Audi was one of the first carmakers to realize the potential benefit of equipping both its road-going and competition cars with an AWD system. Taking advantage of rule changes during the early ‘80s that allowed AWD cars to compete in the World Rally Competition, Audi entered its first model equipped with the sophisticated drivetrain, winning its debut race and maintaining this lead for the next two years. Prominent wins and the proven reliability of its quattro technology have made Audi a leader in AWD ever since the introduction of the first quattro model back in 1980. And now, with close to 30 years of AWD experience under its belt, Audi has released its take on the highly popular SUV.
Considering its heritage, it’s strange that Audi was so late to the table in delivering a full-size SUV model. For years it released jacked up versions of its A4 and A6 Avant wagons equipped with off-road tires and protective side-cladding as an alternative to poplar soft-roader models from Japanese and American carmakers. Even after German rivals BMW and Mercedes Benz released their own off-road models with the X5 and M-Class line of cars, Audi was still years away from adding an SUV to its lineup.
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