The 1980 Audi Quattro introduced Audi’s permanent four-wheel-drive system to production cars.
Audi revealed the Quattro at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show. Its drivetrain sent power to all four wheels continuously, improving traction on loose or slippery surfaces. A center differential allowed the front and rear axles to rotate at different speeds while cornering.
The system’s rally success made the Quattro name famous. Audi won the manufacturers’ title in the World Rally Championship in 1982 and 1984, helping change perceptions of four-wheel drive in performance cars.
The Quattro was not the first production automobile with any form of four-wheel drive. Earlier vehicles, including the Jensen FF, had already used advanced four-wheel-drive layouts. Audi’s innovation was its combination of permanent all-wheel drive, a relatively light passenger car, and competition success.