Over the years, Audi has created a reputation for producing luxurious, high-performance vehicles. Its lineup is known for cutting-edge technology, upscale cabins, and superior driving dynamics, thanks to its quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.
Audi's quattro System
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Audi by RoadOver is licensed with CC BY 2.0
Audi was the first automaker to give its passenger cars a permanent AWD system. It was introduced in 1980 and remains one of the best AWD systems to this day.
Origin and Historical Development
When the quattro system first arrived, it was a standalone model. It was the first Audi to have AWD capability and the first to enter a competitive race after the rules allowed AWD cars to compete.
How Audi's quattro System Works
When Audi first developed its quattro AWD system, it featured three differentials. They were in the front, rear, and center, providing better torque distribution to each of the wheels.
Technical Overview
Since wheels spin at different speeds as you drive, the differentials are usually left open instead of locked, allowing the outside wheels to rotate faster than the inner wheels. Audi created a system that gave the driver a switch to control the center differential, locking both the front and rear differentials. This allowed for more traction on slippery terrain.
Modern quattro Technologies
The modern version of the quattro system can automatically adjust the torque sent to each wheel. It senses the road conditions and makes adjustments as needed to optimize the car's grip on the road. The system includes three main components:
- Central differential: The central differential can split the power between the rear and front axles. It's usually 40% to the front and 60% to the rear, although this can be adjusted.
- Torque vectoring: Some of Audi's quattro systems come with an advanced torque vectoring system. When equipped, the system can send more power to the wheels with greater grip. This comes in handy when taking tight corners, as the outer wheels require more power to maintain their grip.
- Electronic stability control: The quattro AWD system works with the car's electronic stability control system to continuously monitor and adjust the power delivery. This ensures the car remains stable, even when driving on slippery roads or making extreme maneuvers.
Today's quattro system incorporates these mechanical components, along with software and sensors, to help monitor traction, steering, stability control, and wheel movement.
There are now five different versions of the Audi quattro AWD system to accommodate the range of vehicles in Audi's lineup. With multiple vehicle architectures and a range of transmissions, the system needs to be tweaked to fit various situations.
Below are the five different quattro systems.
Self-Locking Center Differential
The self-locking center differential system is the most common. It's used in most performance Audis and is a permanent, full-time AWD system.
Hydraulic Multiplate Clutch
The hydraulic multiplate clutch is used in the TT. It's also a permanent AWD system, but it's not as performance focused. It sends most of the power to the front wheels, but up to 50% can go to the rear when needed.
Viscous Coupling
Viscous coupling is only used for the R8. In this setup, Audi mounts the transmission behind the engine and includes an auxiliary drive to direct power to the front axle, and a viscous coupling is used to send power to the rear axle. The default setting sends 85% of the power to the rear wheels.
quattro with ultra
One of the newer quattro systems is the quattro with ultra. It's used in the A4 and the A4 allroad, along with several other models. It's a part-time AWD system that drives the front wheels by default. The rear-wheel axle is disconnected when the road conditions are good but automatically engages the rear axle when more traction is needed.
This system is more fuel-efficient than the full-time AWD system. It can engage the rear axle in under 250 milliseconds, so you don't experience any slip when the road conditions change. Sensors work to predict the need for AWD so it can engage even before it's needed.
e-quattro
The arrival and increased demand for electric cars created the need for the e-quattro system. This version of quattro is designed for electric vehicles. Since electric vehicles use two motors, one located directly on the front axle and the other on the rear axle, the system delivers power to only one axle at a time, helping reduce energy consumption and increase range.
When AWD is needed, the system distributes torque to all four wheels in about 30 milliseconds. The e-tron GT models have a system that also distributes power between the rear wheels.
Performance and Practical Benefits of Audi quattro
Audi's quattro AWD system provides you with a wide range of benefits, including:
- Increased stability: Distributing the power to all four wheels reduces the car's chance of skidding on slippery surfaces and losing control.
- Better traction: quattro is exceptionally beneficial when driving in poor weather. It increases traction on snow-covered, wet, and icy roads, where extra traction is crucial.
- Exceptional handling: The quattro system's ability to manage and adjust power distribution provides excellent handling, whether you're driving on the road or testing out the car's performance.
- Enhanced safety: Extra traction and better stability make driving safer. You'll feel more confident behind the wheel, knowing you're less likely to skid or slip, regardless of road conditions.
Is Audi quattro the Right Choice for You?
Do you want to have the extra confidence behind the wheel that Audi quattro brings? Visit Audi of Huntington and take any model out for a test-drive including one of our many used cars for sale. No matter which Audi model you drive, you'll feel the difference whether the roads are smooth and dry or wet and slippery. Our sales team is here to answer any questions you have about how quattro works. Stop by our Huntington Station, New York, dealership and see us today.
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Audi Features and Technology
