Audi GT50: A Wild IMSA-Inspired Concept Honoring 50 Years of Five-Pot Performance

Heritage Unleashed - Motorsport heritage often resurfaces when a brand wants to reconnect its past with the present, and Audi has done exactly that with a striking one-off concept that feels both nostalgic and relevant. Created to honor 50 years of Audi’s iconic five-cylinder engine, the Audi GT50 concept channels the spirit of the brand’s most legendary race cars while grounding itself firmly in today’s performance landscape. 

The Audi GT50 Concept created to honor 50 years of Audi’s iconic five-cylinder engine. (Picture from: Autocar)

The GT50 was developed by Audi apprentices based in Neckarsulm, a group known for producing bold annual concept cars that either pay tribute to historic models or hint at future possibilities. This program has previously delivered creations such as the RS6 GTO concept—which later inspired the limited-production RS6 GT—a reworked 236 bhp NSU Prinz, and last year’s A2 E-tron electro-mod that reimagined Audi’s early-2000s supermini with modern design cues and electric power. Each project has been tied to an important Audi anniversary, reinforcing the educational and historical purpose behind the initiative. 

The Audi GT50 Concept features retro design cues, from a vintage-style front grille to oversized turbofan-inspired wheels evoking classic touring cars. (Picture from: Autocar)

For 2026, the apprentices selected a milestone that sits at the heart of Audi’s identity: the five-cylinder engine. The year 1976 marked the debut of the second-generation Audi 100, the first mass-production car to use an inline five-cylinder layout. This configuration has always been rare, and today Audi stands alone as the only manufacturer still producing five-cylinder engines, long after brands such as Volvo, Ford, Land Rover, and Volkswagen discontinued their own versions. 

The Audi GT50 Concept retains the RS3’s 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 394 bhp, emphasizing that the project is a celebration of character and heritage rather than a pursuit of new performance figures. (Picture from: Autocar)

In modern Audi’s lineup, the five-cylinder survives exclusively in the RS3, and this all-wheel-drive hot hatch forms the mechanical foundation of the GT50. Although no detailed specifications have been released, the concept retains the RS3’s 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 394 bhp, emphasizing that the project is a celebration of character and heritage rather than a pursuit of new performance figures. 

The Audi GT50 Concept showcases a minimalist yet aggressive design, focusing on aerodynamic efficiency and striking presence over ornamentation. (Picture from: Autocar)

Visually, the GT50 represents a dramatic departure from the standard RS3. The apprentices transformed the car into a clear homage to Audi’s most successful American race cars, particularly the 90 Quattro IMSA GTO and the 200 Quattro Trans-Am, which dominated U.S. racing series during the 1980s and 1990s. The influence of these machines is evident in the GT50’s blocky three-box silhouette, aero-focused surfacing, and purposeful stance. 

The Audi GT50 Concept channels the spirit of the brand’s most legendary race cars while grounding itself firmly in today’s performance landscape. (Picture from: Autocar)

Retro design cues define the exterior, from the old-style front grille to the oversized turbofan-inspired wheels that immediately evoke classic touring car imagery. The overall design is minimalist yet aggressive, prioritizing aerodynamic efficiency and visual impact over decorative elements, much like the race cars that inspired it. | qSE5L8HE178 | ZrTxGPFYspg |

Revealed through an official video shared by Audi and published by the German outlet Stimme, the GT50 arrives as Audi prepares to further celebrate the five-cylinder legacy. The brand is expected to introduce a more track-focused special edition of the RS3 next year, potentially based on the Performance Edition and rumored to deliver more power than the Mercedes-AMG A45. In that context, the GT50 concept feels less like a nostalgic exercise and more like a bold reminder that Audi’s five-pot story is not finished yet. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOCAR ]

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