Audi Quattro

Over 30 years ago, the notion of a car with permanent all-wheel drive was revolutionary. Audi called it quattro® and its benefits would set a new benchmark for driver confidence and performance.

The simple, yet profound result of sending power to all four wheels means that snow covered mountain passes, rain-slicked highways and gravel-strewn rural roads are no longer encountered with apprehension. While on smooth dry roads, Audi quattro® all-wheel drive offers a level of performance unachievable by two-wheel drive cars.
The advantage of all-wheel drive was most apparent when Audi introduced quattro® to the World Rally Championship. Audi quattro® seemed to defy physics with startling acceleration and remarkable traction. The result was an astounding 24 wins and a number of World Championships. If that wasn’t enough of an endorsement for quattro®, it was later deemed an “unfair advantage” and banned from road racing altogether after repeatedly dominating the field.

Today, in that same competitive spirit, Audi quattro® all-wheel drive continues to be refined. In Audi vehicles with a longitudinal engine configuration, quattro® is essentially a mechanical system with a self-locking center differential and continuously variable torque distribution. Audi quattro® instantly responds to wheel speed differences and dynamically adjusts power to the wheels with the best traction. It is supported by advanced electronic control systems that together offer numerous benefits over other all-wheel drive systems. Featuring a 40:60 rear torque bias, the latest version of quattro® offers sports car-like performance and handling with uncompromised all-wheel drive traction.

The power of quattro® is its ability to inspire driver confidence, giving you traction when you need it, where you need it, regardless of road conditions.

Additionally, Audi vehicles with a transverse engine configuration, such as the A3 and TT, includes a version of quattro® that features a hydraulic system with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch. Utilizing an advanced control module that monitors road speed, cornering and traction, quattro® can anticipate wheel slip and quickly respond to any driving situation. This version of quattro® provides superlative traction at all times by dynamically sending power to the wheels with the most grip.