The allure of quattro

Audi produces its 8 millionth vehicle with quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

Audi records another production milestone as the 8 millionth vehicle with quattro – a new Audi Q5 – drives off the production line in Mexico.

20 January, 2017


There is perhaps no technology in Audi’s long and rich history that is so clearly identified with the Audi brand than quattro. Since its first appearance at the Geneva International Motor Show in 1980, quattro has gone on to redefine vehicle handling and performance, rewriting the motorsport history books along the way.

Now the brand is celebrating another quattro milestone as the 8 millionth vehicle with quattro, a garnet red Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI quattro, has been produced. Rolling off the new production facility in San José Chiapa, Mexico, the milestone vehicle represents the popularity of this ground-breaking technology which continues to define superior handling and is available today in more than 100 Audi models, as well as continuing to play a decisive role in the company’s motorsport endeavours.

Standard across the entire S and RS model ranges, quattro is also standard in the likes of the Audi Q7 , A4 and A6 allroad quattros, and available as an option in all other Audi model series.

Nearly half of all Audi vehicles delivered worldwide are ordered with quattro, its combination of superior handling characteristics and sure-footedness in a range of conditions – snow, gravel, slippery road conditions, poor road conditions – giving it tremendous appeal for customers.

Audi has continued to refine and develop quattro since its first appearance, with different versions of the technology available on different models. After the debut of quattro in 1980 and its subsequent dominance of world rallying that decade, in 1986 Audi replaced the first generation's manually locking centre differential with the Torsen differential, which could variably distribute drive torque. 

 

The planetary drive followed in 2005, with its asymmetrical, dynamic distribution of power and torque. The self-locking centre differential is continuously being further developed by Audi and is considered the benchmark for traction and driving dynamics combined with very light weight. Most recently, Audi premiered quattro with ultra technology, first seen in Australia on the A4 allroad quattro released late last year.

Other variations of the technology currently in use include a system designed specifically for use in the compact model series with transverse-mounted engines, an electronically controlled hydraulic multi-plate clutch is mounted at the rear axle. With the awe-inspiring R8 mid-engine sports car, the multi-plate clutch is at the front axle. According to the driving situation encountered, these active systems distribute drive torque variably to both axles. 

The self-locking centre differential used in many Audi models, with a longitudinally mounted front engine, is a purely mechanical planetary gear. Normally it splits the drive torque sent to the front and rear wheels with a 40:60 distribution.
Sport differential is available on the rear axle with some of the top-of-the-range engines where high-performance is the aim. This actively distributes the torque between the rear wheels by means of two superposition units, each with an electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch. In extreme cases, almost all of the torque is sent to one wheel – the system actually pushes the car into the curve, eliminating any chance of understeer.