Friday 11th July 2014

Audi makes six millionth Quattro

Just 18 months after five million the Audi 4WD juggernaut charges through the next milestone

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It probably says a lot about Audi Quattro in 2014 that the six millionth model was an SQ5 TDI. A technology created to achieve success in motorsport is now probably at its most popular with a perceived sense of security in family friendly SUVs.

The good...

Anyway, silencing the cynicism for a moment, it's worth remembering the significance of Quattro as well as some of the best 4WD Audis. Though many may begrudge it, Audi's success with mainstream Quattro models must have influenced the increasing number of BMW xDrive and Mercedes 4Matic cars.

But we're not here to mark mainstream quattro models. The current line up has some particular fast Quattro highlights (the S1 is a cracker, and Harris enjoyed both the RS6 and S3) while still producing some rather less inspirational devices (RS4 and RS5 come to mind).

Fast estates have been a Quattro mainstay for a long time now with the RS2 and B7 RS4 two of the best. Such is the reputation of the former that the most affordable version in the PH Classifieds is £15,995; there's even one car on POA! That sort of money buys the earliest B7s too, the car that finally gave Audi a proper M3 rival.

... and the not so good of the current Quattros

And no Quattro story would be complete without mentioning its best driver's car: the R8. Decent early V8s are now nearly seven years old and available for less than £50K. The V10 arrived in 2009 and used versions start below £70K.

What next for Audi Quattro to get it to seven million? The next TT will likely be a huge seller, hopefully incorporating some of the dynamism of the R8 for a proper junior sports car. And if none of that appeals at all, this '87 UR looks in fine fettle. Fire up the what you say?

[anonymous-user]

Intersting you show the RS Q3 as a not so good Quattro. It gets a pretty good review in the press with the lowest rating being Autocar with 3.5 stars and Evo going as far as to giving it 4.5 stars which is pretty good.

[lamboman100]

Six million tailgaters and David Brents

[Nors]

lamboman100 said:

Six million tailgaters and David Brents

Yes, going all the way back to 1980! How original you are!!

[PorkRind]

Hope they dont class haldex as quattro...

[cerb4.5lee]

PorkRind said:

Hope they dont class haldex as quattro...

Sadly they do!

[anonymous-user]

PorkRind said:

Hope they dont class haldex as quattro...

Why would they not?

[The Moose]

MonkeyMatt said:

Intersting you show the RS Q3 as a not so good Quattro. It gets a pretty good review in the press with the lowest rating being Autocar with 3.5 stars and Evo going as far as to giving it 4.5 stars which is pretty good.

I agree. My mum just bought one and I think it's great. Haven't driven it in anger yet though...

[Dave Hedgehog]

MonkeyMatt said:

PorkRind said:

Hope they dont class haldex as quattro...

Why would they not?

i have driven a very large number of different quattros over the last couple of years and the haldex system works better than just about all of them including the RS6's (which will happily spin an inside front wheel), only the RS4 with sport diff and the R8 (RWD bias) works better

[cerb4.5lee]

MonkeyMatt said:

PorkRind said:

Hope they dont class haldex as quattro...

Why would they not?

Its just not very good and its just FWD really with a guest appearance every now and then from the rear wheels!

[cerb4.5lee]

The Moose said:

MonkeyMatt said:

Intersting you show the RS Q3 as a not so good Quattro. It gets a pretty good review in the press with the lowest rating being Autocar with 3.5 stars and Evo going as far as to giving it 4.5 stars which is pretty good.

I agree. My mum just bought one and I think it's great. Haven't driven it in anger yet though...

Richard Meaden from EVO is a really big fan of it.

[Dave Hedgehog]

cerb4.5lee said:

MonkeyMatt said:

PorkRind said:

Hope they dont class haldex as quattro...

Why would they not?

Its just not very good and its just FWD really with a guest appearance every now and then from the rear wheels!

you know its been developed a little bit in the last 20 years since the above was true?

[kambites]

Dave Hedgehog said:

i have driven a very large number of different quattros over the last couple of years and the haldex system works better than just about all of them including the RS6's (which will happily spin an inside front wheel), only the RS4 with sport diff and the R8 (RWD bias) works better

I thought the R8 was Haldex?

[cerb4.5lee]

Dave Hedgehog said:

cerb4.5lee said:

MonkeyMatt said:

PorkRind said:

Hope they dont class haldex as quattro...

Why would they not?

Its just not very good and its just FWD really with a guest appearance every now and then from the rear wheels!

you know its been developed a little bit in the last 20 years since the above was true?

We have it on our 2012 TTS and I don't think they have developed it enough yet sadly but give them another 20 years and they might get better at it.

[Dave Hedgehog]

cerb4.5lee said:

We have it on our 2012 TTS and I don't think they have developed it enough yet sadly but give them another 20 years and they might get better at it.

disconnect the front drive shafts then

it is brave to admit to owning a TT thou lol

[kambites]

If you literally just removed the front half-shafts, could the MQB-based Haldex cars actually move?

[sly fox]

Loud sound of backs being patted heard in Ingolstadt then ( marketing department naturally).

[cerb4.5lee]

Dave Hedgehog said:

cerb4.5lee said:

We have it on our 2012 TTS and I don't think they have developed it enough yet sadly but give them another 20 years and they might get better at it.

disconnect the front drive shafts then

it is brave to admit to owning a TT thou lol

I have read it works well on the R8 though but I do think the TT should stick to just being FWD as I think that's the best set up for them, its my Mrs's and she loves it...I drive it occasionally to remind me why I prefer RWD!

[Prawnboy]

it should be, 'Audi make six millionth car in quattro spec'

Being born in the 70's i hear quattro...



when in reality its 5,900,000 TDI's and the good ones.

[PorkRind]

Dave Hedgehog said:

you know its been developed a little bit in the last 20 years since the above was true?

Still isnt as good as torsen coupled 4wd system !

[anonymous-user]

cerb4.5lee said:

We have it on our 2012 TTS and I don't think they have developed it enough yet sadly but give them another 20 years and they might get better at it.

The latest version (MQB plafform) is supposed to be very good indeed