During the AWA Clarion Rally of New Zealand, Audi's team manager Roland Gumpert made public for the first time many of the fundamental design objectives, aimed at regaining for Audi a competitive edge against recent four-wheel drive designs, especially from Peugeot.
"The main disadvantage with our first-evolution car was that too much weight was over the front axle. This is because the back of our production-based car has been designed to take baggage, which is not needed in rallying!