BAQUEIRA BERET, Spain — Audi marked the 45th anniversary of its quattro all-wheel-drive system with a high-altitude performance showcase at the famed Baqueira Beret ski resort on February 7–8. Blending motorsport heritage, winter sport and modern EV capability, the event brought Audi’s traction philosophy from rally stages to snow-covered mountain slopes – a popular recurring theme when the four rings meet quattro season.
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At the heart of the experience was the Audi Garage, perched at 2,500 meters above sea level at the Baqueira viewpoint. On display was a replica of the Audi quattro Rallye that Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz drove to victory at the Rally of Sweden in 1981 — the first time an all-wheel-drive car claimed a win in the World Rally Championship. The car didn’t just sit still either. Attendees were treated to a dynamic snow demonstration, bringing quattro to life in the kind of low-grip conditions that placed quattro on the map – particularly in locales such as the winter parking areas and valet stands in snow-covered resort towns such as Baqueira Beret.
QUATTRO PHILOSOPHY TRANSLATED TO SKIS
Audi extended the quattro theme beyond the automobile by creating an experiential ski circuit. More than 200 skiers took part over the weekend, beginning their journey at the Audi Garage before heading straight onto the slopes.
A specialist technician prepped participants’ skis using environmentally friendly waxes, in an effort to underscore Audi’s sustainability messaging. Guests also had the opportunity to try limited-edition Audi x Salomon quattro skis – a Spanish market creation with graphics echoing the livery of the early quattro Rallye. The message the event meant to drive home: just as quattro provides stability and confidence on loose surfaces, proper technique and preparation do the same on snow.
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FROM SKIING TO DRIVING
The experience then shifted from skis to steering wheels at the Audi Snowpark in Beret. There, participants tackled a purpose-built snow circuit featuring tight cornering and technical obstacles designed to test balance, throttle control and traction management.
Vehicles there to drive included the Audi Q6 e-tron and the Audi Q5 and demonstrated how modern quattro systems distribute power and maintain composure when grip is limited. The snow-blanketed setting made clear, as it always does, that quattro is an all-weather unfair advantage. While drivetrains may have evolved from mechanical differentials to software-controlled torque management, the core philosophy remains unchanged.
THE MOUNTAIN LIGHTS UP AUDI E-TRON SKI NIGHT
Saturday evening delivered the visual highlight of the weekend: the Audi e-tron Ski Night. More than 200 skiers descended selected runs after dark equipped with LED lighting, following expert guides in illuminated suits. The result was a flowing ribbon of light carving down the mountain, turning Baqueira Beret into a moving stage of color and motion.
The nighttime spectacle tied Audi’s electric mobility story to winter sport, using lighting technology associated with its e-tron models to create a memorable, tech-forward mountain experience.
By combining a historic rally icon, modern electric SUVs and an immersive alpine setting, Audi meant to reinforce that quattro is more than a drivetrain. Four and a half decades after it rewrote the rulebook in world rallying, the system’s core values — control, confidence and performance in difficult conditions — still translate, whether the surface is gravel, ice or fresh mountain snow.
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