10 Iconic Audi Special Editions

Intro

Audi has built a lot of exceptional vehicles over the years. Many of their regular production models have been terrific and they have led to a loyal Audi fan base. But what really gets Audi fans excited are some of the incredible special edition Audi models that have been released over the years. some of these one-off or limited models have become the most iconic Audi models ever. These special cars helped to build the brand image and show the world exactly what Audi is capable of. We gathered a list of the special edition Audis so we can look back at these wonderful creations. Some of them are newer models and some were released decades ago. Do you remember all these iconic special edition Audis?

10. R8 V10 Decennium

In 2020 Audi was celebrating ten years of putting a V10 engine in the Audi R8. That celebration included the release of the R8 V10 Decennium. Only 50 of these cars were sold in the United States. And at $217,545 it was the most expensive R8 you could buy. For that vast sum of money, you got 20-inch bronze wheels and a bronze-painted engine manifold. The car also had a carbon fiber wing and side blades, blacked out badges, and gloss black under body trim. One cool touch was the car's puddle lamps. The car’s production number is projected onto the ground every time you open the doors. Inside you get more special touches such as Decennium logos and copper stitching.

9. Audi A5 DTM Special Edition

The 2015 Audi A5 DTM Special Edition was the third DTM special edition from Audi at that point. The car was painted in Misano Red and rode on 20-inch wheels. There is also plenty of gloss black exterior trim. The most obvious exterior change is the collection of DTM, quattro and Audi Sport logos scattered about. On the inside you are greeted by bucket seats borrowed from the RS model. There is also plenty of red stitching and an Alcantara steering wheel. Under the hood is a 3.0 TDI engine making 245 horsepower. Only 50 of these cars were built.

8. TT RS Coupe Iconic Edition

This Europe-only model was built in 2023 as a goodbye to the much-loved TT which was going out of production. 100 of these Iconic Edition cars were made. They are all painted Nardo Grey and have an aggressive appearance thanks to canards, blades, and a splitter up front and a huge rear wing out back. Inside there is Alcantara and nappa leather with yellow stitching. The turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five from the TT RS powers this car and makes the same 394 horsepower. The car can reach 60 mph in just over 3 seconds and tops out at 174 mph. The TT RS Coupe Iconic Edition is capable of saying a very quick goodbye.

7. R8 RWS

Our second special edition R8 on the list is the R8 RWS. In case you are wondering RWS stands for Rear Wheel Series. That’s right, all 540 horsepower from the screaming V10 engine is sent to the rear wheels in this R8. That makes for a lighter and livelier R8. It is a move involving car that demands more from the driver. 999 of these were built and 320 of those came to the U.S. They can be spotted by their optional red vinyl decal across the hood and roof. But if the original owner decided against the stripe you have to look harder for the matte-black grilles, and gloss-black upper sideblades.

6. Audi TT RS 40 Jahre Quattro

In 2020 Audi celebrated 40 years of quattro by releasing the Audi TT RS 40 Jahre quattro. Only 40 of these cars were made and they were sold in Germany only. One look at this car and you know it is special. It is painted Alpine White, but it is the livery that pays tribute to the Audi Sport quattro S1 that won Pikes Peaks in 1987 that makes it stand out. There are also plenty of aerodynamic bits on the car that help it maintain composure at its raised top speed of 174 mph.

5. R8 V10 GT

This is the final R8 on our list and the final R8 Audi will ever build. With 602 horsepower it is the most powerful rear drive Audi ever. 333 of these were built worldwide and 150 came to the U.S. Most were quickly snapped up by collectors/speculators for well above MSRP and quickly locked away in climate-controlled garages. Which is a real shame because this incredible machine might be the best R8 ever, and that is high praise indeed.

4. S1 Hoonitron

The Audi S1 e-tron quattro Hoonitron was built in collaboration with Ken Block for his Electrikhana film. Sadly, this would end up being the last car that Block worked on as he passed in early 2023. This fully electric machine is like no other vehicle Audi ever made. The electric motors combine for 670 horsepower. But it is more than just power that makes this car special. There is the giant aluminum handbrake. There are five different wheel speeds controlled via paddles mounted on the steering column. MacPherson struts are all around and offer nearly 8 inches of suspension travel per wheel. If you haven’t yet, you really need to watch the Electrikhana films to see what this car can do.

3. RS 2 Avant

The Audi RS 2 Avant was the first ever Audi RS model. It was built in collaboration with Porsche and contains many Porsche parts. The 2.2-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine was rated at 311 horsepower. Top speed was 163 mph. This was significant because it exceeded the previously imposed limit of 155 mph. We could write a book on this single model alone. It is a spectacular special edition car that led to the beginning of the Audi RS line of cars.

2. RS 6 Avant GT

This is our newest member on the list. The 2025 Audi RS6 Avant GT was just announced a couple of weeks ago. Only 660 copies will be made with just 85 earmarked for the U.S. and Canada. They will all pack 621 horsepower. The overall design pays homage to the Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO race car from the late 1980s. You get cool white wheels, plenty of carbon fiber and spoilers. These cars will feature a set of adjustable coil-over shocks. These shocks lower the car by almost half an inch compared to the standard RS6 Avant. Each of these special cars will be built by hand.

1. Audi Sport Quattro

Does it get any more iconic than this? The Audi Sport Quattro exists thanks to Group B rally racing. The Sport Quattro was the homologated road-going version of the incredible S1 rally racing legend. About 200 of these street machines were built in order to satisfy the rules at the time. The Sport Quattro was a technical marvel when it was released in 1984. It featured cutting edge technology such as ABS, and four-wheel drive with self-locking differentials. The 2.1L turbocharged engine was the first Audi engine to use four valves per cylinder. It was capable of producing 300 horsepower, which is an astounding 143 horsepower per liter. This car is an icon among icons.

Images: Audi