Believe it or not, Audi’s beloved five-cylinder engine is already 50 years old. Next year marks five decades since the first five-cylinder debuted in the 1976 Audi 100. To celebrate the milestone, a group of enterprising apprentices has created a very special concept car.
Meet the Audi GT50. Developed by 14 Audi apprentices in Neckarsulm, Germany, the project took six months to complete under the guidance of their instructors and Timo Engler, Head of Automotive Technology, Logistics, and Business Management Training in Neckarsulm.
At first glance, you’d never guess that beneath the GT50’s sharp, angular design is a stock RS3 sedan. The apprentices stripped the car down completely, removing every body panel—including the hood, doors, windows, and trunk lid—before fitting it with an all-new, angular exterior.
The body is constructed from lightweight glass fiber–reinforced plastic rather than traditional sheet metal or carbon fiber. The rear features a large diffuser and spoiler to enhance aerodynamics, while the roof is sourced from an actual Audi 80.
The GT50 draws heavily from Audi’s racing heritage, with clear nods to icons like the Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO. Audi itself admits that if the 90 Quattro were built today, "it could very well look like the GT50 we see here."
Inside, the RS3’s cabin was fully stripped and retrofitted with proper racing equipment. The apprentices even fabricated a handmade roll bar, a process that took two weeks to complete.
Power comes from Audi’s signature 2.5-liter TFSI five-cylinder engine. While Audi hasn’t released official output figures, if the engine remains stock, it likely produces 394 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.
"With this project, our apprentices are demonstrating a remarkable capacity for innovation, passion, and teamwork—qualities that characterize the new generation," said Xavier Ros, Audi board member responsible for human resources.
This isn’t the first time Audi’s apprentices have whipped up something awesome, either. Remember the RS6 GTO from 2020? That came from Neckarsulm. The electric NSU Prinz? Yup, that was the work of apprentices, too. The GT50 is just the latest in a lineage of jaw-dropping concepts to come from Neckarsulm.
