Even if you’re not in the market for a restomod, the HSR Manufaktur Type 859 is coming to honor the Audi Sport Quattro – a car that genuinely earned the tag ‘game changer.’ The Type 859 is built using the bones of a much less expensive but period-correct B2 Audi Coupe, and extensively upgraded. Or rather, it will be – the company is currently working on the first prototype and is presenting the concept now in renderings. But it all looks good so far.
The upgrades center on a modern 2.5-liter five-cylinder Audi engine offering anywhere between 500 and 600 horsepower (depending on mode), paired with a reinforced Audi S4 manual six-speed transmission. And, of course, lots of carbon fiber. Let’s take a closer look.
Recreating A Rallying Legend For 2026
HSR Manufaktur Type 859HSR Manufaktur
Back in the days when rally organizers didn’t see the dangers of crowds being on the road while no-limit race cars were running in maximum attack mode, the Audi Sport Quattro showed the world that all-wheel-drive is a performance enhancer. To that end, the HSR Manufaktur Type 859 will make use of permanent all-wheel drive with a 40-60 rear-biased split, a Torsen center diff, and a mechanical LSD on the rear axle for dirt-based heroics.
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The HSR Manufaktur Type 859 is not for the timid, with its stiff bushings, carbon ceramic brakes, and a weight of around 2,645 pounds. If you’re unfortunate enough to run out of talent on a mountain pass, the Type 859 will incorporate an integrated roll cage to give you a chance of survival. For honing the car for the terrain, the suspension is an active multi-valve coilover system with adjustable ride height.
All The Carbon Fiber
HSR Manufaktur Type 859HSR Manufaktur
The bodywork, as hardcore classic rally car enthusiasts will have spotted, is not replicating the original. However, you can’t see the photos and not know what the Type 859 is paying its hardcore respects to. Each panel is made of ‘aerospace grade’ carbon fiber, the vents are all functional, and the Pikes Peak style side exhausts are a cherry on top of the sundae. The Type 859 even has active aero which, while not period-correct, seems essential for a modern take on a classic rally car.
A plain carbon fiber finish would be boring, so HSR Manufaktur is offering bold, bright colors as well as “heritage-inspired liveries that pay homage to the WRC giants.” Inside, customers can also have pretty much what they want, whether it’s leather, Alcantara, all the trimmings, or a stripped-back interior. As HSR Manufaktur puts it, expect “a stripped-out track weapon or a grand tourer with refined luxury.”
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
The Type 859 is a bespoke commission limited to just 84 units worldwide, a reference to the 1984 WRC season, but no price has been mentioned by HSR Manufaktur. If you haven’t heard of HSR Manufaktur before, that’s no surprise, as this is the German company’s first vehicle and the images so far are all renderings, perhaps with a hint of AI generation. On top of that, the website is inviting investors with the words: “We are building a manufacturing house for automotive icons. The design is ready. The market is waiting.”
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The CEO, Iván García, is described on the website as a former car mechanic who went on to create a successful design studio delivering high-end configurators for major automotive brands. This may come to nothing, but we hope enough people — and the right people — take notice, as the restomod market is ripe for ever more imaginative cars.
Source: HSR Manufaktur
