By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse
As a fan of the eighties-inspired TV crime series, Ashes to Ashes, it’s wonderful to celebrate its 45-year-old star, the Audi Quattro, driven by lead character, DCI Gene Hunt.
The Quattro’s impact on the real world was huge too and it proved a game-changer for its German manufacturer.
Debuting in 1980, the Quattro was a dynamic performer, built around four-wheel-drive technology first developed by the Volkswagen Group for the German military a decade earlier.
The system gave it superior road holding, vehicle stability and a top performance.
Under the bonnet, the car was fitted with a 2.1 litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine capable of reaching 200 bhp.
But, the Quattro didn’t just make its mark on the road, it would become a ‘tour de force’ on the rally stage.
Variants like the A1, A2 and Sports Quattro excelled in the Group B World Rally Championships throughout the 80s, with the Quattro winning four constructor championships and two drivers’ championships. The car also achieved a famous one-two-three in the Monte Carlo Rally.
During its 11-year production run, the Quattro went through several engine improvements, including a more powerful 2.2 litre 20-valve upgrade delivering a top speed of 143mph.
The Quattro shared the platform of Audi 80 coupe and underwent very few styling changes. Surprisingly, only 11,452 models were produced.
Today, good roadworthy examples are very much in demand and prices frequently top £30,000.
Looking back, the Quattro transformed the image of Audi from makers of sturdy and conservative saloon cars to major players in the the global market. Such was its impact, the “quattro” badge (styled in lower case) has lived on in modern Audi models.
Gene would have been proud!