Audacious Automotive IV: A B7 Audi RS4 Reborn as a Sport Quattro
Scottish firm Audacious Automotive has revealed the IV, a coachbuilt car that wraps a body inspired by the Audi Sport Quattro around the B7 Audi RS4 and its 4.2-litre V8. Fifty will be built from £350,000 in 2026, excluding the donor car, with the first one due in late 2027. Auto Express reported the project on 30 October and Top Gear on 4 November.
Key takeaways
- Based on the B7 RS4, the first RS4 with a naturally aspirated V8.
- Supercharged 447 kW (600 bhp) as standard, 559 kW (750 bhp) in Stage 2 form.
- Optional rebuilt V8 that revs to 10,000 rpm, up from 8,250 rpm.
- About 1,400 kg, some 250 kg less than the donor RS4.
Why the B7 RS4
Audacious chose the B7 RS4 because it combines a longitudinal engine, four-wheel drive and a manual gearbox, close to the layout of the original Quattro. The company considered the RS3 but rejected it because of its transverse engine and the lack of a manual. The styling draws on the short-wheelbase Sport Quattro, the Group B homologation special, with a large rear wing and a deep diffuser added for modern aerodynamics.
Power, weight and performance
The standard car adds a supercharger to the 4.2-litre V8 for 447 kW (600 bhp). Top Gear quotes 0-97 km/h (60 mph) in under 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 322 km/h (200 mph) for this version. Stage 2 brings uprated internals and 559 kW (750 bhp), and a further option lifts the rev limit from 8,250 to 10,000 rpm, with or without the supercharger. Performance figures for the high-revving engine have not been released.
The body cuts about 250 kg from the RS4, for a kerb weight of around 1,400 kg, and an optional carbon-fibre upper body saves more. Inside, some RS4 parts stay, including the steering wheel, while the trim takes a retro theme that each buyer can specify.
Price and timing
The IV starts at £350,000 in 2026, about 416,500 euros, and that excludes the RS4 donor and any options. Top Gear expects a well-specified car to pass half a million pounds. Production is limited to 50, and the first customer car should be completed in late 2027.
What it means
The IV joins a growing group of coachbuilt cars that rework well-known performance models at supercar prices. For B7 RS4 owners, it means demand for good donor cars could rise. For Audi fans with a smaller budget, it shows how highly the market now values the analogue V8 and manual gearbox of the mid-2000s RS4.
Read the history of the original Audi Quattro or browse the Audi catalogue.
Sources
- Auto Express: New Audacious Automotive IV turns the Audi Quattro into something quite incredible (30 Oct 2026) (accessed 4 Nov 2026)
- Top Gear: The Audi Quattro returns as a £350k+ RS4-based restomod (4 Nov 2026) (accessed 4 Nov 2026)
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