The origins of cars can be traced back to the 19th century, a lot earlier if you count the failed attempts as well. Different brands have emerged over the years; few became giants of the automobile industry while others failed to evolve with time and went into oblivion. The leading brands adapted to the changing trends and made room for innovation. Speaking of automobile giants, Audi, the German luxury vehicle manufacturer is a shining example of evolving with time and thriving in the industry. Audi has introduced some unique features since its first car in 1921 and it would be an injustice not to mention the Audi Quattro system.
The Audi Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) system was introduced to make the car travel smoothly through different terrains. The feature gathered mass attention and brought immense fame to the luxury car brand. Let’s go through a detailed overview of the Audi Quattro system.
What is Audi Quattro?
The term ‘Quattro’ means four in Italian. It fits perfectly with Audi’s all-wheel drive system. The system was designed to introduce an all-terrain vehicle in Audi’s prestigious lineup. In a conventional two-wheel drive car, the power is transmitted either to the front wheels or the rear wheels. In all-wheel drive cars or Quattro cars, the power is distributed among the four wheels. The Audi Quattro four-wheel drive system provides you with greater grip whether you are cornering or accelerating.
How Does the Audi Quattro AWD Work?
A differential is a set of gears that drives the wheels at the axle. Three differentials – one each in the front, rear, and centre were part of the original Quattro system, which improved torque distribution to each wheel. The differentials are left open because separate wheels need to spin at different speeds. In this manner, the outside wheels can spin more quickly than the inside ones when the vehicle turns. You can learn more about differentials in AWD and 4WD to better understand the working.
Generally, there is no lock in the front wheel differential as those wheels have to turn. If a differential lock feature is added, such as in the rear, the wheels will spin simultaneously to find grip, even if one is off the ground. Consequently, this will provide more traction on slippery surfaces. A driver-operated switch was also included in the original Audi system, allowing the centre differential to lock both the front and rear differentials leading to more grip on different terrains.
Within a decade, a torque-sensing (Torsen) centre differential was also installed. Automatically, the front and rear axles received an equal distribution of power. The system’s gears were designed to distribute torque to the axle that required it the most during wheel slip. Up to two-thirds of the vehicle’s torque is sent to the front or rear axles using the Torsen differential. Although some larger vehicles also included a rear Torsen differential for added control, the rear locking differential switch remained functional.
History of Audi Quattro
The Audi Quattro system was introduced in the 80s which is widely considered the golden age of rallying. It also holds the privilege of being the first car with AWD to enter rally racing after a change in the rule made the new system eligible. The vehicle went on to win 4 championships in the early 80s for the luxury car brand. This is one of the interesting facts about Audi.
The Audi Quattro car became a quick sensation because of the AWD system. Audi started to include the Quattro system in most of its models. Today, around half of the cars sold in the luxury brand’s home country Germany, are equipped with the Quattro system. Additionally, the Quattro system can be specified on any models in the Audi lineup. The popularity of the Audi Quattro system has taken over the brand’s electric cars lineup as well. The Q4 e-tron SUV and e-tron GT saloon are equipped with the Quattro system.
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Types of Audi Quattro Technology
Quattro technology has evolved over the years. The technology introduced in Audi’s rally car has now taken over almost the entire lineup. Technological advancements saw the introduction of the system in the coupe collection that started with the Audi TT sports coupe. There are three types of Quattro technology which are listed as follows:
AUDI QUATTRO ENGINE TYPE 1
This is the most common type of Quattro system. The engine power is split 60-40 with rear wheels receiving 60% and front wheels getting 40%. You can have the feel of driving a rear-wheel vehicle in normal conditions but in case of loss of traction in the rear wheels, power will be diverted to the front wheels. This type is commonly seen in A4, A6 and Q7 models.
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AUDI QUATTRO ENGINE TYPE 2
In this type, multi-plate clutch technology is used that reverses the bias. Power is exclusively transferred to the front wheels until they lose traction. The power is then immediately sent to the rear wheels using the multi-plate clutch. In any case, the rear wheels don’t get more than 50% of the power. This type can be found in the Audi A3 and TT models.
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AUDI QUATTRO ENGINE TYPE 3
The rear wheels of your car receive 85 percent of the power during normal driving conditions. However, the power can instantly be transferred to the front wheels to prevent a loss of traction in the rear wheels when need be. This type can be found in Audi R8. Go through the Audi R8 history to learn more about the luxury brand’s supercar.
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This was everything about the Audi Quattro AWD system. Audi never really ceases to amaze its customers with the top-of-the-line features that provide a seamless driving experience. The Quattro system can be ideal for people looking for a different terrain luxury vehicle.
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