This car was designed with racing in mind from the start. Only 164 of the 214 automobiles produced made it into the hands of consumers. Some were utilized as racing vehicles and prototypes. Sport Quattro’s racing variant was the most potent vehicle ever to compete in a rally.
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What number of Audi Quattros exist?
In late 1980[4], Audi released the first-generation Quattro to European consumers. It was the first vehicle to pair a front-engine, four-wheel-drive configuration with a turbocharged engine.
[4]
The original engine had a turbocharger and intercooler and had an inline five-cylinder displacement of 2,144 cc (2.1 L). The Quattro was able to reach a high speed of more than 220 km/h because to its 147 kW (200 PS; 197 horsepower) and 285 Nm (210 lbfft) of torque produced at 3,500 rpm (137 mph). [4]
For the rally car, the engine’s displacement was reduced significantly from 2144 cc to 2133 cc with a bore x stroke of 79.3 mm86.4 mm (3.1 in3.4 in), allowing Audi to meet the 3-litre rallying class’s 1.4 times multiplicative requirement. 225 kW (306 PS; 302 horsepower) at 6,700 rpm and 350 Nm (258 lbft) of torque at 3,700 rpm were produced by the DOHC4 valves per cylinder, 20 valves total, oil-cooled KKK K27 turbocharger, and Air-to-Air – Lngerer & Reich intercooler supplied by BoschLH-Jetronic fuel injection system. [9]
Eventually, the engine was changed to a 2,226 cc (136 cu in) inline-5 with 10 valves, which still produced 147 kW (200 PS; 197 horsepower), but had a lower peak torque at lower revs.
[4] In 1989, a 2,226 cc (136 cu in) inline-five 20-valve DOHC system with 162 kW (220 PS; 217 horsepower) was added, giving it a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). [4]
On a special line, the Quattro was partially hand-built.
[8] From 1980 to 1991, 11,452 vehicles were produced,[4][3] and throughout this 11-year manufacturing, there were no significant alterations to the car’s exterior styling. For the 1983 model year, a green digital liquid crystal display (LCD) electronic instrument cluster replaced the dashboard’s previous analogue instrument cluster. In 1988, an orange LCD electronic instrument cluster eventually replaced this. In 1984, the interior had a facelift that included a new dashboard arrangement, a new steering wheel design, a new center console design, and new switches for the instrument panel. The switches were adjusted somewhat, the diff lock pull knob was replaced by a two-position turn knob with volt and oil temperature digital readouts, and the dashboard had a small alteration in 1985 with firmer foam and the loss of a diagonal stripe.
Throughout its manufacturing run, the Quattro’s exterior appearance saw little changes. The car’s original front grille was flat and featured four separate headlamp lensesone for the high and low beam unitsin it. For the 1983 model year, this was changed to integrated units with a single lens housing twin reflectors. In what has come to be known as the “facelift model,” this was altered once more for the 1985 model year and included modifications such a new sloping front grille, headlamps, and trim and badging revisions. [2] A redesigned three-spoke steering wheel and leather trim for the door arm rests, glove boxes, center console, and door pockets were further features of the 20V RR Quattro. Along with half leather seats, the inside of the car had a full-length leather-wrapped center console that extended all the way to the back seats. Due to the arrangement of the dual catalytic exhaust, the floor on the driver’s side was bulging. The badges on the boot lids of the various versions can be used to identify them: the WR had a vinyl “quattro” decal or a brushed aluminum effect plastic insignia, the MB had chrome-plated “Audi,” “Audi rings,” and “quattro” emblems, and the RR only had chrome-plated “Audi rings.”
To lessen a propensity for lift-off oversteer, the rear suspension underwent early geometry revisions including the removal of the rear anti-roll bar. The wheel size was changed for the 1984 facelift from 6×15-inch wheels with 205/60-15 Pirelli Cinturato P5 tires to 8×15-inch wheels with 215/50-15 Pirelli Cinturato P5 tires. In order to improve handling, the suspension was simultaneously lowered by 20 mm with slightly firmer springs. The manual center differential lock was replaced with the Torsen center differential for 1987. [4]
On May 17, 1991, more than two years after the debut of the first models of the new Audi Coup (8B) range (based on the 1986 Audi 80) was made, the final original Audi Quattro.
[10]
What are the values of Audi Quattros?
The Sport Quattro is a rare sight due to its incredibly low production numbers. Audi initially produced 214 models, of which 160 were road vehicles, with Group B requirements in mind. The remaining race cars are significantly more expensive and can be found mostly in expensive collections and museums. A few Audi Sport Quattos are among the rare vehicles that are sold and then disappear from the market.
The Audi Sport Quattro is considered by collectors to be a particularly unique example of automotive engineering with a lovely backstory and a rich heritage. Along with having incredible handling and racing prowess, the Sport Quattro has every right to be included in the group of historic cars. The Sport Quattro is immediately recognizable and has the timeless appearance of an early ’80s performance automobile, while not having the most attractive appearance. It’s awful to watch vehicles intended to withstand difficult trails sit about like garage queens, especially considering that the majority of these Sport Quattros never see the light of day.
In how many US cities are there Audi Quattros?
In 2021, if you spit a sunflower seed in any direction, you’ll probably hit an all-wheel-drive, small-displacement turbocharged passenger automobile. 1980: Not at all. All-wheel drive was then associated with big transfer cases, high ground clearance, and a lot of additional weight. It was all about two-wheel drive. As a result, when the first Quattro was on the market in 1980, its mix of brash design, small size, and assured all-weather performance helped Audi score an unexpected hit. Four decades later, the four-ringed manufacturer who created quattro all-wheel drive is essentially synonymous with the technology, and the so-called “Ur- (German for “original”) Quattro is one of the most popular 1980s sports vehicles on the market.
However, the Quattro’s legacy is not as the engineering forerunner or Teutonic ancestor of today’s common transportation. About as much resembles a new Subaru Forester as a boxy two-door with a 200-hp single overhead-cam five-cylinder and a manually controlled mechanical locking differential. Instead, this ground-breaking invention is remembered for its influence on world rallying, a sport where Audi established a steadfast reputation for excellence in performance and innovation.
The Quattro’s fiberglass-bodied, Kevlar-reinforced, homologation-special variant commands iconic status today, of course. Audi created the Sport Quattro, a 302-hp, short-wheelbase dynamo, to meet the requirements for Group B entry in 1984. It had an aluminum block, two valves per cylinder, wider-than-normal fenders, and wheels. The Sport Quattro, despite being extreme in every way, didn’t fare well in the World Rally Championship (WRC) against the fiercely competitive Group B competition. Later hill climbs at Pikes Peak saw much more success with it.
In reality, the older long-wheelbase car had much greater success in rallies, taking home four World Rally Championship championships in a three-year span, including the 1982 Group B manufacturers championship and the 1984 drivers championship for Henrik Blomqvist. Being the first all-wheel drive vehicle to win the WRC also demonstrated the way of the future. Since the Lancia 037’s brief victory in 1983, no other two-wheel drive vehicle has captured the championship.
The Quattro’s engineering and design were brilliance in its simplicity and ingenuity. A road-car based on the Audi 80 was the brainchild of Audi chassis engineer and experimental running gear manager Jrg Bensinger in 1977, inspired by the VW Iltis military vehicle’s proficiency in driving over snow. Bensinger started developing a prototype using the Iltis technology in collaboration with project director Walter Treser and under the supervision of chief technical director Ferdinand Pich. Initial testing demonstrated the all-wheel-drive system’s potential, but the locked axles made it ineffective. In an effort to reduce weight and complexity, Franz Tregler, the head of transmission design at Audi, came up with the idea of a hollow secondary shaft in the gearbox, which would allow power to be delivered to both axles via a differential at each end. Born was Quartet.
Audi made continuous improvements to the Quattro after its successful launch at the end of 1980, including updates to the steering wheel, center console, and even a digital dashboard with an LCD screen for 1983. Although there were just a few modest exterior modifications during its 11-year lifespan, the grille, headlights, and trim got the most attention in 1985. A Torsen center differential and a slightly bigger 2.2-liter turbo inline-five engine with the same 197 horsepower but better low-end torque were introduced in 1987 to replace the manual locking system. Finally, the engine’s four-valve head and dual-overhead cam, which increased output to 227 horsepower and top speed to 143 mph, arrived in 1989. All Quattros, whether early and late, had a 5-speed manual transmission.
Although 11,452 Quattros were produced during the model lifetime, they are not very uncommon. Following the Quattro’s North American dbut for the 1983 model year, only 664 units were sold in the United States (compared to 214 Sport Quattros, which never sold in the U.S.). These vehicles also had air conditioning, leather seats, and impact bumpers, but their 2.1-liter engines had been changed with reduced boost, a different camshaft, and numerous emissions-control measures to reduce power to 160 hp. The Ur-Quattro was no longer available after 1986; hence, to obtain one with the later enhancements, you would have to either import a post-1986 vehicle or construct your own.
Prior to one of the homologation Sport Quattros selling for $401,500 at an RM Sotheby’s auction in 2015, the vintage Quattros market was rather quiet. Values for these short-wheelbase cars in #2-condition (Excellent) are now 415 percent more than they were ten years earlier, at $458,000 as of this month, with the majority of that increase occurring right after the RM sale. The value of other extremely rare homologation cars from the Group B period has increased recently as well.
The way that the Sport Quattro’s success has trickled down to the Ur-Quattro, though, has been particularly fascinating to observe. The regular 198385 Audi Quattro’s #2 values climbed 237 percent over the same 10-year span, going from just under $20,000 to $55,600 today. The greatest sale this year took place at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction in January, where a later-updated American automobile with Euro specifications brought $61,600. Due in part to the significant volume difference between the two models, the normal Quattro’s growth has been more consistent over the past ten years than that of the Sport Quattro.
The last four years, when values grew from $40,400 to their current level, have been very good for the Ur-Quattro. Hagerty insurance rates have increased by 150 percent during 2017, indicating that demand for these vehicles is only increasing. However, it’s also noteworthy that much of this expansion has been for cleaner models, with little change for condition-#4 (Fair) vehicles. For better or worse, these automobiles were partially hand-built at Ingolstadt on a special line. Poor interior quality, questionable electrics, and heat soak during challenging runs that could cook oil and cause turbo issues. In addition, these older Audis are difficult to maintain and repair, therefore most potential purchasers choose for cleaner models.
Over the past several years, there has been an increase in interest in sports vehicles from the 1980s, and this trend doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. As a result, the Quattro has garnered a lot of interest, and for good reason. It blends cutting-edge engineering with a turbocharged punch from a distinctive and fantastic-sounding five-cylinder machine. It is boxy, edgy, and combines forward-thinking engineering. The most important step in popularizing all-wheel drive in passenger cars, which soon expanded across the brand’s portfolio as a distinctive feature following the success of the Ur-Quattro, was undoubtedly Audi’s contribution to bringing tested motorsports technology to the street. This is a significant vehicle for both Audi and the development of all-wheel drive in general. They will undoubtedly be in demand for many years to come, and given their scarcity, effectiveness, and importance, they still have room to develop.
How uncommon are Audi Quattros?
Only 224 Audi Sport Quattro models in all, with only 164 finished in road-going configuration, were produced to meet the FIA’s homologation requirements. Top-tier clients like rally champion Walter Rhrl and Audi Chief Technical Engineer Ferdinand Pich desired this already small number of cars fiercely.
What is Audi S line?
In essence, the Audi S-Line is a high-end trim option that, when compared to the regular model, has a sportier, more opulent exterior with distinguishing features.
The better body, smoother and sharper handling due to the lower suspension, improved lights, larger alloy wheels, leather upholstery, and elegant aluminum highlights are some of the key advantages of the Audi S-Line trim package.
You might want to get the basic model if you don’t want to purchase an S-Line model. Although only S-Line vehicles already have the trimmings installed, practically any Audi model can have them. It may be more cost-effective to choose the S-Line rather than a normal model because adding the trim will cost an extra 3,000.
What type of vehicle is in Ashes to Ashes?
The Audi Quattro from the popular BBC drama Ashes to Ashes is up for auction on eBay, which will please classic vehicle fans.
The iconic red Audi Quattro is most recognized for its appearance in 16 episodes of the 1980s-era series as an unmarked police car. The cast of Ashes to Ashes was fronted by Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes, but for many viewers, the Audi Quattro was the true star.
Since its final Ashes to Ashes appearance, this older, 2.1-liter turbocharged Audi Quattro has been stored. With slightly over 100 kilometers driven in five years, the car’s mileage stats surpass those of even the newest pre-owned vehicles. Because of the numerous “bullet holes” and missing interior components, its future owner will likely need to undertake some work before they can drive it.
There may be a new Audi Quattro in production.
Depending on their condition, other Audi Quattros can sell for up to 20,000, but this particular model might be worth more due to its celebrity reputation. The eBay auction is presently running and will stop on Sunday night.
After Del Boy’s well-known Reliant Robin from Only Fools and Horses, Ashes to Ashes significantly increased the popularity of the Audi Quattro, propelling it to second place on a list of British television’s most recognizable vehicles. As the car’s reputation rose, it also got increasingly challenging to find Audi Quattro parts.