Fours to be reckoned with: Audi E-Tron GT vs Audi Quattro
Both of these run a Quattro four-wheel drive system and both represent the epitome of accessible performance that’s been a hallmark of Quattro since 1980. And although the E-tron GT is going to struggle to match the star-studded legacy of the Quattro, coming as it does among a raft of electric performance cars, its launch was still quite the moment for Audi: if a brand’s halo car can be electric, it’s obvious which way the wind is blowing.
Key turned, throttle lightly prodded to get a bit more fuel into the pistons as the starter motor turns over, and then it’s running, smoothly puttering away with a hint, but not overly so, of five-cylinder character. That comes later, when you stretch the revs and that unique sound filters back into the cabin.
With a flexible torque curve and minimal turbo lag, allied to the slight 1287kg kerb weight, it’s a remarkably easy car for any trip. These days, it’s no longer a supercar-baiter , but it’s more than capable of keeping up on motorways and A-roads. B-roads are where it’s at, though, with delicate steering and balanced handling.
The Quattro is now 40 years old, but it’s refreshing to drive a car with no fripperies. If it’s needed to make it go, stop or steer, it’s there, but everything else is a bonus – including the slightly wonky recording of David Bowie on the tape deck.The same couldn’t be said for the E-tron GT. With the Quattro, any long journey would have meant packing a box full of cassettes; now you have the choice of 50 million songs from just a single phone.
It’s arguably what has defined Quattro throughout the ages. Yes, some of Audi’s performance models have been more unhinged – the C5 RS6 Plus springs to mind – but fundamentally they’ve all helped rather than hindered.Even the ride quality is largely decent. The GT rides on whopping 21in wheels, but with the optional, three-chamber air suspension , it flows across the asphalt far more smoothly than you’d expect. The Quattro lacks this sophistication, but it’s no wooden board, either.