Audi Sport

In 2016, the company was officially rebranded as Audi Sport GmbH. The division's primary operations are situated in a 3500 m2 facility in Neckarsulm, near Stuttgart, in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Development and manufacturing facilities are integrated within a larger 10700 m2 site formerly operated by NSU Motorenwerke AG. Its core products include the Audi RS3, the Audi RS6, and the Audi RS7 Sportback. Vehicles are not sold directly to the public under the subsidiary's name; rather, they are distributed through franchised outlets under the primary Audi marque. In 2016, quattro GmbH was rebranded to Audi Sport GmbH to better reflect that several of its motorsport products operated with rear-wheel drive configurations per racing regulations.

• Name — Audi Sport GmbH • Type — Subsidiary • Founded —, in Neckarsulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany • Hq Location — Neckarsulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany • Num Locations — One 3,500 m 2 site at Neckarsulm • Area Served — Worldwide • Industry — Automotive • Products — High-performance luxury automobiles, Wheels and suspension components, Specialist body styling parts, Automotive consumer goods • Services — Automotive design, testing, production, Research and development • Operating Income — €220 million (2004) • Num Employees — 1,200 (2016) • Parent — Volkswagen Group • Subsidiaries — Volkswagen R GmbH Volkswagen Individual GmbH

Audi Sport GmbH specializes in four key business areas, including the design, testing, and production of specialist and high-performance Audi automobiles such as the Audi RS3, Audi RS Q8, and the Audi R8. The company also designs and manufactures specialized alloy wheels, sports suspensions, and exterior body panels (including modified front and rear bumpers and side skirts) utilized primarily on the Audi S line trim specifications across Audi's core model lineup.

Audi RS models represent the highest performance tier in Audi's product hierarchy, positioned above the "S" ("Sport") specification levels and competing directly with performance divisions such as BMW M and Mercedes-AMG. The initials "RS" derive from the German RennSport (literally "racing sport"). Audi Sport designs, develops, and produces all RS models in cooperation with parent company Audi AG. RS vehicles are typically produced in limited numbers and incorporate advanced powertrain and chassis technologies.

• Illustration — S line badge displayed in a front grille S line is an optional appearance and equipment specification offered on most standard Audi models. While individual S line parts are designed and manufactured by Audi Sport GmbH, S line vehicles are assembled on standard Audi AG assembly lines alongside base-trim models. S line packages primarily modify aesthetic and suspension features without increasing engine output, with minor historical exceptions such as the Audi Q7 S line equipped with the 3.0-litre V6 TFSI engine (245 kW versus 213 kW in base trim).

Through the Audi exclusive program, Audi Sport GmbH provides vehicle customization services beyond standard factory options. Options include custom exterior paint finishes, custom alloy wheels, specialized interior upholstery in high-grade leathers (such as Nappa), custom headliners, wood or carbon fiber interior trims, and specialized interior fittings. The customization service was first introduced at the 1995 Frankfurt International Motor Show.

Since 1985, the company has produced a range of branded lifestyle items and automotive accessories. These consumer products include personal leather goods, specialized travel equipment, and apparel. Operating from Audi headquarters in Ingolstadt, this division was initially formed to manage trademark usage and brand merchandise sales.

• Illustration — Audi A4 B7 DTM Edition, produced by quattro GmbH Seeking to compete with established performance divisions like BMW M, Audi AG collaborated with Porsche from 1994 to 1996 to develop the Audi RS2 Avant, assembled at Porsche's Zuffenhausen plant. Subsequent performance models were assigned to quattro GmbH at Neckarsulm. Under the direction of Stephan Reil, the division developed its first independent RS model, the 2000 B5 RS4 Avant quattro. The division subsequently expanded its engineering workforce, developing vehicles such as the 2003 C5 RS6 quattro and the 2005 B7 A4 DTM Edition. The mid-2000s marked a significant expansion as the division began developing standalone models, notably the Audi R8 sports car, which required bespoke production lines and additional staffing at Neckarsulm. Other key developments included the 2006 B7 RS4 quattro and the 2008 C6 RS6 5.0 TFSI quattro. While most RS models were engineered and assembled at Neckarsulm, vehicles such as the Audi TT RS and Audi RS3 were designed at Neckarsulm but assembled alongside standard production models at other Audi plants, including the Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. facility in Győr, Hungary. Vehicles assembled directly by Audi Sport GmbH in Neckarsulm are identified by the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) code on their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): Neckarsulm-built performance vehicles use the prefix `WUA`, whereas standard AUDI AG vehicles produced in Germany use `WAU`.

The Audi R8 mid-engined sports car was designed, developed, and manufactured exclusively by quattro GmbH. A dedicated production line was established at Neckarsulm following a €28 million facility redevelopment. Initial models featured a 4.2-litre FSI V8 engine producing 309 kW and 430 Nm of torque, modified with a dry-sump lubrication system. Subsequent variants introduced a 5.2-litre FSI V10 engine derived from the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4, generating 386 kW and 530 Nm of torque.

Developed by quattro GmbH, the Audi Q7 V12 TDI quattro was equipped with a 6.0-litre V12 Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) turbodiesel engine. Producing 368 kW and 1000 Nm of torque, the vehicle accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds, with a top speed electronically limited to 250 km/h. The engine's design incorporated diesel technology derived from Audi's Audi R15 TDI Le Mans endurance racing program.

Audi re-entered international motorsport in the 1980s, competing in rally, IMSA, and DTM events. Following the establishment of quattro GmbH in 1983, the division assisted in engineering road cars for Group B rally homologation, resulting in the Audi Sport Quattro (designated S1 in competition trim). While factory motorsport efforts at Le Mans and DTM were managed by Audi Sport, customer racing programs—including GT3 and TCR customer vehicles—were developed and supported by quattro GmbH (later Audi Sport GmbH).

Introduced in 2016, the Audi RS3 LMS TCR was developed for customer racing under TCR regulations. Equipped with a modified 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing approximately 257 kW (350 PS), the vehicle was offered with either a dual-clutch transmission (S-tronic) or a sequential racing gearbox.

The Audi R8 LMS GT3 was introduced as a customer racing car derived from the production R8. Sharing more than 50 percent of its components with the road-going production model (including the V10 engine), final assembly of race chassis was completed at specialized Audi Sport facilities near Neckarsulm. The model achieved significant success in international GT3 racing championships.