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A current example of this special individuality is the Audi of Canadian racecar driver Jacques Villeneuve, whose characteristic helmet design is reflected in his Audi RS 6 Avant. His car was given a pink body, blue brake calipers, yellow stitching, green JV logos embroidered on the seats, and red seat belts to create an unmistakable overall appearance. The new Audi e-tron GT as a platform for creative innovations With the introduction of the new S e-tron GT, RS e-tron GT, and RS e-tron GT performance, Audi exclusive is setting benchmarks for the personalization of electric vehicles. The only Audi model to be built at Böllinger Höfe, the Audi e-tron GT family represents the Neckarsulm site, while the performance variant is the sporty flagship of the Audi portfolio. Audi is using the debut of the new electric Gran Turismo to introduce innovative, customized options from Audi exclusive. Through sophisticated elegance and advanced technology, the electric Gran Turismo is the perfect symbiosis of performance and high tech. With a wide range of finishes and materials, Audi exclusive allows customers to design their e-tron GT model to be one of a kind.

The limited-edition Audi RS 6 Avant GT represents the pinnacle of its model series. With its exclusive exterior and interior details, the special edition model pays homage to the legendary Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO racing car from 1989. The RS 6 Avant GT in Nardo Grey appears in the impressive surroundings of the United States West Coast. With typical Audi performance thanks to quattro all-wheel drive, a five-cylinder engine, and sensational appearance, the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO conquered the racetracks of North America at the end of the 1980s. Today, the victorious vehicle inspires the new top model of another icon from Audi’s portfolio: the Audi RS 6 Avant GT. New photos show the special model, limited to 660 cars, against the backdrop of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the unmistakable nature of the surrounding landscape. As the second-largest car market in the world, the USA is an important growth market for Audi. The company wants to strengthen its brand in North America and sees the region as one of three pillars worldwide. Ten new market launches will follow by 2026 as part of this strategy. Now in its fourth generation, the Audi RS 6 Avant enjoys cult status in the USA.

Whether elegant classic cars such as the luxury sedan Audi A8 or sporty vehicles such as the RS 6 and RS Q8 – ten years later, all model generations embody Lichte’s clear vision of a reduced design language with its timeless and long-lasting impact. In February 2021, the premium brand introduced a fully electric Gran Turismo, the Audi e-tron GT – to Lichte it is “the most beautiful car I ever designed.” With the sphere concept vehicles, consisting of the Audi skysphere roadster, the Audi grandsphere sedan, the Audi urbansphere space concept, and the Audi activesphere concept as a four-door crossover coupé, Lichte demonstrated how Audi Design is helping to drive the company’s technological revolution. CEO Gernot Döllner: “For ten years, Marc and his team have done great things for the Audi brand and its design. He transferred series vehicles, including numerous market leaders, into new and attractive generations. At the same time, he accompanied the brand’s technical transition to electric mobility with his innovative design language and set the course for everything that is to come during the most exciting period in automotive design.” In keeping with Audi Design’s philosophy that progressive form and innovative function can only achieve their maximum effect in perfect harmony, Lichte systematically prioritized the customer and their desires and needs during the design process. The responses to these requirements that he and his team found were honored with numerous design awards, among other achievements.

This changed with the RS 6 in the C5 series in 2002. Audi RS 4 Avant edition 25 years Audi RS 5 Sportback performance edition

Carbon hood and fenders as well as 22-inch wheels in a distinctive design ensure high recognizability Adjustable coilover suspension, high-performance tires, and optimized quattro sport differential enhance the driving dynamics Only 660 units worldwide and heritage decals based on the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO guarantee exclusivity The new Audi RS 6 Avant GT is the pinnacle of the model series. The special edition is packed with exclusive details for both the exterior and the interior. An impressive pass-through roof edge spoiler, redefined diffuser, and 22-inch wheels in a distinctive design underscore its top position in the model series. The interior features high-quality bucket seats, a fresh color combination, and individual numbering in the center console as exclusive accents. Lightweight adjustable coilover suspension unique to the RS 6 Avant GT and a reworked quattro sport differential on the rear axle sharpen the driving experience. The twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder engine in a V-layout has an output of 463 kW (630 PS) and delivers 850 Nm of torque from 2,300 to 4,500 rpm. Delivery of the Audi RS 6 Avant GT will begin in the second quarter 2024, the price starts at 219,585 euro.

Sport quattro S1) Winner Rally Hong Kong–Beijing (Audi quattro) 1987 Winner Safari Rally (Audi 200 quattro) Winner Pikes Peak Hillclimb Race (Audi Sport quattro S1) 1988 Winner TransAm Series (Audi 200 quattro) 1989 7 victories IMSA GTO Series (Audi 90 quattro) 1990 Winner German Touring Car Championship (Audi V8 quattro) 1991 Winner German Touring Car Championship (Audi V8 quattro) 1993 Winner French Touring Car Championship (Audi 80 quattro) 1994 Winner Italian Touring Car Championship (Audi 80 competition) 1995 Winner Italian Touring Car Championship (Audi A4 quattro) Winner Touring Car World Cup (Audi A4 quattro) 1996 Winner Super Touring Car Championships Australia, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain and South Africa (Audi A4 quattro) 1997 Winner Central European Touring Car Championship (Audi A4 quattro) 1999 3rd place Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R8R) Winner German Super Touring Car Championship (Audi A4 quattro) Winner Swedish Touring Car Championship (Audi A4 quattro) 2000 Winner Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R8) Winner Sebring 12 Hours (Audi R8) Winner ‘Petit Le Mans’ (Audi R8) Winner American Le Mans Series (Audi R8) 2001 Winner Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R8) Winner Sebring 12 Hours (Audi R8) Winner ‘Petit Le Mans’ (Audi R8) Winner American Le Mans Series (Audi R8) Winner European Le Mans Series (Audi R8) Winner Speedvision GT (Audi S4 Competition) Winner Swedish Touring Car Championship (Audi A4 quattro) 2002 Winner Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R8) Winner Sebring 12 Hours (Audi R8) Winner ‘Petit Le Mans’ (Audi R8) Winner American Le Mans Series (Audi R8) Winner drivers’ classification DTM (Abt-Audi TT-R) Winner SPEED GT (Audi S4 Competition) Winner Swedish Touring Car Championship (Audi A4 quattro) 2003 Winner Sebring 12 Hours (Audi R8) 3rd place Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R8) Winner ‘Petit Le Mans’ (Audi R8) Winner American Le Mans Series (Audi R8) Winner 1000 km Spa and 1000 km Le Mans (Audi R8) Winner Swedish Touring Car Championship (Audi A4) Winner SPEED GT (Audi RS

Work on the current Audi RS 6 Avant with my team was an unforgettable experience as well. At the time, we uncompromisingly carved the quattro origins into every detail and into every line. Anytime I spot an RS6 on the road today I’m happy to see how consistently we pursued our concept back then. Something that all RS models share? Lichte: For me, what’s truly unique is that the form of Audi legends like the original quattro or Sport quattro, i.e., the muscles, the blisters, the extra wide fender flares, can be found on every current – and I can promise that – will be found on every future RS model. The RS design is so deeply anchored in Audi’s DNA that we could keep reinventing it without ever diluting its essence. The genes for Audi Sport’s success stem from racing: sportiness, cutting-edge technology, and emotional design. Where does your passion for performance cars come from? Lichte: How closely cars are related to passion is something I learned early in life from my dad. In the 1970s, he competed in hill-climb races every other weekend. Before the race weekends that very special thrill could be felt around the whole house as though the starting line was about to be given the green light any minute. Ever since those days, sporty cars for me have represented anticipatory excitement galore, adrenaline that has been cast in a mold, that has assumed a shape. Is it true that the Audi Sport quattro really triggered your career wish to become an automobile designer at Audi? Lichte: Yes, that’s right. In 1983, the Audi Sport quattro from Audi stood out from the crowd at the Frankfurt International Motor Show like no other car. It was generally totally different from anything I’d seen so far.

From the naming of the company and its beginnings as quattro GmbH, to pioneering model ranges like the Audi RS 6 Avant and interesting highlights like an Audi convertible for kids, to the highly flexible Böllinger Höfe production facility and the largest model portfolio in the history of the Audi subsidiary to date – these and other facets and milestones are highlighted in the collection of 40 facts about the 40 years of Audi Sport GmbH.