Here’s What Makes Audi’s Quattro All-Wheel-Drive System So Great

Summary

• Audi’s quattro system sets the industry standard since 1980, providing excellent traction and cornering capabilities.
• With three different setups across Audi models, quattro enhances performance and stability in varied driving conditions.
• Quattro’s all-wheel-drive system maximizes stability, traction, and efficiency in all Audi models, including SUVs and RS range.

Since its introduction in 1980, Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system has set the standard throughout the industry. The German manufacturer has become renowned for how well its cars can hook to whichever surface they drive on. Along with the power from the engine, a vehicle’s cornering capabilities are arguably just as important, with the quattro system allowing all segments that Audi competes in to stand head above shoulders.

Tracing its roots back to Audi’s massively successful venture into motorsport in the ’80s, specifically the World Rally Championship, the quattro system is available in every new Audi model in 2024, including their sedans, SUVs, and coupe sports cars. Here’s an in-depth look at the unique nature of the Audi quattro system and why it sees so much success in Audi’s extensive 2024 model range.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Audi’s manufacturer website and other authoritative sources, including Car and Driver, and J.D Power.

How The System Works

Although the quattro system follows the same basic philosophy as other all-wheel-drive systems by sending power to all four wheels, Audi’s system features unique technology that provides a one-of-a-kind experience behind the wheel. Audi’s quattro system isn’t just about providing increased traction in adverse conditions to maximize overall traction; the system’s cutting-edge torque vectoring technology can deliver extra traction to the rear wheels, enhancing grip and stability through high-speed corners on both dry and wet surfaces.

Due to the variety of Audi models, the quattro system comes in three variations, each enhancing the performance of whichever vehicle it is used in. Although the three setups function in similar ways, the difference they make can be substantial.

The Different Types Of Quattro Setups

One available quattro setup in Audi models comes in the Q7 and midsize Q8 SUV, which features a 60-40 split, delivering more power than the rear wheels. Paired with torque vectoring technology, this setup keeps the car stable in wet/icy conditions and increases cornering capabilities and overall performance. If necessary, the quattro system can also divert more traction to the front wheels if the rear loses grip.

In smaller Audi models such as the A3, the Q3, and the now-retired TT (the ’23 Heritage model is still available), the quattro system functions opposite to the setup in the larger models.

Instead of delivering power predominantly to the rear, the power is focused on the front wheels in good weather conditions. However, due to a multi-plate clutch system, up to 50% of the car’s power is to the rear wheels if necessary.

In more recent years, Audi has introduced a new version of the quattro system, named the quattro with ultra technology system (see the short video below). The system was designed due to the front-wheel-drive layout being far more efficient compared to all-wheel-drive cars. This fact prompted Audi to create the ultra technology variant of the quattro system, which keeps the vehicle in front-wheel-drive mode as standard but deploys as much power as necessary to the rear wheels if they ever need it. In 2024, quattro with ultra technology is available for the A4, A4 Allroad, A5, A6, A6 Allroad, A7, and Q5.

The most exclusive quattro setup comes with the also recently retired Audi R8. With last year’s model still available, the R8 is the only mid-engined Audi, requiring its unique setup to maximize the car’s impressive performance. This setup is another rear-biased example, with 85% of the power being directed to the rear wheels. Due to the R8’s usage of a viscous coupling system, the power and torque can smoothly be transferred to the front axles so the R8 can firmly grip the tarmac when being thrown around corners.

Benefits Of All-Wheel-Drive

No matter which quattro setup your Audi has, the all-wheel-drive system’s benefits allow each Audi model to be as practical and reliable as possible. Compared to a rear-wheel-drive car, which tends to be more catered towards performance, the all-wheel-drive quattro system provides much more stability and traction. Thanks to its intelligent technology, the quattro system can replicate the feel of a rear-wheel-drive powertrain while giving you the assurance that the front wheels are there as a backup.

As for front-wheel-drive, this layout is typically used for smaller cars to maximize fuel efficiency, which, thanks again to the quattro system, Audi delivers for this subject through the ultra technology package, also with its smaller models like the A3. However, having the rear wheels on stand-by to improve traction wherever needed puts the quattro system ahead of not only front-wheel-drive cars but other all-wheel-drive systems as well in terms of saving costs.

With four-wheel-drive models, power is only sent to all wheels when you manually choose to, with the power most commonly being sent to the rear wheels when disengaged. While four-wheel drive has benefits such as improved towing, having an intelligent powertrain underneath you that constantly makes decisions based on the current road conditions adds a sense of security and confidence behind any wheel.

Quattro is Available on Almost Every Audi Model

As mentioned, Audi offers the quattro all-wheel-drive system in every model the brand offers in 2024. This keeps each model ultra-competitive within its given category, adding a massively attractive selling point compared to its rivals. It must be noted that the quattro isn’t available as standard in every model, with the system being an optional feature for the A3 compact sedan.

Despite all the benefits of a standard all-wheel-drive system, you may be enticed by the unique advantages of front-wheel-drive cars. Still, due to the aforementioned technology present in the quattro system, all the benefits are combined to ensure Audi ticks all the boxes.

Unlocking Performance With The RS Range

The most famous vehicles that Audi currently produces are the RS models, the brand’s highest-level trim designed to achieve optimum performance. RS stands for RennSport in German, translating to Racing Sport in English, which is a title that the quattro system helps to honor.

In addition to improving overall traction and stability, the tremendous levels of grip and acceleration that the permanent all-wheel-drive quattro system can deliver parallel to the RS range’s increased power output take these cars to an all-new level. In addition to maintaining high speeds through cornering, having power delivered to each wheel allows cars such as the Audi RS 7 to blast from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.3 seconds.

Its Success With SUVs

In addition to greatly benefiting the RS range in terms of extracting more performance, the quattro system also brings a new level of practicality to Audi’s SUV models. Due to the unique, adaptable nature of the quattro system, the rear-bias setup that features on the larger Audi SUVs allows for a more engaging driving experience without losing the front axle’s benefits, but the 2024 Q5 receiving the quattro with ultra technology package makes this model the perfect all-round Audi SUV.

The Quattro System’s Deep-Rooted History Within the Audi Brand

With the quattro system still being continually rolled out in the latest Audi models, and with no signs of it slowing down, it’s clear how much of a positive effect the quattro all-wheel-drive layout has given Audi, with it featuring in the brand’s models for the last 40 years.

Despite being featured in cars today, the origin story of the quattro system can be traced back to 1977, when Audi ventured out into the snowy conditions of Sweden to test out their new front-wheel-drive cars in more challenging conditions. A VW Iltis was also present for the engineers to compare the new Audi models, which were outperformed by the all-wheel-drive layout of the Iltis. This led Audi’s chassis designer at the time, Jörg Bensinger, to present the idea of a high-performance all-wheel-drive Audi road car.

The First Audi Quattro

If you’re wondering why the quattro system isn’t capitalized, it’s so that it doesn’t overlap with the actual 1980 Audi Quattro model, the car that kickstarted the all-wheel-drive trend that has carried through the Audi brand up until now. This sports car was the product of testing in Sweden in the late ’70s, and it was officially released in 1980.

Thanks to Audi’s new all-wheel-drive system, the Quattro excelled in the World Rally Championship, winning two titles in 1982 and 1984. A key factor for the Quattro’s success in the championship was due to the recently changed WRC rules in ’79, which allowed all-wheel-drive vehicles to compete. Unsurprisingly, many other manufacturers began their all-wheel-drive projects to stay at the front of the pack.

As well as inspiring a new generation of rally cars, Audi’s quattro system, along with the same-titled 1980 model, influenced a new wave of all-wheel-drive performance cars, with the technology still setting the benchmark 44 years later in 2024.