40 years of Audi quattro - round trip to celebrate a milestone birthday

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40 years of Audi quattro - round trip to celebrate a milestone birthday

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Created on October 16, 2020

Text:

Daniel Reinhard

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Audi AG

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Audi quattro variants - with LCD and without LCD display

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An Audi quattro approaching the NPP in Lucerne

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Dino Graf (right) moderates the expert discussion with Harald Demuth (center) and Marco Werner (left)

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An Audi quattro owned by Daniel Bachmann is ready for the journalists' test drives

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The open version of the Audi quattro from Treser

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The Audi quattro Roadster from Treser was only available in a few examples

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Rally quattro, the Treser quattro Roadster and an Audi Sport quattro combined

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Where the E-tron normally stands, there is now an Audi Ur-Quattro with skis strapped to it

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Three special Audi quattros are ready - two rally quattros and a sport quattro

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Two Audi sport quattro, the rarest variant as the basis for racing

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The Audi quattro completely assembled in front of the KKL

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Two later Audi quattro and an early quattro in rally trim

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Entry of the rally quattro in front of the KKL Lucerne

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The Audi quattro Roadster from Treser together with colleagues in Lucerne

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Audi quattro lined up in front of the KKL

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The Audi-quattro parking lot in front of the KKL Luzern

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The five-cylinder Audi quattro symphony in front of the KKL in Lucerne

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Audi five-cylinder turbo engines now sound where the symphony usually plays

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The fender flares distinguish the Audi quattro from the weaker front-wheel drive coupé

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Audi quattro models of various years in front of the KKL Lucerne

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Audi quattro phalanx in front of the Lucerne NPP

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Got on the dog? Even small four-legged friends are interested in the Audi quattro

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A parking lot (almost) only with Audi quattro

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The Audi quattro is waiting for its next assignment

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Audi quattro with a view of Lake Lucerne

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Audi quattro (1980) - test drives together with VW Iltis in Turrach in 1980 - many parts of the quattro drivetrain had their origin in the Volkswagen off-road vehicle

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Audi quattro (1980) - World premiere of the 200 hp all-wheel-drive coupé - Geneva Motor Show 1980

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Audi Quattro (1980) - Original Quattro premiere at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show

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Audi quattro (1980) - Chassis with permanent all-wheel drive - Geneva Motor Show 1980

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Audi quattro (1980) - See-through drawing - All-wheel drive technology made visible

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Audi Quattro (1980) - sectional drawing shows the additional differential between front and rear axle

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Audi Quattro (1980) - Five-cylinder engine with turbocharger

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Summary

40 years ago, the first Audi quattro was presented at the Geneva Motor Show. Naturally, this anniversary also had to be celebrated in Switzerland. More than 20 historic Audi quattro models met in Schattdorf (Canton Uri) for a drive around Lake Lucerne. And of course, there was also a lot of talking shop and some legendary stories were recalled, as this short photo report from the press event in mid-October 2020 shows.

This article contains the following chapters

World premiere of the Audi quattro at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show
Image change: Then as now - every 40 years
Switzerland the "quattro country" - legends and legal changes
Impressive track record
The technological milestones
quattro in motorsport

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

40 years ago, the first Audi quattro was presented at the Geneva Motor Show. Naturally, this anniversary also had to be duly celebrated in Switzerland. More than 20 historic Audi quattro models met in Schattdorf (Canton Uri) for a drive around Lake Lucerne. The original plan was to drive over a mountain pass, but the early onset of winter and, above all, the already salted roads put paid to the plan. The "father" VW Iltis, original quattros from 1981 onwards, Audi quattro 20V models, Group 4 rally cars, a Treser quattro convertible, of which only 30 were built, and two Audi Sport quattros, of which only 220 were made.

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