Audi Ur-Quattro Coupe 1988: Retro Road Test

Not so much:
>> Gearshift guesswork required
>> Brakes feel small these days
>> ‘Cushy’ ride affects handling

Like all the good things in life, my drive of the Ur-Quattro was over all too soon.

Five minutes behind the wheel of Audi’s original (or ‘Ur’ in German) all-paw classic wasn’t nearly enough, but it did give me a sense of how the origin of a species has shaped a brand within a brand -- and a mechanical revolution many competitors have since gone on to emulate.

The development of the quattro (Audi’s idiom for all-wheel drive) system began when a Volkswagen engineer discovered that his less than impressive Volkswagen Iltis was capable of out-performing more powerful two-wheel drive models in adverse conditions. The idea to install an all-wheel drive system in a road car was born, and in 1980, the Quattro (as it was first known) debuted at the Geneva motor show.

Based on the Audi Coupe, the Quattro Coupe was styled to accommodate the wider track of Audi’s all-wheel drive system and fully independent suspension. It was also Audi’s first quattro model to combine all-wheel drive with a turbocharged engine.

That engine was an in-line SOHC five-cylinder intercooled turbo-petrol with two valves per cylinder displacing 2144cc (and designated ‘WR’). Though by the time the model I drove (Typ 85) was built, this had been increased to 2226cc (and designated ‘MB’). The engine was adapted again to become a DOHC arrangement with four valves per cylinder in 1989 (designated ‘RR’).

For its day, the I5 engine produced quite impressive numbers, developing 147kW at 5800rpm and 285Nm at 3000rpm. It was capable of hitting 100km/h in 6.7 seconds (claimed, factory) and boasted a top speed of 222km/h. Audi says the Quattro Coupe would run the 400m sprint in a brisk 15.1 seconds with a terminal speed of 146km/h.

Power was sent to the 15-inch wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox and Torsen centre differential, the steering was hydraulically-assisted and the brakes were all disc. By the time our tester was built, the suspension had been lowered 20mm and the spring rate revised (stiffened) to match.

At the wheel the Quattro Coupe is an entirely different world from the newer quattro models sampled earlier in the day. The 25-year zeitgeist proved in many ways how far vehicle development had come, but there were some aspects we wished had never changed.

After a moment’s lag, the I5 spools-up under pressure and climbs with progressive linearity through to redline. The bassy thrum of the twin pipes let you know how serious the intention of this package is, and as you work your way through the cogs, the relaxed throw and long linkages remind you how time has served to sharpen the little things we now take for granted.

Patience and a little guesswork are required to find the right ‘slot’ in the gearbox. Without it, you’ll soon grow frustrated at how clumsy the shifts can be. In cars of this vintage, a little Zen goes a long way.

It’s a contrast not only to the cut and thrust of modernity but also to the pedal box and steering of Ur-Quattro. The natural feedback of both are delightfully communicative, proving that, sometimes, old is best.

Equally reminiscent of a bygone era is the cool orange LCD electronic instrument cluster. It’s as 80s as Pac Man! And while it’s not the easiest thing to read at a glance, you’ve got to admire manufacturers of the era for trying something new with the technology available. Incredibly, it all still works too.

The Quattro Coupe moves around on its suspension as you work it through bends, and with a comparatively generous amount of suspension travel, and high-profile tyres, the car feels very ‘tall’ when compared to the newer Audi models driven the same day.

The four-wheel disc brakes, installed at a time when a disc/drum combination was the norm, also feel haphazard by today’s standards [more Zen, more Zen]. It’s a further reminder that cars of this era must be driven with the respect and patience they command. Do it, and it’s a really enjoyable way to spend some time at the wheel.

While motoring, and quattro engineering, have come a long way since the 1980s, I’d take a car like the Ur-Quattro home any time it was offered. It’s a brilliantly entertaining drive and one that embodies everything that made Audi quattro what it is today. If only more cars would drive with the honesty of this all-paw classic…

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