Autonomous Audi TT-S Receives Retro Color Scheme

Touted as a modern take on the Pikes Peak-competing Sport Quattro S1 rally car of the 1980s, the special TT-S has been adorned with the same red, gray, and black stripes of yore. Unlike the 80s, however, an advanced assembly of electronic controls will help propel the TT-S on the route it needs to travel. From 1985-1987, Michele Mouton, Bobby Unser, and Walter Röhrl claimed victories at Pikes Peak with the original Quattro, and if the autonomous TT-S can reel in a time even remotely close to the three rally drivers (Röhrl finished in 10 minutes and 47 seconds in 1987), you can consider us impressed.

Dubbed Shelley, after 1985 Pikes Peak winner Mouton, the TT-S will continue testing before hitting the mountains for its special event in September. Assuming Shelley stays on course, it would be the first vehicle of its kind to clear the 12.4-mile, 156-turn ascent to the 14,110-foot peak.

Stanford to run driverless Audi TT-S

Stanford's autonomously drifting Audi TTS

If you read AutoblogGreen regularly, then you already know that Volkswagen and Stanford University have taken their relationship that began with developing autonomous vehicles to compete in the government-sponsored DARPA Grand Challenge competitions to the next level. VW has committed over $5 million to open the Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Lab on Stanford's campus with the intent of taking their research further regardless of whether the government is offering a carrot or not.

The two organizations are kicking off their new commitment to autonomous vehicles in a big way. Already under development is a the third-gen autonomous vehicle will make past DARPA Grand Challenge winners Stanley and Junior look obsolete by comparison. Based on an Audi TT-S, the new vehicle eschews all the outwardly visible hardware and has one expressed purpose: to tackle the Pikes Peak Hill Climb just like a real rally driver, four wheel drifts and all.

While still in the early stages, the team of researchers from Stanford have already performed tests with the autonomous TT-S at the Bonneville Salt Flats where the car was free to roam while being driving at the limit without a driver. They've also reportedly visited Pikes Peak with the car and ran it up the hill, albeit slowly.