12 Strange Audi Cars You Probably Forgot About
Audi has built its name on sleek design and sharp engineering, but every brand has its quirks. Tucked between the hits are a few oddballs that took unexpected turns in style, tech, or concept.
Some looked futuristic before their time, while others just left people scratching their heads.
Whether wildly experimental or just plain unusual, these forgotten Audis prove the brand isn’t afraid to get a little weird when the mood strikes.
1. Audi Quattro Spyder
Unveiled at the 1991 Frankfurt Motor Show, this aluminum wonder weighed just 2,425 pounds and packed a mid-mounted V6 engine. Car enthusiasts went absolutely bonkers for it!
The sleek, compact sports car looked ready for production, with Audi even quoting a potential price tag. Sadly, economic concerns destroyed the project before it reached showrooms.
Its lightweight construction and gorgeous proportions influenced later Audi designs, making the Quattro Spyder a what-could-have-been legend among collectors.
2. Audi Avus Quattro
Jaws dropped at the 1991 Tokyo Motor Show when this polished aluminum beast rolled onto the stage. Named after a pre-WWII German racing circuit, the Avus looked like it teleported from another dimension.
Under its mirror-finish body lurked a theoretical W12 engine producing 509 horsepower.
The cockpit featured a center-mounted driver’s seat flanked by two passenger seats – fighter jet style!
Though never intended for production, its W12 engine concept eventually found its way into Volkswagen’s luxury vehicles.
3. Audi A2
Launched in 1999, this egg-shaped oddity was Audi’s aluminum-bodied attempt to revolutionize efficient motoring. Way before Tesla made electric cool, the A2 achieved nearly 80 mpg with its diesel variant!
Quirky features abounded: a removable front service panel called the “service hatch,” single-wiper system, and flat floor throughout.
The design polarized opinions but earned cult status among efficiency enthusiasts.
Production costs ultimately doomed this forward-thinking compact, with Audi pulling the plug in 2005 after selling just 176,000 units.
4. Audi 50
Before the A1 became Audi’s small car darling, the diminutive Audi 50 pioneered the brand’s entry into the supermini segment back in 1974. Most folks have no clue this little gem existed!
Virtually identical to its more famous cousin, the original Volkswagen Polo, the 50 offered slightly more upscale trim and badging.
Its frugal 1.1-liter engine delivered impressive economy during the oil crisis.
Production lasted just five years before Audi abandoned the small car market to focus on premium vehicles, making original examples extremely rare today.
5. Audi 100 Coupe S
Sporting flowing lines that eerily resembled the early Aston Martin DB models, the 100 Coupe S was Audi’s stylish grand tourer from 1969-1976. German designers clearly brought their A-game to this sleek fastback!
Despite its gorgeous profile, the 100 Coupe S wasn’t exactly a speed demon. Its modest 1.9-liter engine produced just 115 horsepower, making it more of a comfortable cruiser than a true sports car.
Only 30,687 units were produced, and very few survive today, making this elegant coupe one of the most underappreciated classic Audis.
6. Audi V8
Long before the A8 became Audi’s flagship, the aptly-named V8 sedan attempted to crash the luxury party dominated by Mercedes and BMW.
Hitting showrooms in 1988, this technological tour de force packed Quattro all-wheel drive and a 3.6-liter V8 engine.
Cutting-edge features included an electronic automatic transmission that adapted to driving styles. The interior featured gorgeous wood trim and leather that rivaled the S-Class.
Sales disappointed despite the car’s innovations, but the V8 laid crucial groundwork for Audi’s later success in the premium segment.
7. Audi Fox
“What does the Fox say?” In America, it said “I’m actually an Audi 80!” This rebadged compact sedan introduced many Americans to Audi in the 1970s, though few remember its quirky name today.
Marketing geniuses at Volkswagen of America decided “80” didn’t sound appealing enough for US buyers, hence the Fox moniker.
The front-wheel-drive layout and water-cooled engine represented a radical departure from VW’s air-cooled rear-engine designs.
Fuel efficiency became its calling card during the oil crisis, helping establish Audi’s foothold in the competitive American market.
8. Audi 5000
Mention “unintended acceleration” to car folks of a certain age, and they’ll immediately recall the Audi 5000 controversy.
This sleek sedan became infamous in 1986 when “60 Minutes” aired a segment suggesting the cars accelerated on their own.
Later investigations revealed most incidents stemmed from pedal confusion, but the damage was done. Audi’s US sales plummeted from 74,000 units in 1985 to just 12,000 by 1991.
Despite the scandal, the 5000 (known as the 100 elsewhere) was actually a groundbreaking aerodynamic design with a drag coefficient of just 0.30.
9. Audi Rosemeyer Concept
Named after legendary 1930s Auto Union racing driver Bernd Rosemeyer, this 2000 concept car looks like something Batman would drive if he moved to Germany.
Its wild design paid homage to Auto Union’s pre-war Silver Arrow racers.
Power came from a monstrous 8.0-liter W16 engine – yes, the same basic concept later used in the Bugatti Veyron!
The brushed aluminum body featured dramatic center-position seating and aircraft-inspired details.
Though never produced, its influence lives on in the Bugatti Veyron and elements of Audi’s R8 supercar.
10. Audi Urban Concept
Looking like a rejected prop from a sci-fi movie, the 2011 Urban Concept reimagined city transportation with its ultra-lightweight construction and tandem seating arrangement. Drivers sat front-and-center with passengers directly behind them!
Free-standing wheels with protective fenders gave it a go-kart-meets-spaceship vibe. Power came from two electric motors fed by a lithium-ion battery, perfect for zero-emission urban commuting.
Audi even created a Spyder version with no roof. Neither made it to production, but they showcased Audi’s willingness to think way outside the box.
11. Audi R8 e-tron
Flip-flopping like a politician before election day, Audi couldn’t decide whether to build this electric supercar or not. First shown in 2009, the R8 e-tron promised Tesla-beating performance with Audi’s supercar styling.
Development hell followed as executives repeatedly greenlit then canceled the project. A handful finally reached customers in 2015 at an eye-watering price of €1 million each!
With 456 horsepower and a claimed range of 280 miles, these ultra-rare electric R8s remain among the most exclusive Audis ever built, with fewer than 100 examples produced.
12. Audi Steppenwolf Concept
Born wild in 2000, the Steppenwolf concept imagined an Audi that could tackle serious off-road trails before the Q-series SUVs existed. Think of it as Audi’s Jeep Wrangler that never made it to the wilderness.
Its party trick? An adjustable air suspension could raise ground clearance to a massive 8.5 inches when the going got rough. The removable roof panels added open-air adventure vibes.
While Audi never built the Steppenwolf, its spirit lives on in today’s crossovers – albeit in much tamer form than this mud-slinging concept promised.