Quattro is a permanent four-wheel drive that is used in Audi vehicles with Transverse engine arrangement is installed. It was introduced in 1980. Today it is available as standard or as an option for most Audi models. Thanks to the Quattro, a car's off-road performance and vehicle dynamics can be improved.
How Quattro works
The key components of this system are:
- A gearbox: This adjusts the torque of the engine according to the set driving mode and transmits the torque to other parts of the gearbox.
- A transfer case with Center differential: It distributes engine torque to the front and rear axles.
- Drive wheels: These increase the torque transmitted to the wheels.
- Cross axle differentials: These distribute torque between the left and right wheels.
- A driveshaft: Connects the transmission to the rear drive wheel.
- The front driveshaft: This transfers torque from the transfer case to the front Transfer main gear.
A Torsen or crown wheel with a self-locking differential is used as the center differential in almost all Audi models. Under normal conditions, engine torque is split 40:60 between the front and rear axles. As soon as one of the wheels slips, most of the torque is transferred to the axle with the best traction. The torque ratio between the front and rear axles is then, for example, 15:85, 20:80, 80:20, 70:30 or 75:25.
Features of Quattro
| Generation of the system | Differential type | Year of manufacture | Audi models equipped with this system | ||
| Longitudinal | Rear axle | Front axle | |||
| I | Open with mechanical lock | Open with mechanical lock | Open without lock | 1981 | Quattro 85 ; 80 B2; Coupé 81, 85 |
| II | Symmetrical, self-locking Torsen Т-1 | 1988 | 100 C3 44, 44Q; 80B4 8C2, 8C5; 90 B3 89, 89Q, 8A; S2 B4; A6 C4 4A5 | ||
| III | Symmetrical self-locking Torsen Т-1 | 1988 | V8 441, 442, 4C2, 4C8 | ||
| IV | Open with electronic lock | 1995 | A4 B5 8D5; A6 C5 4B5; A8 D3 4E2, 4E8 | ||
| V | Asymmetric, self-locking Torsen Т-3 | 2006 | RS4 B7 8ED; S6 C6 4FH | ||
| VI | Asymmetric, self-locking, crown gearing | 2010 | RS5 8T; A7 4A, 4G | ||
Typical defects of the Quattro
- The differential gear wears out quickly.
- U-joints can be damaged by driving on a rough road
- Failure of the ABS sensor also leads to malfunction of the electronic differential lock.