| When the Audi Quattro was first released in 1980 it | | | | name at the World Rally as well as on the regular |
| was only the second production road car to have four | | | | road. |
| wheel drive. The honour of being the first went to the | | | | Audi used the new rule changes that permitted four |
| Jensen FF back in 1966, although that was weighed | | | | wheel drive systems on rally cars to its advantage, |
| down by the heavy and unreliable transmission. | | | | and at its debut in 1980 the Quattro confounded the |
| Until 1980, four wheel drive had only been deemed | | | | other manufacturers, who had mistakenly believed that |
| suitable for off road vehicles, however with the Audi | | | | four wheel drive was too heavy and unsuitable for a |
| Quattro all that changed and the world of rallying | | | | works rally car. The Quattro went on to dominate the |
| would never be the same again. | | | | world rally scene for the next six years, and over that |
| Audi's genius was to keep the four wheel drive | | | | period the car went through several evolutions until the |
| system as simple and as light as possible, and instead | | | | final Audi Sport Quattro S1. |
| of using a traditional transfer box and associated | | | | The S1 had one objective and that was to win. They |
| driveshafts, Audi used a small differential off of the | | | | added front spoilers and a 2.1 litre, five cylinder engine |
| front mounted gearbox to power two driveshafts, one | | | | that could produce 590bhp. |
| to provide power to the front wheels and the other to | | | | There was little doubt that the noise of the turbo and |
| the rear. | | | | the vehicle model enlivened the rally scene. |
| The mechanics of the Audi Quattro presented a | | | | Production of the Audi Quattro road car ceased in |
| vehicle with grip and traction for various road | | | | 1991, however the Quattro name badge is still used |
| conditions. The engine had 200 horsepower with a | | | | today in Audi's four wheel drive models today. |
| turbo style. It took 7.1 seconds to reach sixty miles per | | | | Although the original Audi Quattro or Ur Quattro as its |
| hour from a stopped position. The car was able to | | | | known by specialist buyers, Ur means original in |
| reach 137 miles per hour even with 4WD. The | | | | German, is still a highly prized and sought after vehicle. |
| remarkable aspects of the vehicle helped it make a | | | | |