Audi is famous for a lot of innovations in the history of the auto industry, but none have been as impactful to the automaker as the quattro all-wheel-drive system. Introduced at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show, the quattro all-wheel-drive system has become a foundational piece of all of Audi’s road-going performance cars.

It’s only right that with the quattro system celebrating its 40th anniversary, Audi is launching a special edition TT RS to commemorate the occasion. The special edition model is called the 40 Years of quattro, as fitting a name as any SE model Audi has released in recent memory.

Why is so Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system so famous?

It’s hard to understate the important role that Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system played in the fortunes of the German automaker in the 1980’s. Not only did the technology evolve into becoming one of the most famous all-wheel-drive systems in the world, but its development was more directly linked to Audi’s dominance in the rally scene of that decade.

Thanks to its four-wheel-drive ability, Audi dominated rally racing in the early part of the decade. That dominance helped Audi claim one rally championship after another, and the success of the system also paved the way for its adaptation to the German automaker’s lineup of performance cars. Since its arrival 40 years ago, the quattro all-wheel-drive system has grown to become an important element of every Audi performance car to come out of Ingolstadt, Germany.

Sure, BMW has xDrive and Mercedes-Benz has 4MATIC as the marketing names of their respective all-wheel-drive system. Neither of those, though, are as famous as Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system. The latter helped rewrite rally racing rules in the 1980s. By comparison, we don’t expect BMW to launch a special edition model in 2023 commemorating xDrive’s 20th anniversary.

What's so special about the Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro so special?

While it’s still based on the range-topping model in the TT lineup, there are significant upgrades and modifications in the TT RS 40 Years of Quattro that help the two-door coupe live up to its billing.

The visual upgrades are easy to spot. The Alpine White finish is offset by a red, white, and blue racing stripe that runs from the tip of the nose all the way to the rear bumper. The three-colored decal design can also be seen on the edge of the hood and the rear fender where the gas cap is located. The “Quattro” decals are another nice touch as is the central air vent on the hood that’s finished in gloss carbon. The side sills are painted black while the side sill inserts, mirror caps, and the Audi rings are all dressed in gloss black.

The set of 20-inch wheels, however, are painted in white. This is another visually striking detail that helps set the TT RS 40 Years of Quattro apart. The overall look with the Alpine White body, black accents, red-white-blue-decals, and the white wheels is the kind of aesthetic that draws in people. It certainly happened to us.

Of course, that’s not all of it, too. Audi also made some aerodynamic improvements specifically for the TT RS 40 Years of Quattro. Notice the front splitter and the side flicks on the front apron? Standard Audi TT RS models don’t have those. You can also say the same for the side sill trims, the fixed wing, and rear diffuser. All of these pieces were added to make this special edition a well-balanced performance car. This isn’t just a show-me special edition with trinkets that double as exclusive features; this is a special edition model that can rampage like the old Audi Quattro.

On the other hand, unlike the classic Quattros of yesteryear, the TT RS 40 Years of Quattro’s interior can be customized to the extent that an optional carbon strut cross brace can be added in lieu of the coupe’s standard rear bench. Not only does the brace improve the interior’s torsional rigidity, but, just as important, it also shaves off around 35 pounds of weight. Who needs cramped rear seats in a car like this, right? Individually numbered badges on the gear lever also highlight the coupe’s stature as a legitimate special edition TT RS.

Does the Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro boast any engine upgrades?

Regrettably, there are some disappointing things about the Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro. Ok, so it’s really just one thing.

Those are actually impressive figures, but they’re also the standard power and torque output of the TT RS. Audi didn’t touch the engine of the sports coupe so don’t expect any performance upgrades in that department. On the bright side, a standard TT RS is already quick enough that the lack of modifications in this area of the coupe doesn’t matter that much. Even with its standard power numbers, the TT RS remains capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 174 mph. The two-door can achieve those performance figures with the help of a seven-speed S Tronic transmission that channels all the power coming from the 2.5-liter pot to the quattro all-wheel-drive system.

2020 Audi TT RS specifications

How much is the Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro?

Make no mistake about it; the Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro is a stand-out special edition model. It’s arguably one of the best ones that Audi has come up with in recent memory. Unfortunately, that distinction comes with a huge bill. Over in Germany, the special edition TT RS will set you back a whopping €114,040. Not only does that convert to $133,630 based on current exchange rates, but the price is almost double the amount — €66,500 ($78,000) — you need to buy a base TT RS Coupe in Germany. Audi also didn’t say if the special edition TT RS will be sold anywhere else outside of its motherland.

Final Thoughts

I don’t need any convincing. I love everything about the Audi TT RS 40 Years of Quattro. It’s striking to look at with all the exclusive exterior touches. The racing stripe and the set of white wheels, in particular, are home runs from Audi’s design team. I wish more was done to the interior and the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five engine, but I understand the decision to be conservative on those fronts. The goal of this special edition is to celebrate Audi’s game-changing all-wheel-drive system, and tapping into the decals that were once used on the Audi Sport quattro S1 — the same car that Walter Rohl drove to victory at the 1987 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb — is a tremendous hat tip already. I wish the car wasn’t as expensive or that it’ll become available in the U.S. at some point, but other than those gripes, I’m completely sold on the TT RS 40 Years of Quattro.