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The Magic of Audi’s Quattro Technology
The term Quattro means four in Italian language. It is used by Audi for four-wheel drive systems that come on Audi vehicles. Presently, all Audi models feature the Quattro all-wheel drive setup.
Audi’s quattro technology was first introduced in 1980 at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. Since then the word quattro is been used for all Audi 4WD vehicles. After the introduction of the Quattro technology, it posted many motor-sport victories. Drivers such as Michele Mouton, Stig Blomqvist, Hannu Mikkola and Walter Rohrl brought the Audi quattro four world championship titles in 1980s. Soon, cars with permanent all-wheel drive started making a mark in racing circuit, including an overall win in the 1988 American TransAm series. In 1996, the A4 quattro Super Touring competition car received the winner's title in all seven national touring car championships that it entered.
The quattro technology not only established itself in motor sports, but in cars that are used on roads daily. Along with better performance, quattro provides high levels of safety, dynamism and improved traction on all kinds of surfaces. On cars with longitudinally installed engines, a differential sends power and makes up for differences in wheel rotation when cornering. If the car has a transverse engine, a Haldex clutch performs these tasks.
Since 1980, over 1,800,000 cars with permanent all-wheel driveline have been developed. In 1982, Audi introduced five all-wheel-drive variants - the Audi Coupe, the Audi 80/90 and the Audi 100/200. The Audi 100/200, like its predecessor, was also available as an Avant. Conceived as a front-wheel-drive car, all these models could be easily converted to permanent all-wheel drive without much effort and expense. They reflected Audi's fundamental policy to offer a quattro variant in every model line. In the light of Audi's motorsport successes, they all were well-received by car buffs. In 2004 alone, Audi came up with 209,469 quattro vehicles.
For 1987 model year, another vital new feature was added to the quattro concept - the Torsen differential, a self-locking worm, and gear unit that replaced the manual differential lock. This device redistributes engine torque steplessly as required for traction, so that in extreme situations the axle with the better traction receives up to 75 percent of the available torque. The Torsen differential develops its locking action only under load and the vehicle's anti-lock braking system can take effect when needed. Today, advanced technologies such as electronically controlled differential locks in the axles and the ESP stabilisation program match the action of the Torsen differential.
Audi’s quattro technology was first introduced in 1980 at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. Since then the word quattro is been used for all Audi 4WD vehicles. After the introduction of the Quattro technology, it posted many motor-sport victories. Drivers such as Michele Mouton, Stig Blomqvist, Hannu Mikkola and Walter Rohrl brought the Audi quattro four world championship titles in 1980s. Soon, cars with permanent all-wheel drive started making a mark in racing circuit, including an overall win in the 1988 American TransAm series. In 1996, the A4 quattro Super Touring competition car received the winner's title in all seven national touring car championships that it entered.
The quattro technology not only established itself in motor sports, but in cars that are used on roads daily. Along with better performance, quattro provides high levels of safety, dynamism and improved traction on all kinds of surfaces. On cars with longitudinally installed engines, a differential sends power and makes up for differences in wheel rotation when cornering. If the car has a transverse engine, a Haldex clutch performs these tasks.
Since 1980, over 1,800,000 cars with permanent all-wheel driveline have been developed. In 1982, Audi introduced five all-wheel-drive variants - the Audi Coupe, the Audi 80/90 and the Audi 100/200. The Audi 100/200, like its predecessor, was also available as an Avant. Conceived as a front-wheel-drive car, all these models could be easily converted to permanent all-wheel drive without much effort and expense. They reflected Audi's fundamental policy to offer a quattro variant in every model line. In the light of Audi's motorsport successes, they all were well-received by car buffs. In 2004 alone, Audi came up with 209,469 quattro vehicles.
For 1987 model year, another vital new feature was added to the quattro concept - the Torsen differential, a self-locking worm, and gear unit that replaced the manual differential lock. This device redistributes engine torque steplessly as required for traction, so that in extreme situations the axle with the better traction receives up to 75 percent of the available torque. The Torsen differential develops its locking action only under load and the vehicle's anti-lock braking system can take effect when needed. Today, advanced technologies such as electronically controlled differential locks in the axles and the ESP stabilisation program match the action of the Torsen differential.
The epoch-making original quattro of 1980 weighed 1,290 kilograms and could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds and reach a top speed of over 220 km/h. Its permanent traction, firm, sporty suspension settings, and functional interior made this new model a typical driving machine.
The original quattro continued to be in production until 1991 and 11,452 Audi cars were built during this period. In the initial production years, the inside of quattro vehicles was packed with more sophisticated materials. The special model Sport quattro made its debut in 1984. This model featured a wheelbase that was reduced to 2,204 mm and a newly developed four-valve turbocharged engine with a power output of 306.
The quattro received an update in 1987, the Torsen centre differential and a slightly larger five-cylinder engine that retained the original power output of 200 bhp were added. In 1989, a new four-valve cylinder head was installed and the power output was increased to 220 bhp.
Audi’s flagship vehicle, the V8 quattro, entered the German Touring Car Championship in 1990 and 1991. The 3.6-litre engine of this luxury saloon produced 462 bhp. Audi's most successful season in touring car racing was in 1996. The A4 quattro Supertouring, with a power output of 300 bhp from its two-litre, four-cylinder engine participated in seven national championships that were held in Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Belgium, South Africa and Australia and won them all.
The nineties saw the S models with quattro driveline enhanced Audi’s dynamic image that was established with its motor-sport successes. The leading contender was the S 2 Coupe which resembled the original quattro. In the next decade, the A4 and A6 along with their quattro variants were the most popular Audi models that were sold. As many as 37,572 A4 cars with permanent all-wheel drive and 601,204 A6 were built in 2004.
Since 1999, the compact A3, the TT Coupe and the TT Roadster were available with the quattro driveline option, while 58% of all TT Coupes and 42% of TT Roadsters sold in 2004 were equipped with permanent all-wheel drive. In 2004, the manufacturer had produced 1,815,396 cars with permanent all-wheel drive. The present model programme has a list of 74 model variants with the quattro driveline.
The original quattro continued to be in production until 1991 and 11,452 Audi cars were built during this period. In the initial production years, the inside of quattro vehicles was packed with more sophisticated materials. The special model Sport quattro made its debut in 1984. This model featured a wheelbase that was reduced to 2,204 mm and a newly developed four-valve turbocharged engine with a power output of 306.
The quattro received an update in 1987, the Torsen centre differential and a slightly larger five-cylinder engine that retained the original power output of 200 bhp were added. In 1989, a new four-valve cylinder head was installed and the power output was increased to 220 bhp.
Audi’s flagship vehicle, the V8 quattro, entered the German Touring Car Championship in 1990 and 1991. The 3.6-litre engine of this luxury saloon produced 462 bhp. Audi's most successful season in touring car racing was in 1996. The A4 quattro Supertouring, with a power output of 300 bhp from its two-litre, four-cylinder engine participated in seven national championships that were held in Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Belgium, South Africa and Australia and won them all.
The nineties saw the S models with quattro driveline enhanced Audi’s dynamic image that was established with its motor-sport successes. The leading contender was the S 2 Coupe which resembled the original quattro. In the next decade, the A4 and A6 along with their quattro variants were the most popular Audi models that were sold. As many as 37,572 A4 cars with permanent all-wheel drive and 601,204 A6 were built in 2004.
Since 1999, the compact A3, the TT Coupe and the TT Roadster were available with the quattro driveline option, while 58% of all TT Coupes and 42% of TT Roadsters sold in 2004 were equipped with permanent all-wheel drive. In 2004, the manufacturer had produced 1,815,396 cars with permanent all-wheel drive. The present model programme has a list of 74 model variants with the quattro driveline.
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