Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi Sport Quattro

The 2.1-litre engine in the Sport Quattro produces 307bhp and shoots it to 60mph in 4.8 seconds. Not bad for 1984, or now for that matter

Meet the most extreme roadgoing version of the original Quattro! The Sport was rare, fast and highly sought after. Like other hi-tech models of the Eighties, it was a by-product of the need to homologate a competition car for Group B rallying, which called for 200 road examples to be produced.

It features a 307bhp 2.1-litre 20-valve engine, with an aluminium alloy block. To save weight, it has composite body panels, flared wheelarches and a 320mm shorter wheelbase. This renders the rear seats useless, but in 1984 the lucky few who bought a Sport cared little for practicality, as it is an out-and-out performance machine.

To some observers its big overhangs and more upright windscreen didn’t look that sporty, but with a 0-60mph time of only 4.8 seconds, it was quicker than a Lamborghini Countach of the same era.
Twenty-five years after its launch, the Sport still feels incredibly fast. There’s lots of turbo lag, but once above 3,000rpm, the massive KKK turbocharger starts to have an effect and forward thrust is mighty. In 1984, this kind of performance meant only serious supercars could live with the Sport Quattro.

With its short wheelbase, serious power output and firm damping, the Sport is thrilling and challenging in equal measure. However, strong brakes – with advanced ABS – meant that it was more driver-friendly than rivals from the mid-Eighties.

At £50,000 the Sport was extremely expensive, especially as it lacked the visual beauty of a Ferrari and Lamborghini. But with only 214 ever made – just 164 reached paying customers, the rest were used as prototypes and competition cars – it was exclusive.

The car in our pictures is chassis number 141. It was originally sold in Switzerland and has covered only 32,000 miles since. Now an expensive collectors’ item, it’s worth in the region of £70,000 and remains the ultimate example of the Quattro. It wasn’t until the stunning R8 arrived in 2007 that Audi produced another car to match the impact of the Sport Quattro.

Details

WHY: Faster than a Lamborghini and ultra exclusive, the Sport Quattro ticks all the boxes

Skip advert
Advertisement
In This Review

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,831 off RRP*Used from £15,519
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,848 off RRP*Used from £7,649
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025