
For some reason, I really enjoy Volkswagen Audi Group’s “Not Veyron” concepts.

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Yeah, it’s all aluminium, not chrome. The shapes take their inspiration from Audi’s prewar racers, and the name Avus even reflects those days.
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The Avus also introduced the W12 engine to the world. A 502-horsepower unit which of course sent power to all four wheels – or did it? The show car didn’t have the engine installed, but a mock-up in its place.
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Yet, you can’t deny the striking looks of the Avus. “This is the part in quattro where we dance.”
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And inside, red leather buckets.
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Both cars side by side at Techno Classica, 18″ wheels gleaming.

About

Antti Kautonen

Antti Kautonen

The resident Finn of Hooniverse. Owns old Peugeots and whatnot, writes long thinkpieces on unloved cars. These two facts might be related.

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  1. CraigSu Avatar
    CraigSu

    It’s nice to see cars whose headlamp assemblies don’t wrap around to the front wings.

    Reply
  2. Kyle Allen Avatar
    Kyle Allen

    I see a lot of the Ugly Veyron in this but this car is far less ugly then the Bugatti’s (including the new eyesore model they have)

    Reply
  3. JayP Avatar
    JayP

    The Avus’ headlights and grille look small compared to the rest of the car. Maybe that was intentional to give the car some visual mass?

    Reply
  4. BigRedCaveTroll Avatar
    BigRedCaveTroll

    For being a concept car, it sure does have a lot of ground clearance, which I approve of.

    Reply
  5. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    That’s as handsome as the Veyron was embarrassing. The headlights in the lead photo don’t seem to match, and overall they’re small and poorly shaped for the design. Maybe I can get my deposit back?

    Reply
  6. Fuhrman16 Avatar
    Fuhrman16

    Dig the NACA duct on the roof that feeds the engine.

    Reply
    1. NapoleonSolo Avatar
      NapoleonSolo

      I was relieved to see that as the previous photos made it appear that the engine intake drew from the headrests and would have disappeared any wigs or toupees in the car.

      Reply
  7. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
    dead_elvis, inc.

    I need to see it in orange.

    Reply
    1. NapoleonSolo Avatar
      NapoleonSolo

      I was on the interstate in traffic the other day with a DeLorean in stainless steel. I was impressed by how much smaller the DeLorean is in real life, how amazingly short it is, and how great it looked. Somehow photos don’t seem to do it justice because I usually don’t find it all that impressive when I view it on the web. It could have easily ducked under the 18-wheeler that was between us for a few minutes.

      Reply
      1. NapoleonSolo Avatar
        NapoleonSolo

        Fortunately, I have impressive Photoshop skills, and your wish is my command…

        Reply
  8. NapoleonSolo Avatar
    NapoleonSolo

    The Quattro Spyder is lovely…

    Reply