We've known for quite some time now that a new-generation Audi Quattro was a possibility, and we have also heard all kinds of rumors about it. Today, however, Auto Motor Und Sport gave us a little more on just how close the Quattro is to a return, during an interview with Audi->ke14 CEO, Rupert Stadler.

In an interview with the German magazine, Stadler said that the Quattro concept we saw this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show was just testing people's reaction and, as expected, it was very positive.

As a result of the positive feedback, a new Audi Quattro is now in a soft development phase with the possibility of a 2015 release.Stadler stopped short of confirming that the Quattro was indeed under development, as he stated "Nothing has been decided."

Despite the lack of confirmation, Ulrich Hackenberg, new head of development at Audi, has decided that the new Quattro, if produced, will not be offered as a limited-run vehicle, as Audi plans to produce it in large numbers.

Hackenberg also decided that the Quattro will be built a shortened A6->ke934 platform and, unlike previous reports, it will not be a hybrid->ke147. Audi will instead offer various engines, starting with the base 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 310 horsepower, with the possibility of power jumping to between 340 and 360 horsepower.

With this many details in place, it is easy to read between the lines an see that Audi is indeed planning on releasing a new Quattro, but it simply cannot confirm its return yet.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi Sport Quattro.

Audi Sport Quattro

Audi unveiled the Sport Quattro concept at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, just in time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original model.

The concept is powered by a plug-in-hybrid drivetrain that combines a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 engine with a a disc-shaped electric motor. This system delivers a combined output of 700 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, and it sprints the concept from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 189 mph.