E-Legend AG's 805 BHP Ode to the Ur-Quattro
Let’s hope E-Legend’s neo-retro Audi Sport Quattro is just the first of a series of EV supercar throwbacks.
Debut of a Legend
Beilngries, Bavaria-based firm E-Legend may have just hit on a winning formula. As hinted to by their name, they plan on producing a number of performance-oriented creations based on classic, one might say even legendary, supercars. First up is their EL1, an 805 bhp tribute to Audi’s ‘80s rally-car-for-the-street Sport Quattro.
Photos: Top Gear
Nice Numbers
Putting 800-plus ponies to the wheels—four wheels are driven, of course, this is a Quattro homage after all—propels the EL1 from 0-62 mph in a scant 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 158 mph. Those numbers are achievable in part due to the platform’s 1,680 kilogram (3704 pound) curb weight, with a carbon monocoque chassis and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic body panels keeping heft in check.
Photos: Top Gear
>>Join the conversation about the EL1 right here in the Audi World Forum!
In Use
While carbon is light, batteries are currently not, and though no weight is listed for the EL1’s big 90kWh unit, it’s said to be good for just under 250 miles of range. To get a real-world idea of what to expect during sprightly driving, E-Legend said you can count on two serious laps of the Nürburgring before the battery turns down the power on you. Range aside, the EL1 will be legal to drive to the cars & coffee or country club of your choice, not just on closed circuits.
Photos: Top Gear
>>Join the conversation about the EL1 right here in the Audi World Forum!
Big Numbers
Wherever you put the EL1 through its paces, you can dial in the car’s three-way adjustable suspension to suit conditions and select either normal or sport modes for both braking and power delivery. All this goodness is set to be available in 30 hand-built examples for 890,000 Euros each (1,048,000 U.S. Dollars).
Photos: Top Gear
>>Join the conversation about the EL1 right here in the Audi World Forum!
The Original
For comparison, the original Sport Quattro, a street-going special edition of Audi's Quattro rally race car, sold for 195,000 Deutsch Marks (about $71,000) in 1984, which in todays dollars would be near the neighborhood of $178,000. Audi made 220 examples of the 5-cylinder powered Sport Quattros over a two-year period, with 170 of those making their way into the public’s hands. One such example sold recently for 425.000 Euros (500,271 U.S. Dollars), still a long way shy of the E-Legend’s price tag.
Photos: Classic Trader
>>Join the conversation about the EL1 right here in the Audi World Forum!
Burning Questions
E-Legend’s founder, designer Marcus Holzinger, says to expect a prototype in the first part of 2022 and also that we can expect to see two other historic rally car-inspired creations rolling out their doors. One of those will likely be Lancia Stratos-themed, owing to the presence of a period Stratos at a recent E-Legend press event. Is there room in their stable for a second Lancia-style supercar? Or will the remaining offering lean toward the French side of things? Other questions are will Audi sue or simply chalk the likeness up to flattery, and more importantly, can we get some catchier naming for these things?
Photos: Top Gear
>>Join the conversation about the EL1 right here in the Audi World Forum!
For help with the service of your car, check out the how to section of AudiWorld.com.