Zwickau-based automotive marque Audi is celebrating 40 years of success for one of the brand’s cornerstones—the Quattro—through a special edition Audi TT RS.
The Audi TT RS 40 years of Quattro, which will have a limited 40-unit run, will be offered in Alpine White to pay homage to the S1 that Walter Röhrl drove on Pikes Peak.
Such hue for the special edition is also matched with a hood central air vent in gloss carbon, an aero kit in gloss black with a fixed rear wing, special commemorative badges, and red brake calipers peeking behind white, 20-inch alloy wheels.
For its interior, the TT RS 40 years of quattro is equipped with black Alcantara on the door trims and RS sport steering wheel, heritage stripes on the Alpine White inlay, RS sport seats embroidered with “40 years of quattro,” and a numbered badge on the S tronic gear selector.
Powering the TT RS 40 years of quattro is the five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI engine that produces more than 394 horsepower and 480 Nm mated to a seven-speed S tronic transmission. Sending the output to all four wheels is a permanent quattro system.
Sadly, such limited edition model is only marketed for Audi's home country. However, we were told that the Philippines may soon feast on other RS models such as the RS3, RS6 and RSQ8 that will soon be brought to the country.
The first Audi Quattro model was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1980. Currently, more than 10 million vehicles are equipped with quattro all-wheel drive systems. Today, almost every Audi model—excluding the compact A1—is armed with such technology that propels raw power on all four wheels.
The original Quattro, which is part of Audi’s offers until 1991, has seen some significant developments such as the “short” Sport quattro car of 1984, and the Audi 80 quattro introduced in 1986. The latter development can evenly distribute the pulling power between the front and rear axles or transfer up to 75% of this to the axle with better traction.
In 1995 Audi unveiled the A6 2.5 TDI, the first diesel passenger car with permanent all-wheel drive and some four years after, the quattro technology was seen in the form of an electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch was introduced in the Audi A3 and TT model series.
The Quattro technology further evolved in 2005 as it featured a center differential with asymmetric, dynamic 40:60 power distribution between the axles.
The premier Audi R8—unveiled in 2007— came out with a viscous coupling on the quattro front axle. A year after, a sport differential for the rear axle was introduced. In 2016, quattro with ultra-technology joined the portfolio. Audi in 2019 released the electric-powered, all-wheel drive quattro to the market via the Audi e-tron.
This automotive breakthrough propelled Audi in the motor sports scene. A year after they have joined the World Rally Championship in 1981, they have immediately won the manufacturers’ championship in 1982, the drivers’ title in 1983 and both crowns in 1984.
It was at 1987 when Rohrl, on board the Audi Sport S1, won the legendary Pikes Peak hill climb event.
Photos from Audi Philippines
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