The Beginning of the Rally Car: Audi Quattro 4WD

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.

4WD was considered useful only to SUV style vehicles. In 1980 the view changed, especially with rallies and the Quattro.

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.

The mechanics of the Audi Quattro presented a vehicle with grip and traction for various road conditions. The engine had 200 horsepower with a turbo style. It took 7.1 seconds to reach sixty miles per hour from a stopped position. The car was able to reach 137 miles per hour even with 4WD. The remarkable aspects of the vehicle helped it make a name at the World Rally as well as on the regular road.

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.

Quite simply the Quattro S1 was a legendary rally car. From its huge and distinctive front spoilers through to the almost unbelievable 590 bhp squeezed from just a 2.1 litre five cylinder engine, it was designed for just one purpose, to win.

There was little doubt that the noise of the turbo and the vehicle model enlivened the rally scene.

The name Quattro is still used today despite the end of the road car in 1991. In German Ur means original, which applies to the Audi Quattro. It is a much esteemed car to own.