A look at the four different types of Quattro all-wheel drive

 

Quattro all-wheel drive has been synonymous with luxury vehicle performance for decades. Ask any journalist, they will tell you the Quattro all-wheel drive is not just a great AWD technology, is actually one of the most advanced in the automotive industry. With Quattro AWD, you always have the stability and traction you expect from a premium vehicle.

 

Interestingly, there are actually multiple different types of Quattro AWD technology. We tend to assume that there is just one, but there are actually four. We thought we would take a look at these four technologies to help you better understand Quattro all-wheel drive.

 

Multi-plate clutch Quattro

 

The multi-plate clutch Quattro system is available on the Audi A3 and Audi Q3. It is also available on the Audi TT and Audi R8. This system distributes power specifically to the front wheels or the rear wheels with the ability to distribute torque variably between the axles as needed.

 

Self-locking differential

 

Most all-wheel drive systems distribute torque between the front and the rear. Many systems send 100% of the available torque to the front or the back and then shift what is needed back to the other axle to regain traction. The Audi self-locking differential which you find in multiple Audi models like the Audi A4, Audi A5, and Audi Q7 splits the torque 40/60 between the front and rear axle. That means that both axles are always getting a ton of power from the engine, and you really get the highest level of grip. While other systems need to detect the loss of traction and then transfer power over, your Audi vehicle with a self-locking differential already has sent power to both axles and just needs to distribute it across a small bandwidth to ensure the best possible traction.

 

Audi Quattro Ultra

 

The Audi Quattro Ultra is the most advanced Audi Quattro system. It was introduced a few years ago and it gives you the benefits of both the multi-plate clutch system and the self-locking differential system. In other words, Quattro Ultra can transfer power between the front and rear axles for a perfect torque distribution split in difficult conditions. These can include getting out of the snowbank or going up a hill. The system uses a wide range of sensors to detect road conditions instantaneously and make the appropriate torque distribution adjustments. That said, when the system is not needed, it is exceptionally efficient. This is really a technology that gives you the best of both worlds, providing the stability and traction expected of Audi Quattro with the best efficiency possible.

 

Audi e-Quattro for Electric Vehicles

 

The Audi e-Quattro system is a unique Quattro technology designed first and foremost for electric vehicles. The rear axle gets its power from an electric motor which has the advantage of sending its torque at a much quicker rate and more instantaneously than a clutch system. The net result is therefore a quicker reaction when a loss of traction is detected.

 

Give us a call today to learn more about Audi Quattro technology.