Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro is a four-paw celebration

Audi has revealed it is marking four decades since it first introduced its quattro all-wheel drive to the world with a special-edition Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro.

Announcing it will produce just 40 examples of the special TT RS, the German car-maker said all will be in the form of a retro-style coupe that takes is stylistic inspiration from the 1987 Audi Sport quattro S1 that was driven to victory by Walter Rohrl at the famous Pikes Peak hill climb.

That explains why the TT RS 40 features charming 1980s graphics that look to have been lifted straight off the Sport quattro S1. These combine with gloss black accents used on everything from the sills, mirror caps, grille and rear wing.

The cool bonnet scoop, meanwhile, gets a carbon-fibre finish.

Far more than a cashing-in exercise to mark the 40th anniversary of quattro, the TT RS 40 has received a comprehensive aero overhaul that sees not only that huge adjustable wing added but a large front splitter and extra canards or anti-dive planes added to the front bumper, hinting at some serious wind-tunnel work.

Other tweaks to the TT RS involve ditching the rear seats to make it a strictly two-seater coupe only. The bench has been replaced with an optional carbon-fibre cross brace that adds rigidity while carving 16kg off the kerb weight.

Under the bonnet, the commemorative TT RS 40 keeps the standard car's turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine that's combined with all-wheel drive (naturally) and a seven-speed dual-clutch auto.

Against the clock the regular version takes just 3.7 seconds to crack 100km/h, but with the small weight saving the RS 40 could be a fraction quicker.

Its 280km/h top speed is likely to be compromised by the large rear wing out back.

Inside, the special TT RS gets black Alcantara door cards, with the same material used to wrap the RS sport steering wheel that also features a white 12 o'clock mark.

Look closer and there's more Alpine White paint used to surround the gear lever. Nappa leather sport seats with 40 Years of Quattro embroidered on the backrest, plus a numbered badge above the gear lever complete the changes.

Audi says it will make just 40 examples of the Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro, with sales limited to the German market where it will sell for a hefty €114,040 ($A190,000) – $55,000 more than the standard Audi TT RS sells for in Australia.