Sport Divisions in the Spotlight - Audi quattro GmbH

Just as we told you in our previous cover stories, sport divisions play a key role for every single car manufacturer that owns one. And just think that all those high-performance models, no matter we're talking about Mercedes, BMW or Opel, are belonging to these units. As a result, we thought that every sport division that managed to do something notable in the industry deserves its very own story so, today, we'll continue our adventure with a new name. Today, it is Audi's quattro turn. Although many people out there - excepting you, a car enthusiast, of course - think Audi quattro is only the name of the four-wheel drive system belonging to the German manufacturer, it also represents an Audi private subsidiary company responsible for some of the sportiest models currently marketed under the Audi badge. Audi quattro GmbH as it is known in Germany, saw daylight in 1980 but, contrary to what you might expect after reading the aforementioned paragraph, it came in the form of a high-performance coupe. The car was boasting permanent four-wheel drive and was capable of developing an impressive output, unusual for that period, which quickly gained people's attention. The brand per se was founded in 1983 and was based in Neckarsulm, Germany and since then, it focused on developing a sportier flavor of popular Audi models. Its main creations include Audi RS4 and Audi R8 but we'll talk about these models a bit later. A thing worth mentioning is that although it acts as a car manufacturer, it doesn't sell its models directly to the public but only under the Audi brand. Additionally, it also produces a number of body parts, including front and rear bumpers, side skirts, spoilers and diffusers, which could be often seen on the models included in the Audi S range. There are some interesting things to know about quattro's customization process. First of all, it offers a wide array of color options that can receive an unique touch or a different shade or hue. However, there's one main requirement to comply with: the paint used on a specific car must be water-soluble, which means it is 100 percent eco-friendly and it doesn't affect the environment in any way. There are lots of other customization parts available, including unique alloy wheels, multiple leather trims and colors and, most importantly, exclusive elements that are offered only on specific models. Interiors could also get customized by quattro down to almost every single tiny detail. The sport division modifies the stick shift - with wood or leather, the door sills - with brushed stainless steel, the dashboard - with wood trim and many other sections with luxurious yet stylish elements. Here are some of the most appealing models released by quattro over its history: Audi TT S and Audi TT RS