Audi TraditionEvents 2010

In March 1980, a sporty coupé with four-wheel drive on the Audi stand caused a great sensation during the Geneva Motor Show. The Audi quattro was the first high-performance vehicle to be produced with four-wheel drive, a drive concept that had previously only been used for trucks and off-road vehicles. This original Audi "Urquattro" was propelled by a more powerful version of the 2.2-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine presented in 1979, which developed an output of 147 kW (200 bhp).

The Audi quattro made its motorsport debut in early 1981 in the Jänner Rally in Austria. From this date on, the four-wheel power package from Ingolstadt revolutionised the international rally and racing scene. In December 1982, the volume production of vehicles with permanent four-wheel drive started with the Audi 80 quattro. Gradually, the quattro concept became established in the other model series of the Audi range. The quattro driveline is now installed in around 34 percent of all Audi cars produced. Almost 3.3 million quattro vehicles have been built since 1980.