| transmission = 5-speed manual
| wheelbase =
| length =
| width =
| height =
| weight = to
| sp = uk
| predecessor = Audi 100 Coupé S
| successor = Audi S2
The Audi Quattro is a road and rally car, produced by the German automobile manufacturer Audi, part of the Volkswagen Group. It was first shown at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show on 3 March. Production continued through 1991.
Background
thumb|left|Audi Quattro's Group 4. Earlier car in front, later variant with wheel arch extensions in the back
The word quattro is derived from the Italian word for "four" to represent the fact that the vehicle delivers power to all four wheels. The name has also been used by Audi to refer to the quattro four-wheel-drive system, or any four-wheel-drive version of an Audi model. The original Quattro model is also commonly referred to as the Ur-Quattro - the "Ur-" (German for "primordial", "original", or "first of its kind") is an augmentative prefix. The idea of such a car came from the Audi engineer Jörg Bensinger.
The Audi Quattro was the first rally car to take advantage of the then-recently changed rules that allowed the use of four-wheel drive in competition racing. It won consecutive competitions for the next two years. To commemorate the success of the original vehicle, all subsequent Audi production automobiles with this four-wheel-drive system were badged with the trademark quattro with a lower case "q" letter.
The Audi Quattro shared many parts and platform with the Coupé version of the Audi 80 (B2).
Production history
The idea for a high-performance four-wheel-drive car was proposed in 1977 by Audi's chassis engineer, Jörg Bensinger, after he found that the Volkswagen Iltis military vehicle could outperform other vehicles when tested in the snow. An Audi 80 variant was developed in co-operation with Walter Treser, Director of Pre-Development.
European market
Audi introduced the original Quattro to European customers in late 1980,
The engine was eventually modified to a inline-5 with 10 valves, still generating , but with peak torque lower in the rev-range.
North American market
Sales of the Quattro in North America began in the 1983 model year. They entered the all-wheel-drive market established by the AMC Eagle, the first full-time automatic all-wheel-drive line of passenger cars to reach mass production. The small Subaru Leone station wagon offered an optional part-time 4-wheel drive system in the US market starting in 1975.
The North American Quattro was manufactured concurrently and were of the same design as their European 1982 model year counterparts (they did not include the minor cosmetic changes of the 1983 European model) and continued through 1986. Total sales in the U.S. totalled 664 units. The Canadian market cars were identical to the U.S. version with exception of the speedometer, which was metric. Official sales figures for Canada were 99 units, which included 61 sold in 1983, 17 sold in 1984, 18 sold in 1985, and 3 sold in 1986.
The U.S./Canadian cars were equipped with larger impact bumpers with built-in shock absorbers, like the rest of the 4000/Coupé models. They did not have anti-lock braking system (ABS), but included air conditioning and leather upholstery. Most of the 1984 and 1985 Canadian models came without sunroofs. The remainder of the electric, suspension, and cosmetic updates took place at the same time as the European cars.
The initial 2.1 L (2,144 cc, engine code "WX") engine for U.S./Canadian models included minor component and engine control unit (ECU) changes, lowered turbocharger boost pressure, different camshaft, as well as emission controls that consisted of a catalytic converter and fuel control giving a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, lowering power output to . Other mechanical specifications were identical to the European market vehicles. The WX engine was also utilized in Swiss and Japanese market cars. Audi built 200 special edition cars in 1988 with the WX engine and analogue instrument cluster, with everything else identical to the MB model of that year.
Press reviews
In May 1981, Autocar magazine road tested a left hand drive Quattro (registration number WBD 335W), one of the first magazines to do so since it was introduced. Beginning with a photograph in the magazine of a Quattro cornering hard on Pendine beach in South-west Wales, Autocar's Road Test Editor raved about the Quattro's "thrilling performance" being impressed with its traction and acceleration particularly on wet, greasy and slippery surfaces, noting that only the Porsche 911 could match its traction and acceleration in slippery conditions. After extensive driving across the mountain roads of Wales, the Road Test editor mentioned that while the 60/40 front/rear weight distribution can make the Quattro "tricky in extremis" under very hard cornering, the editor wrote that "When driven with respect, once you have learned its ways, the Quattro is nevertheless magnificent, particularly through a wet and deserted roundabout or series of open bends." The road test editor praised the interior's "comfortable refinement" and judged that its 1981 £14,500 price tag "is very good value for money considering its performance and the fact that its BMW, Porsche and Jaguar rivals cost £5000 more." (In summer 1981 both a Jaguar XJS V12 and BMW 6 Series Coupe on sale in the UK cost almost £20,000). Adding the caveat that in 1981 (and until summer 1983) the Quattro was only available in left hand drive in the UK, the Autocar Road Test concluded that the Quattro "is a vastly satisfying and enjoyable car to drive."
Audi quattro Spyder Concept (1991)
The Audi quattro Spyder was a mid-engine coupé equipped with a 2.8-litre V6 engine taken from the Audi 100. The engine was rated at and of torque. The car was a rolling test bed for a future mid-engine sports car and featured a 5-speed manual gearbox, a modified version for the quattro four-wheel-drive system, aluminium body panels with a tubular steel space frame, kerb weight and a suspension system with trapezoidal links. All of the unique features depicted in the concept car would find their way in future Audi production vehicles.
The car was production-ready and garnered a lot of acclaim from both the motoring press and prospective buyers but due to the economic downturn of the 1990s, Audi decided not to press ahead with the project as the demand would not outweigh the development costs for the model.
The concept car was unveiled at the 1991 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Audi quattro concept (2010)
At the Paris Motor Show in 2010, Audi presented the quattro concept on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the original Audi Quattro and the Audi quattro four-wheel-drive system. Based on the RS5, it features a modified 2.5 L five-cylinder TFSI engine shared with the TT and a 6-speed manual transmission from the S4. The engine was claimed to generate a maximum power output of and of torque. The revolutionary design features depicted on the concept car would eventually make their way on future Audi models.
The concept utilised aluminium and carbon fibre construction which helped to achieve a total dry weight of . Weight saving was kept in consideration even throughout the interior and the seats also weighed each besides having adjustment motors. The dashboard featured an LCD console displaying vital information about the car and buttons arranged in a vertical way on the binnacle harked back to the original Audi Quattro. The wheelbase was shortened by and the roof line was shortened by as compared to the RS5.
The Quattro four-wheel-drive system used in the concept was a rear-biased design utilising a two-stage differential distributing power front and aft through planetary gears.
The concept utilised carbon-ceramic braking system for improved stopping power. The car had a claimed acceleration time of 3.8 seconds.
It was reported that Audi was considering a limited production model (200–500 cars) based on the quattro concept. However, the idea of production was scrapped in favour of expanding the company's crossover range.
Audi Sport quattro concept (2013)
thumb|The Audi Sport quattro concept on display at IAA 2013
The Audi Sport quattro concept was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the original Audi Sport quattro. The show car features angular flat C-pillars, as well as rectangular double headlights featuring Audi's Matrix LED technology, a spoiler at the lower edge of the rear window, rectangular tail lights, 21-inch wheels, carbon fibre-ceramic brake discs, bucket seats with integrated head restraints, multifunction sport steering wheel, two driving modes (race and setup) in virtual 3D displays, Audi MMI control unit, and air conditioning. The doors and fenders were made of aluminum, while the roof, hood, and the rear hatch were made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer. The front suspension features five control arms per wheel while the rear has track-controlled trapezoidal link.
Power is from a 4.0 TFSI V8 engine rated at and , along with a disc-shaped electric motor rated at and (for combined a power output of and ), mated to an eight-speed tiptronic transmission. A liquid-cooled 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery is located at the rear, and the range is claimed up to on electric power alone.
At the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, Audi presented the new 2014 Audi TT Quattro Sport Concept. It was powered by a 2.0 L four-cylinder TFSI engine generating a maximum power output of and of torque. The concept featured Audi's Quattro AWD system and an S Tronic dual-clutch transmission.
Motorsport
Quattro - A1 and A2 evolutions
thumb|left|[[Walter Röhrl driving a Quattro A2 at the 1984 Rally Portugal ]]
The original Audi Quattro competition car debuted in 1980, first as a development car (Course Car No. 0, Rali Urbibel Algarve Portugal 30 October to 1 November 1980), and then on a formal basis in the 1981 Jänner Rallye in Austria. Largely based on the bodyshell of the road-going Quattro models (in contrast to the forthcoming Group B cars), the engine of the original competition version produced approximately . In 1981, Michèle Mouton became the first female driver to win a world championship rally, piloting an Audi Quattro.
Sport Quattro
thumb|left|[[Michèle Mouton's Audi Sport Quattro at the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed ]]
The Audi Sport Quattro S1 was a variant of the Quattro developed for homologation for Group B rallying in 1984, and sold as a production car in limited numbers. with the engine on the competition cars initially generating around . 224 cars in total of this "short version" Sport Quattro were built, and were offered for sale for DM 203,850.
| manufacturer = Audi AG
| aka = S1, S1 Quattro "Audi Sport Quattro E2"
| production = 1985–1986
| assembly = Ingolstadt, Germany
| predecessor = Audi Sport Quattro
| class = Coupé, Group B rally car
| body_style = 2-door coupé
| layout = longitudinal front-engine four-wheel-drive
| platform =
| engine = turbocharged I5
| transmission = 6-speed manual
| wheelbase =
| length =
| width =
| height =
| weight =
| related = Audi Quattro
| designer =
| sp = uk
thumb|left|Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2, [[Pikes Peak International Hill Climb|Pikes Peak version]]
The Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 was introduced at the end of 1985 as an update to the Audi Sport Quattro S1. The car featured an inline five-cylinder engine that displaced from a bore and stroke of and generated an officially quoted power output figure of .
Specifications:
Kerb weight:
Engine: I5
Power:
Top speed:
Dimensions: Length 4,500 mm, Width 1,900 mm, Height 1,020 mm.
WRC results
Summary
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
|-
! Season
! Model(s)
! Driver
! Pos.
! Pts
|-
!align=center|1981
|Audi Quattro
| Hannu Mikkola (3rd) • Michèle Mouton (8th)
|align=center|5th ||align=center|63
|-
!align=center|1982
|Audi Quattro
| Michèle Mouton (2nd) • Hannu Mikkola (3rd) • Stig Blomqvist (4th)
| style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|1st ||align=center|116
|-
!align=center|1983
|Audi Quattro A1 and Audi Quattro A2
| Hannu Mikkola (1st) • Stig Blomqvist (3rd) • Michèle Mouton (5th)
| style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|2nd ||align=center|116
|-
!align=center|1984
|Audi Quattro A2 and Audi Sport Quattro S1
| Stig Blomqvist (1st) • Hannu Mikkola (2nd) • Walter Röhrl (11th) • Michèle Mouton(12th)
| style="text-align:center; background:gold;"|1st ||align=center|120
|-
!align=center|1985
|Audi Sport Quattro S1
| Stig Blomqvist (2nd) • Walter Röhrl (3rd) • Hannu Mikkola (22nd)
| style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|2nd ||align=center|126
|-
!align=center|1986
|Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2
| Hannu Mikkola (18th) • Walter Röhrl (22nd)
|align=center|4th ||align=center|29
|}
WRC victories
thumb|The Quattro's final WRC victory came from [[Walter Röhrl, at the 1985 Rallye Sanremo. The car was paraded at the Ignition Festival of Motoring in 2017.]]
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; "
|-
! #
! Event
! Season
! Driver
! Co-driver
! Version
|-
| 1
| 31st International Swedish Rally
| 1981
| Hannu Mikkola
| Arne Hertz
| Audi Quattro
|-
| 2
| 23º Rallye Sanremo
| 1981
| Michèle Mouton
| Fabrizia Pons
| Audi Quattro
|-
| 3
| 30th Lombard RAC Rally
| 1981
| Hannu Mikkola
| Arne Hertz
| Audi Quattro
|-
| 4
| 32nd International Swedish Rally
| 1982
| Stig Blomqvist
| Björn Cederberg
| Audi Quattro
|-
| 5
| 16º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto
| 1982
| Michèle Mouton
| Fabrizia Pons
| Audi Quattro
|-
| 6
| 29º Acropolis Rally
| 1982
| Michèle Mouton
| Fabrizia Pons
| Audi Quattro
|-
| 7
| Rally of Brazil
| 1982
| Michèle Mouton
| Fabrizia Pons
| Audi Quattro
|-
| 8
| 32º 1000 Lakes Rally
| 1982
| Hannu Mikkola
| Arne Hertz
| Audi Quattro
|-
| 9
| 24º Rallye Sanremo
| 1982
| Stig Blomqvist
| Björn Cederberg
| Audi Quattro
|-
| 10
| 31st Lombard RAC Rally
| 1982
| Hannu Mikkola
| Arne Hertz
| Audi Quattro
|-
| 11
| 33rd International Swedish Rally
| 1983
| Hannu Mikkola
| Arne Hertz
| Audi Quattro A1
|-
| 12
| 17º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto
| 1983
| Hannu Mikkola
| Arne Hertz
| Audi Quattro A1
|-
| 13
| 3º Marlboro Rally Argentina San Carlos de Bariloche
| 1983
| Hannu Mikkola
| Arne Hertz
| Audi Quattro A2
|-
| 14
| 33º 1000 Lakes Rally
| 1983
| Hannu Mikkola
| Arne Hertz
| Audi Quattro A2
|-
| 15
| 32nd Lombard RAC Rally
| 1983
| Stig Blomqvist
| Björn Cederberg
| Audi Quattro A2
|-
| 16
| 52ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo
| 1984
| Walter Röhrl
| Christian Geistdörfer
| Audi Quattro A2
|-
| 17
| 34th International Swedish Rally
| 1984
| Stig Blomqvist
| Björn Cederberg
| Audi Quattro A2
|-
| 18
| 18º Rallye de Portugal Vinho do Porto
| 1984
| Hannu Mikkola
| Arne Hertz
| Audi Quattro A2
|-
| 19
| 31º Acropolis Rally
| 1984
| Stig Blomqvist
| Björn Cederberg
| Audi Quattro A2
|-
| 20
| 14º Sanyo Rally of New Zealand
| 1984
| Stig Blomqvist
| Björn Cederberg
| Audi Quattro A2
|-
| 21
| 4º Marlboro Rally of Argentina YPF Cordoba
| 1984
| Stig Blomqvist
| Björn Cederberg
| Audi Quattro A2
|-
| 22
| 16ème Rallye "Marlboro" Côte d'Ivoire
| 1984
| Stig Blomqvist
| Björn Cederberg
| Audi Sport Quattro S1
|-
| 23
| 27º Rallye Sanremo
| 1985
| Walter Röhrl
| Christian Geistdörfer
| Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2
|}
In popular culture
thumb|[[Gene Hunt's Quattro in the car park of BBC Television Centre]]
A red 1983 Quattro was driven by DCI Gene Hunt (played by Philip Glenister) in the television drama Ashes to Ashes (aired on BBC1 from 2008 to 2010). Two cars were used through the run of the series: the original, and a stunt car that was acquired for series 2. Both portrayed the same car. The original vehicle (also used in the Children in Need Top Gear crossover mini-episode) lacked a sunroof which was present on the car(s) used in series 2 and 3, hence a fake one was added for the sake of continuity. The stunt car was written off for the jump in series 3, episode 1 by the director of that episode and used as a parts and interior shots car until it was shot up in the finale, leaving the original car intact.
thumb|The type of the poster used by the Labour Party during the 2010 election campaign
In the run-up to the 2010 general election, a campaign poster by the incumbent Labour Party government portrayed Conservative Party and opposition leader David Cameron as Gene Hunt sitting on the bonnet of the iconic red Audi Quattro and urged voters not to allow Cameron to take Britain "back to the 1980s" by electing his party into government amid fears that it would lead to a repeat of the social unrest and unemployment that Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government of that era oversaw. The image was then adopted by the Conservatives, with the slogan "Fire up the Quattro, it's time for change", with the comment 'Idea kindly donated by the Labour Party'. "Fire up the Quattro" was a call to action uttered by DCI Hunt in Ashes to Ashes.
See also
- AMC Eagle, the first mass-produced all-wheel-drive car introduced in August 1979
- Audi S and RS models
- Jensen FF, the first all-wheel-drive road car, introduced in 1966
References
Notes
Bibliography
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External links
- Evolution of the models Audi quattro, 1980-1991: English,German
- Audi Quattro Sport S1