The Golden Era of Rally
To understand the return, you must first appreciate the original. The 1980s saw the rise of Group B rally racing, a category so fast, powerful, and dangerous it's often called the golden era of the sport. Cars were lightweight, turbocharged monsters,
and Audi was at the forefront. The German manufacturer revolutionised the sport by introducing its 'Quattro' all-wheel-drive system, which provided unprecedented grip and changed rallying forever. The ultimate expression of this was the Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2. With its aggressive aerodynamics, shortened wheelbase, and a turbocharged five-cylinder engine screaming with up to 600 horsepower, it became an icon of performance and engineering.
A Legend Reimagined
Decades later, the spirit of that rally beast is making a comeback, though not from Audi itself. A new German company, HSR Manufaktur, which stands for Homologation Specials Reimagined, has unveiled its Type 859. This is a 'restomod'—a classic car restored and modified with modern parts. HSR’s mission is to create a contemporary version of the Sport Quattro that honours the original's legacy while delivering modern performance and build quality. The project aims to capture the raw, emotional driving experience of the 80s rally car, but with the precision and technology of today.
Carbon Fibre and Modern Muscle
The heart of the HSR Type 859 project lies in its blend of old and new. The process starts with a period-correct chassis from an Audi Coupe B2, the same base as the original. This chassis is then significantly modified, shortened, and reinforced with an integrated roll cage. To keep weight down and maintain rigidity, the entire structure is wrapped in lightweight carbon-fibre panels. The target weight is a mere 1,200 kg. Under the bonnet, HSR slots in a modern Audi 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine, the same unit found in the previous generation RS3. Heavily modified with forged internals, this engine provides a driver-selectable output of between 500 and 600 horsepower, sent to all four wheels through a reinforced six-speed manual gearbox.
Design: Past Meets Present
Visually, the Type 859 is an unmistakable tribute to the Sport Quattro. It retains the iconic boxy flares, wide stance, and aggressive spoilers that made the Group B car so memorable. However, HSR has made subtle but important changes. The wheelbase has been slightly stretched to improve the high-speed stability that was notoriously tricky in the original short-wheelbase rally car. The result is a car that looks like it just rolled off a 1980s rally stage but is built with modern materials and engineering tolerances, blending retro aesthetics with contemporary performance dynamics. The design is both a nod to history and a statement of modern capability.
An Exclusive Homage
This modern interpretation of a rally legend will be a rare sight. HSR Manufaktur plans to build only 84 examples of the Type 859. This number is a deliberate nod to 1984, the year Audi won the World Rally Championship manufacturer's title. Such exclusivity comes with a significant price tag, starting at over $570,000 before taxes. This isn't just a car; it's a collector's piece for enthusiasts who want to own a unique piece of automotive history, reimagined for the 21st century. It represents a bridge between the analogue thrills of the past and the engineering possibilities of the present.
