What: Audi Sport quattro laserlight concept
Model Family: N/A
Debuted: CES 2014
Year: 2013
Number Produced: 1, possibly 2
Model / Generation Code(s): N/A
Chassis / Matrix: N/A
Engine: 4.0 TFSI Biturbo V8 plug-in-hybrid
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 700 hp (combined)
Peak Torque: 590 lb ft (combined)
Weight: 4,079 lb
Acceleration (0-100 km / 62 mph: 3.7 seconds
Paint Color: Plasma Red
RELATED
Concept Cars: Sport quattro concept
Road Cars: N/A
Race Cars: N/A
SUMMARY
The Audi Sport quattro laserlight concept is a high-performance plug-in hybrid technology showcase unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 6 to 10, 2014. Presented as a further evolution of the 2013 Audi Sport quattro concept, the laserlight concept combined advanced lighting technology, cutting-edge driver interface systems, and Audi’s most powerful hybrid drivetrain of the time. Finished in Plasma Red, the coupé was positioned as both a tribute to the 1983 Sport quattro and a demonstration platform for Audi’s future technologies, especially in lighting and digital display design.
OVERVIEW
Building upon the form and mechanical architecture of the 2013 Sport quattro concept, the laserlight concept retained the same proportions, hybrid powertrain, and lightweight construction while introducing significant new features. Audi used the CES debut to highlight progress in laser lighting, GPU-driven digital instrumentation, advanced MMI controls, and user-interface concepts.
Professor Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi’s Board Member for Technical Development, described the vehicle as a demonstration of Vorsprung durch Technik across multiple domains: electrified performance, lighting innovation, and next-generation digital control systems.
EXTERIOR DESIGN
The Plasma Red laserlight concept preserved the key proportions of its predecessor: a 2,784 mm wheelbase, overall length of 4,602 mm, width of 1,964 mm, and height of just 1,386 mm. Its stance was low, wide, and visually taut over large center-locking wheels with a five twin-spoke design.
While similar in form to the 2013 Sport quattro concept, the laserlight concept distinguished itself through its innovative lighting system. The car featured dual trapezoidal headlight elements, each combining LED low-beam units with laser high-beam modules. The outer elements produced low-beam illumination via LEDs and aperture masks, while the inner modules housed compact laser diodes only a few microns in size. These laser high beams offered nearly 500 meters of visibility—twice the range and three times the luminosity of comparable LED high-beam systems.
The laserlight concept previewed technology intended not only for future production models but also for competition cars, specifically the 2014 Audi R18 e-tron quattro.
The angular, swept-back C-pillars, pronounced fender blisters, and muscular shoulders echoed the aesthetic of the original Sport quattro. Sharp contours defined the car’s athletic character, with alternating convex and concave surfaces along the hood, flanks, and wheel arches. At the front, a hexagonal single-frame grille incorporated a sculpted insert reminiscent of racing applications. Large vertical blades divided the air intakes, while a forward-shifted CFRP splitter reinforced the car’s motorsport cues.
At the rear, the combination of a sloped greenhouse and broad shoulders produced a wide, stable visual stance. A large CFRP diffuser rose high into the rear fascia, incorporating a honeycomb-patterned upper section and two oval tailpipes in its lower portion. Rectangular LED tail lamps mounted on a black CFRP panel underscored the quattro design heritage. The reinforced luggage area provided 300 liters of cargo capacity.
Additional design details included CFRP sill extensions, electrically deploying door handles triggered by hand proximity, and aerodynamic center-locking wheels.
INTERIOR
The interior continued the concept’s theme of lightweight construction and technical elegance. Dark gray tones, clean lines, and carefully selected materials emphasized Audi’s design philosophy. A slender instrument panel—evocative of an aircraft wing—extended across the cabin, while a carbon shell structure formed both the interior support and integrated storage compartments within the doors.
A continuous trim line beneath the windshield wrapped around the driver and front passenger, integrating ergonomic functions such as inner door handles. Lightweight folding shell seats in the front featured high lateral support and integrated head restraints, with two additional rear seats completing the 2+2 layout. Climate controls were integrated directly into the air vents, with each vent containing its own slim display showing both HVAC and media information.
DISPLAYS & CONTROLS
The laserlight concept previewed Audi’s next-generation digital interface technologies. The multifunction sport steering wheel included controls for hybrid drive modes, Audi drive select, a red start-stop button, and a “View” button for accessing the Audi virtual cockpit.
All primary information was displayed via a large high-resolution TFT screen powered by a Tegra 30 processor from Nvidia. Multiple viewing modes were available: an MMI-oriented display featuring navigation and media, or a Classic view centered on a virtual speedometer.
A significantly reworked MMI terminal sat on the center console above the tunnel. Its large rotary pushbutton doubled as a touchpad capable of multitouch input. Surrounding buttons provided main menu, submenu, options, and back functions. The new user interface adopted a smartphone-like menu structure, enabling rapid access to frequently used functions. A free-text search system allowed most navigation entries with just a few typed characters, and voice control had been enhanced for greater accuracy and functionality.
POWERTRAIN
The plug-in hybrid system of the laserlight concept mirrored that of the 2013 Sport quattro concept. System output totaled 515 kW (700 hp) and 800 Nm of torque, transmitted through a modified eight-speed tiptronic to a quattro drivetrain with a sport differential on the rear axle. Combined fuel consumption was rated at 2.5 liters per 100 km, with CO2 emissions of 59 g/km.
The combustion engine was a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 producing 412 kW (560 hp) and 700 Nm. It featured Cylinder on Demand and a start-stop system to improve efficiency. A disc-shaped electric motor, mounted between the V8 and the transmission, delivered 110 kW and 400 Nm, powered by a rear-mounted lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 14.1 kWh. The vehicle could achieve an electric-only range of up to 50 km.
Operating modes included:
- EV Mode: Electric-only driving with a tactile accelerator signal indicating the transition point to hybrid operation.
- Hybrid Mode: Predictive energy management using route and environmental data, with available Hold and Charge settings.
- Sport Mode: Maximum performance with full electric boost, enabling 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 305 km/h.
BODY & CHASSIS
Lightweight construction was central to the laserlight concept’s performance. The occupant cell combined ultra high-strength steels with cast aluminum structural elements. The doors and fenders were aluminum, while the roof, engine hood, and rear hatch were constructed from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer. Curb weight, including the hybrid battery system, remained at 1,850 kilograms.
The suspension employed a five-link front setup and Audi’s track-controlled trapezoidal link rear geometry. Stiff springs and dampers provided precise handling, further supported by the Audi drive select system and dynamic steering with variable ratios. Braking was handled by carbon-ceramic discs, and the vehicle rode on 285/30 R21 tires.
SIGNIFICANCE
The Audi Sport quattro laserlight concept served as both a technological evolution of the Sport quattro concept and a forward-looking demonstration of Audi’s capabilities in lighting, hybrid performance, and user-interface design. While not intended for production, its innovations—especially in lighting and digital displays—anticipated features later integrated into Audi’s production models and motorsport programs.
PHOTO GALLERY
