There was a time, not so long ago, when Audi Sport (or Quattro GmbH as it was known until recently) only made one or two different models at a time. But those times are long behind us.
In fact, Audi Sport CEO Stephan Winkelmann has set a target to broaden the range to 16 road-going models by 2020.
The division currently produces 11 models, including the R8 (coupe and convertible), RS3 (sedan and hatch), RS4 Avant, RS5 coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7 Sportback, RS Q3, and TT RS (coupe and convertible). Audi Sport is also responsible for the S8 Plus, but that’s apparently excluded from the tally.
The expansion would demand another five models. And while Winkelmann’s pronouncement didn’t go into details, we can hazard a guess or two. The addition of an RS5 convertible, for one, is practically a foregone conclusion. Sedan versions of the RS4 and RS6 wagons would bring it up to 14 in all. Throw in a couple of RS crossovers (based on the Q2, Q5, Q7, or forthcoming Q8) and you’ve got your road map.
The development of those new models (and replacements for some of the current ones) will now fall to Oliver Hoffmann, whose appointment as Audi Sport’s new head of technical development was made together with the future forecast.
Hoffmann headed up quality management at Lamborghini under Winkelmann, and was key in the development of Audi’s V10 engine. In his new capacity, he takes over from Stephan Reil, who’s moving to an unspecified new role at Audi.
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