It may be a coincidence that we decided to jog our memory of Audi’s RS(RennSport) cars just as the Ur-quattro turns 40. But it is quite a pertinent one. The quattro, in its road-going form, wasn’t as quick or as focused as the RS badged cars that followed. But the motorsport-derived technology, and its practical everyday implementation that the original quattro espoused, have gone on to define Audi’s performance sub-brand.
Intended to be limited-run homologation special that qualified Audi to compete in the World Rally Championship, the quattro went on to be a massive success both on and offthe track. This was helped in no part by the car’s dominance in of the famed Group B category in the early 1980s, winning in 1983 and 1984. Three wins and a lap record at Pikes Peak sealed the car’s legacy as one of Audi’s greatest for good.
The namesake AWD system that the quattro pioneered helped it win, but more impactfully, it changed performance cars for good. The hollow shaft that the quattro AWD employed meant that such cars could be much lighter and sit lower to the ground. There was no need for a heavy transfer case or a second prop shaft anymore, to send power to both front and rear differentials. Many other carmakers have developed their versions of this tech since, but they’ve become a defining feature of Audi’s RS models.
Another defining feature of these cars has been their engines. Bespoke units, derived from either motorsport projects or developed entirely from the ground up, are defining RS car traits. The quattro had a part to play to here too. Its 2.5-litre, five-cylinder was the first of its kind ever made and has gone on to become an Audi trademark of sorts.
Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Overdrive.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Overdrive.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Volvo XC40 Recharge
Volvo's first pure electric car promises performance and range a level above what its size suggests
Maruti Suzuki XL6
Mildly facelifted, but with core mechanical updates and feature upgrades to help take on new competition
Safety Ratings In For Creta, i20
GNCAP crash test results in for Hyundai Creta and i20, in their base variants with ABS and two airbags
Volkswagen Returns To Play A Two-Pronged Game With The Virtus
Volkswagen returns to play a two-pronged game in the mid-sized sedan space with the Virtus
BMW X4 With Updated Styling And Equipment
The X4 looks gorgeous and the diesel engine is bonkers! Read on if you still need more reasons to give it attention
BYD Han EV Enroute To India?
Overdrive has spied the BYD Han EV at the BYD facility near Chennai.
INDIA VS EV FIRES
More stringent standards to be set for electric vehicle batteries
DATSUN SHUTS SHOP IN INDIA
Japanese carmaker Nissan has discontinued its subsidy brand Datsun in India owing to low sales numbers
HONDA TO MAKE ADAS STANDARD ACROSS INDIA LINE-UP
At the unveiling of the Honda City e: HEV, Honda Cars India announced that all new models that the brand launches in India will come with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems.
GEAR AND GADGETS
GOPRO HERO 10 BLACK