All-wheel drive vehicles certainly have the advantage on rough terrain and slippery surfaces. Today, AWD vehicles are a common offering, especially in markets where customers have to drive through ice and snow. In the final episode of RadVentures on Hagerty, host Ryan Symancek takes a quick look at one of the early successes of the Audi quattro drive, bringing along two cars that greatly benefited from this innovative drive system.

Staying On Track With Audi's Quattro System

Aside from being a filmmaker and an adventurer, Ryan is also a rally driver (rallyist). This means he has experience and skills in dealing with various surfaces, ensuring that the car stays on path no matter how the road is paved or unpaved. Growing up lusting over quattro vehicles, Ryan thinks that Audi's AWD cars are the most suitable for snowy and icy conditions; it’s a perfect vehicle to drive to a skiing adventure.

So to illustrate this, Ryan borrowed a 1986 Audi 4000CS quattro, as owned by another rally car driver Keanna Erickson-Chang. Still in stock condition, the 4000CS quattro wasn't really a powerful car, with only a normally-aspirated 2.2-liter SOHC inline-5 engine delivering around 115 hp as its core. Nonetheless, it's a potent car on the snow, as it was able to send power effectively to the ground thanks to its quattro drive system.

From Stock 4000CS To Modernized 80 Quattro

After arriving at his secret spot, Ryan exited the 4000CS quattro and brought out his skiing equipment. Since Ryan grew up with parents working on a ski resort, skiing is a simple matter to him. His jumps and maneuvers were as spectacular his earlier drive.

RELATED: Looking Back At The 1980 Audi Quattro

Once he finished his skiing stunt, Ryan took off in an orange 1984 Audi 80 quattro, which is owned by Aris Mantopoulos (also a rally car driver). Unlike Keanna's stock 4000CS quattro, the 80 quattro – named Cheeto -- is an actual rally car complete with all the modifications needed to stay modern and powerful. Cheeto has another engine installed – a slightly tuned 320-hp 1998 Audi A8 naturally aspirated V8 engine.

A Potent Rally Performance Thanks To Quattro

Audi 80 quattro side
Via Hagerty

Armed with a soft-compound Federal Tires for better grip on ice and snow, Cheeto was taken to a quick drive by Ryan. Despite the icy, snowy and muddy conditions of the road, Ryan was able to make Cheeto run at more than 100 mph. That potent performance was possible thanks mainly to Cheeto's quattro system.

Source: Hagerty

NEXT: This Is What Makes The Original Audi Quattro The Best Vehicle For Hill Climb Racing