Throwback Thursday: The Audi That Almost Beat Porsche at Its Own Game

Long before the R8 established Audi as a legitimate builder of world-class sports cars, the company came tantalizingly close to launching another mid-engine masterpiece. Unveiled at the 1991 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Audi quattro Spyder wasn’t just another eye-catching concept. It was a fully engineered production candidate that, had it reached dealerships, might have challenged Porsche years before the Boxster ever arrived.

At first glance, the quattro Spyder looked unlike anything Audi had built before. Its low, wide stance, clean body lines, and minimalist design hinted at the future, while its aluminum space-frame construction showcased the company’s engineering ambitions. The lightweight chassis helped keep curb weight to around 2,400 pounds, making it remarkably light by modern standards and impressive even for the early 1990s.

The Porsche Problem

Power came from a mid-mounted 2.8-liter V6 producing approximately 174 horsepower. That figure may not sound particularly exciting today, but in a car this light, performance was more than respectable. And remember, the original Porsche Boxster in 1997 only had 201 horsepower. Combined with Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system, the Spyder promised exceptional balance, grip, and all-weather capability. It wasn’t designed to dominate drag strips; it was built to carve through winding roads with precision and confidence.

Looking back, it’s impossible not to wonder what might have happened if Audi had given the project the green light. The Porsche Boxster wouldn’t go to production until the 1997 model year. That is six years after the quattro Spyder first appeared. Audi had an opportunity to establish itself in the premium mid-engine sports car segment before Porsche reinvented its own fortunes with the Boxster. And that was part of the problem.

Porsche was in financial trouble in 1991. The CEO of Audi at the time was Ferdinand Piëch. Piëch was not just the CEO of Audi but also the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche. The concern was that the Audi quattro Spyder might be a little too successful. It might have been the final nail in the Porsche coffin. And having the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche be the person that drove that final nail would not sit well.

On top of the concerns over family dynamics there were concerns over production costs, which may have pushed the car beyond the target price of about $55,000. Ultimately the project was shelved. Audi fans had to wait 15 more years before a mid-engine Audi sports car would make it to production. That car of course was the brilliant R8.

What If

Today, the quattro Spyder remains one of Audi’s greatest “what if” stories. It wasn’t the fastest concept car of its day, nor was it the most extravagant. But it may have been one of the most significant. Had Audi been willing to take the risk, the company might have rewritten the history of affordable premium sports cars. Instead, Porsche got the opportunity, and the rest is history.