The Audi Quattro is a German high-performance coupe built by Audi, introduced in 1980 and produced until 1991, celebrated chiefly for introducing permanent four-wheel drive to a mainstream performance road car and to top-level international rallying. Built around a turbocharged five-cylinder engine and a compact, lightweight permanent four-wheel-drive system developed from Volkswagen Group commercial-vehicle technology, the Quattro gave Audi a decisive competitive advantage when it entered World Rally Championship competition in 1981, winning rallies by wide margins against rear-wheel-drive rivals and prompting other manufacturers to develop their own four-wheel-drive rally cars in response. The Quattro's rallying success transformed Audi's public image from a maker of solid but unglamorous saloons into a performance-engineering brand, and its name became Audi's permanent trademark for four-wheel drive across its later road car range.
Facts
SignificanceThe first rally car to take advantage of the then-recently changed rules that allowed the use of four-wheel drive in competition racing. 1 Manufacturer or Builder Sources
1. Wikipedia: Audi Quattro
WikipediaLead section, first sentence
The Audi Quattro is a road and rally car, produced by the German automobile manufacturer Audi, part of the Volkswagen Group.
Lead section, debut sentence
It was first shown at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show on 3 March.
Background section, rally-rules sentence
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.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.