ICE BREAKER

If drifting an Audi on a frozen river in Lapland sounds exotic, well, that's because it is. Suffice to say, it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on - ALL your clothes!

- DHRUV BEHL

I could wax lyrical about the joys of ice driving – about how it’s a waltz between man-and-machine. A dance that mirrors the one we do every day, one that beats our very beings into shape as we tackle the travails of life.

But I realise that I’m writing for the Internet generation, where attention spans are shaped by 90-second Instagram reels. So, I’ll get straight to the point.

WHY ARE AUDI & QUATTRO SYNONYMOUS?

The fastest cars in the world may be Formula 1 cars but try and take one of them on the daily commute and you’ll find that they’re not entirely usable. So, unless you’re a permanent resident at the BIC (Buddh International Circuit), you’re going to need something a bit more practical – think four seats and a boot. And the fastest machines with that description compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC). The most iconic of those were the Group B monsters of the 1980s. And the most recognisable of those was the Audi Quattro, specifically the pre-Group-B original Quattro. In fact, it changed the sport forever by introducing four-wheel drive to the world of rallying. The Quattro was dominant. Thus, the legend was cemented, and the nomenclature stuck.

Ever since, Audi has been known for its four-wheel drive Quattro technology. This folklore continues and is ever-present in virtually all its models even today. Of course, it goes without saying that, as the surface gets more slippery, the benefit of providing power to all four wheels increases exponentially. And so, in the snow, Quattro is not just a luxury – it’s mandatory!