Audi GT50 Concept Revives Five-Cylinder Heritage In RS3-Based Form

Rather than commemorating its five-cylinder engine with a badge or trim package, Audi allowed a group of trainees to reinterpret it as a full concept car. It is called the Audi GT50 concept, and it was created to mark 50 years since Audi first introduced its inline-five engine.

It’s the latest project to come out of Audi’s apprentice program in Neckarsulm, which has quietly built a reputation for turning training exercises into fully formed concept cars. Past efforts from the same team include the RS6 GTO, an electric A2, and even an EV take on the NSU Prinz.

The inline-five itself dates back to 1976, when it debuted in the Audi 100. It was an unusual choice even then, offering a mix of compact packaging and distinctive sound that eventually became a defining Audi trait. Over time, that engine layout powered everything from rally-bred Quattros to fearsome touring cars in IMSA and Trans-Am competition.

While five-cylinder engines quietly disappeared from most lineups years ago, Audi kept the configuration alive. These days, it lives on in the RS3, which also donates its hardware to the GT50.

Instead of chasing more power, the apprentices focused on reshaping the car’s identity. Starting with an RS3 donor, they created a design that feels more like a touring car from the late 1980s than a modern hot hatch. The body is sharper, more angular, and far more aggressive, with race-inspired surfaces and oversized turbofan wheels that dominate the stance. The engine remains unchanged. The familiar 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder still makes 394 horsepower.

The GT50 won’t be a preview for a production model. But its timing is no accident. Audi is widely expected to unveil a more extreme RS3 in the near future.