cars news 10: Audi Sport is New Name of Quattro GmbH, Will Launch Eight New Models

When anyone mentions the word “quattro,” you’re forced to consider whether they’re talking about Audi’s all-wheel-drive system or its high-performance sports car subsidiary responsible for the line of RS models. Moving forward, there should be no such confusion, given Audi ‘s Quattro GmbH sports car division will begin operating under the name Audi Sport.

Audi Sport will launch eight new go-fast models over the next 18 months, although the automaker won’t specify the exact models. Right now, the Audi Sport portfolio includes the Audi RS 3 sedan, RS Q3, RS 6 Avant, RS 7 Sportback, TT RS, R8, and S8 plus. To keep up with high demand, Audi plans on increasing the current number of Audi Sport dealers from 370 to 600 by the end of 2017.

The newly named division is also in charge of the Audi exclusive car customization program as well as lifestyle accessories that further the brand name. Audi Sport will also be responsible for Audi’s customer racing program, incidentally called Audi Sport customer racing.

Stephan Winkelmann, who has led Quattro GmbH since March 2016, will continue on as CEO of the newly minted Audi Sport division. He has experience with increasing dealer footprint; he helped triple the number of Lamborghini dealerships over the span of a decade. When he left Lamborghini to take on the new role earlier this year, he was tasked with, among other things, creating a clearer direction for the Audi Sport customer racing brand, a section of Quattro GmbH.

Source: Audi