The History of the Audi Quattro Four Wheel Drive

The history of 4WD is shorter than might be imagined. The Audi Quattro produced in 1980 was the second automobile to have 4WD. The first vehicle was the Jensen FF. The Jensen was made in 1966, but it was considered less than perfect due to the weight of the transmission.

Prior to 1980 cars did not come equipped with four wheel drive. It was felt that only sport utility vehicles that went off road were the only vehicles that needed it. When Audi introduced this equipment into their rally car though, it changed things forever.

Audi’s genius was to keep the four wheel drive system as simple and as light as possible, and instead of using a traditional transfer box and associated driveshafts, Audi used a small differential off of the front mounted gearbox to power two driveshafts, one to provide power to the front wheels and the other to the rear.

With the four wheel drive system the Quattro has superior levels of grip and traction, even in slippery and wet conditions, whilst in the dry the 200 bhp turbocharged engine could launch the Audi Quattro to sixty in just 7.1 seconds, and a top speed of 137 mph which are impressive figures even by today’s modern standard. However whilst the Quattro was a superb road car it was on the world rally stage that it really made its name.

The rules had been changed for rally cars and that is why in 1980 Audi saw the opportunity to equip their rally car with four wheel drive. Several of the car companies had the misconception that four wheel drive would make their cars too weighty. This was true, but because Audi redesigned the four wheel drive system to be lighter it worked to their advantage. For six years Audi held the other companies off and became the domineering force at the world rallies. The Audi Sport Quattro S1 became the final epitome of the rally car.

The S1 had one objective and that was to win. They added front spoilers and a 2.1 litre, five cylinder engine that could produce 590bhp.

Throughout the 1980′s no rally stage was complete without this fire breathing monster screaming through the forest with is turbo whistling and its high wattage headlight bulbs ablaze.

Production of the Audi Quattro road car ceased in 1991, however the Quattro name badge is still used today in Audi’s four wheel drive models today. Although the original Audi Quattro or Ur Quattro as its known by specialist buyers, Ur means original in German, is still a highly prized and sought after vehicle.

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