Audi Sport Quattro

Coupe 1983–1985 306 hp Petrol Turbo

The Audi Sport Quattro is the most significant car Audi ever built — a 306 hp, Porsche-wheelbase-shortened homologation coupe that won rallies and created the permanent quattro AWD legend.

306

Horsepower (road car)

5.0s

0–100 km/h

250km/h

Top Speed

1983

Year Introduced

Overview

The Audi Sport Quattro was built for one purpose: to homologate the Sport Quattro S1 rally car for Group B competition. FIA Group B regulations required 200 road-legal examples, and Audi built 224 between 1983 and 1985 — each one a $80,000 (in 1984 money) statement of engineering intent. The wheelbase was shortened by 320 mm compared to the regular quattro coupe to improve agility, the bodywork was remoulded in Kevlar composite to reduce weight, and the 2.1-litre inline-5 was tuned to produce 306 hp at 6,700 rpm with 350 Nm of torque from just 2,500 rpm.

The quattro AWD system in the Sport Quattro used a permanent mechanical all-wheel-drive layout with a Torsen-type centre differential and manually lockable front and rear differentials — a system significantly more sophisticated than any contemporary competitor. This drivetrain, combined with the turbocharged five-cylinder's fierce power delivery, made the Sport Quattro a genuinely challenging car to drive quickly — it required skill and respect. In period road tests, it was compared to contemporary supercars and found their equal in performance but superior in all-weather capability and everyday usability.

Today, the Audi Sport Quattro stands as one of the most important collector's cars in automotive history. Only 224 were built; fewer still survive in unmodified condition. Market values have escalated dramatically — genuinely original, matching-numbers examples have sold for $300,000–500,000 at auction. The Sport Quattro S1 rally car (not to be confused with the road car) went on to dominate Group B rallying and set records at Pikes Peak that stood for decades. In Azerbaijan, an original Sport Quattro would be the most significant automobile in the country — a machine that changed the course of motorsport and production car development simultaneously.

Sport Quattro in Pictures

Visual references for exterior styling, cabin design, and key details. Images fall back gracefully on load error.

Audi Sport Quattro — the homologation special that redefined rally competition in Group B

Sport Quattro S1 — the evolved rally weapon with twin-turbo 600 hp and monster aerodynamics

Sport Quattro rear — the shortened 320 mm wheelbase gives a distinctive compact proportion

Sport Quattro S1 E2 — Walter Röhrl winning the Pikes Peak hillclimb in 1987

Key Specifications

Body: 2-door Kevlar composite coupe (shortened wheelbase, -320 mm vs quattro coupe)
Engine: 2.1L inline-5 turbo (KKK turbocharger, from Group B programme)
Power: 306 hp at 6,700 rpm
Torque: 350 Nm at 2,500 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual close-ratio with lockable front/centre/rear diffs
Drive: quattro permanent AWD (Torsen centre differential)
0–100 km/h: 5.0 seconds | Top speed: 250 km/h
Kerb weight: 1,290 kg | Units built: 224 road cars | Production: 1983–1985

Variant Comparison

Variant	Engine	Power	Drive	Best For
Sport Quattro (road, 1983–1985)	2.1 inline-5 turbo	306 hp	quattro AWD	The purist collector's choice — the homologation road car exactly as Audi sold it in 1984, with all its road-legal compromises and historical integrity intact
Sport Quattro S1 (rally, 1984–1985)	2.1 inline-5 twin-turbo	480+ hp	quattro AWD	Motorsport historians and rally enthusiasts who want the full Group B story — the S1 rally car represents the pinnacle of 1980s motorsport engineering
Sport Quattro S1 E2 (1985–1986)	2.1 inline-5 twin-turbo	590+ hp	quattro AWD	Pikes Peak history buyers — the S1 E2 is perhaps the most famous hillclimb car in history and the most valuable variant of the Sport Quattro family

Competitor Snapshot

Model	Strength	Compromise
Lancia Delta S4	Twin supercharged and turbocharged for ultimate Group B performance; more aerodynamically developed S4 variant; most extreme Group B car ever built	Even rarer and more fragile — mid-engine layout, complex drivetrain, parts virtually impossible to source today
Peugeot 205 T16	Lighter mid-engine layout with outstanding Group B rally record; arguably the best rally car of its era in outright performance	Mid-engine layout impractical as a road car; Peugeot parts support essentially non-existent; fewer units survive
Ford RS200	Cosworth-developed twin-turbo engine with rally-proven AWD; British motorsport provenance and similarly exclusive rarity	Even rarer than the Sport Quattro with near-zero parts support; less AWD sophistication than the Torsen quattro system

Cost-of-Ownership Estimator (Azerbaijan)

Annual distance (km)Fuel consumption (L/100km)Fuel price ($/L)Annual service budget ($)Annual insurance ($)Annual tires ($)

Annual fuel use: 420 litres
Annual fuel cost: $273
Total yearly estimate: $9473
Monthly average: $789

The Sport Quattro is a 40-year-old machine requiring specialist restoration expertise — there are very few technicians in the world with genuine Sport Quattro knowledge.
Original Kevlar body panels are essentially irreplaceable — any body damage is a catastrophic provenance concern for a car of this value.
The 2.1 inline-5 turbo is a robust engine but requires meticulous lubrication — warm-up and cool-down periods must be observed to protect the turbocharger.

Maintenance & Service in Azerbaijan

Oil change every 5,000 km using a quality 20W-50 mineral or semi-synthetic — the original engine specification should be observed for period-correct maintenance.
Timing belt replacement every 40,000 km or 3 years — the 2.1 five-cylinder interference engine demands strict adherence to this schedule.
Turbocharger oil supply and return line inspection every service — original KKK turbo units are irreplaceable and oil starvation is the primary failure mode.
Full drivetrain inspection including front, centre, and rear differentials every 30,000 km — the Sport Quattro's AWD system requires period-correct lubricants.
Complete chassis and Kevlar body inspection annually — micro-cracking in the composite panels must be identified early to prevent structural deterioration.

Used Sport Quattro Buying Checklist

Verify chassis number matches factory records — the Sport Quattro is extensively documented and VIN verification against Audi heritage records is essential.
Inspect Kevlar body panels under ultraviolet light — UV inspection reveals micro-cracks and repairs invisible to the naked eye.
Test turbo boost pressure under hard acceleration — original boost levels should match factory specifications; overboosted cars may indicate unauthorised modifications.
Verify all lockable differentials engage and disengage correctly — the manual locking diffs are unique to the Sport Quattro and must function as designed.
Examine the interior for period-correct specification — non-original materials, seats, or instruments significantly reduce value and historical integrity.
Review full ownership history and service documentation — provenance is critical for a car of this historical importance and monetary value.

Sport Quattro FAQ — Azerbaijan Buyers

Q: How many Audi Sport Quattros were built?

Audi built exactly 224 road-legal Sport Quattros between 1983 and 1985. The FIA Group B homologation requirement was 200 examples; Audi exceeded this by 24 to ensure they had enough for inevitable attrition during the homologation verification process. Each road car was effectively hand-assembled, and the production numbers make surviving examples extraordinarily rare.

Q: What is the difference between the Sport Quattro and the Sport Quattro S1?

The road car Sport Quattro produced 306 hp from its 2.1 inline-5 turbo and was sold to the public. The Sport Quattro S1 was the full works rally car, using a twin-turbo version of the same engine producing 480–600 hp depending on specification. The S1 also featured massive aerodynamic bodywork — huge front and rear wings — that the road car did not have. The S1 E2 evolution, used from 1985–1986, produced over 590 hp and remains one of the most extreme rally cars ever built.

Q: What is an Audi Sport Quattro worth today?

Original, matching-numbers Sport Quattros in excellent condition typically sell for $250,000–450,000. Exceptional, fully-documented low-mileage examples have exceeded $500,000 at major auctions. Modified or high-mileage examples may be valued at $150,000–200,000. Values continue to appreciate as the supply of original examples diminishes and awareness of the car's historical significance grows. In Azerbaijan, a Sport Quattro would be valued at the upper end of international market rates due to its extreme rarity.

Q: Was the Sport Quattro successful in rallying?

The Sport Quattro S1 achieved significant results but was ultimately outpaced by the Lancia Delta S4 and Peugeot 205 T16 in outright Group B performance. Its greatest achievement was arguably Walter Röhrl's victory at the 1987 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in an S1 E2, setting a record that stood for years. More importantly, the quattro programme transformed Audi from a mid-range manufacturer into a performance car maker of global standing — the foundation on which all subsequent Audi RS and S models were built.

Q: Is the Sport Quattro drivable as a road car today?

Yes — the Sport Quattro was designed as a road car with all the necessities of daily use. However, its turbocharged 2.1 five-cylinder has an abrupt power delivery, the heavy manual steering and firm suspension make it demanding to drive smoothly, and the Kevlar body panels mean any incident is financially catastrophic. Most surviving examples are treated as museum pieces or driven very occasionally at prestigious events. Regular road use would be considered inappropriate for a car of this value and rarity.

Should You Buy the Audi Sport Quattro?

The Sport Quattro is automotive history made metal — the most important Audi ever built, and one of the most significant cars of the 20th century.

If you are considering the Audi Sport Quattro, you are not buying a car — you are acquiring a piece of motorsport and automotive history that changed the course of both rally competition and production car engineering. There is no practical argument for purchasing one; the Sport Quattro exists entirely in the realm of passion, collection, and historical significance. Its value continues to appreciate, its story continues to be told, and its place in the pantheon of great automobiles is secure. For the collector with the means and the reverence for what it represents, there are very few purchases as meaningful anywhere in the automotive world.