The original Ur-Quattro from the 1980s is the quintessential Audi that defined the brand with the four-ring logo, both on the track and on the showroom floors. While it’s a completely different world today, some things remain the same for Audi, including its love for all-wheel drive sports cars.

Audi says the spirit and soul of the Ur-Quattro lives on many of its modern-day creations, such as the limited-run A1 Quattro, of which only 333 examples were produced.

Ingolstadt’s pocket rocket takes the A1 supermini to new performance heights with a direct injection 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder pushing out 252hp (256PS) at 6,000 rpm and 350Nm (258 lb-ft) of peak torque between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm, connected to a six-speed manual gearbox and, of course, Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.

The manufacturer quotes a zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 245km/h (152mph).

Not too shabby, but how does the A1 Quattro stand up against the original Ur-Quattro? That’s a question posed by UK’s Autoexpress, which brought the two sport cars together for a test.

Said Ur-Quattro is the last example to roll off the production line in 1989. It sports a 217hp five-cylinder engine and comes with all-wheel drive.

To find out the verdict, hop over the break and watch the video.

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