Quattro all-wheel drive, Quattro four-wheel drive, and Quattro 4x4 are all names for Audi's four-wheel drive technology. The one term that unites all of those is the brand name "quattro," which is ingrained in the minds of many motoring aficionados all around the world.
The Audi Quattro rally car, which employed the technology to great effect in what was regarded as the golden age of rallying in the 1980s, gave the moniker fame. Since then, a number of Audi's production cars have used quattro.
Around half of the vehicles Audi sells in its native market of Germany have quattro, which is also well-liked in the rest of the Europe. Almost all of the model lines in the Audi lineup allow customers to specify the quattro option. The A3, A4, and A5 are just a few of the quattro-equipped vehicles you'll find when searching the "quattro for sale" ads. The quattro powertrain is standard equipment in Audi's high-performance vehicles, and we're confident that customers of quattro RS models still value the attractiveness of the original "Quattro" rally car. The quattro system is included in all of the brand's electric vehicles, including the e-tron GT saloon and Q4 e-tron SUV.
What quattro actually do?
Since the word "quattro" is Italian for "four," we know it refers to four-wheel drive, but why is this even a positive thing? Ask an automotive expert, and you'll likely receive a fairly complex set of explanations, but it's simpler to concentrate on the forces acting on the tyres of your automobile as they grip the pavement.
Depending on whether an automobile has front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, all of the power is directed to either the front or back wheels in a "typical" two-wheel drive vehicle. All four tires receive drive in a car with all-wheel drive or quattro. In turn, the tyres of a quattro-spec Audi will offer more grip than a two-wheel drive vehicle, whether you're accelerating or cornering.
If you enter a wet roundabout a little bit faster than is prudent, this has apparent safety repercussions because you have more leeway before the car starts to skid. Additionally, many Audi owners opt for quattro if they commute in isolated or high-altitude regions of the country where snow and icy conditions are more frequent or if they reside in the country where the roads are frequently muddy.
The same maximization of traction rule applies to quattro performance vehicles, which can accelerate and turn more quickly due to the extra grip that comes from having all four wheels operated.
Since Audi also sells quattro Q3, Q5, and Q7 models, quattro SUVs and off-road vehicles should also be mentioned. Another benefit is the added grip, which is important for anyone traveling off-road on mud or gravel paths. Quattro is also advantageous for towing because you're less likely to lose traction.
How does the quattro system in an Audi work?
Although you need to be a very skilled driver to perceive a difference in practice, there are three fundamental sorts of quattro configuration, and they each have somewhat distinct features.
The quattro system, which is most frequently installed in the Audi A4, A6, and Q8, has a default engine power split biased 60% toward the rear wheels and 40% toward the front wheels. In normal driving conditions, it's intended to simulate a rear-wheel drive vehicle, but if the back wheels start to lose grip, the system can instantly send more power to the front wheels.
The bias is reversed in smaller cars like the TT quattro and the quattro A3, which use the same engineering basis as compact hatchbacks. Here, the front wheels receive practically all of the power from the quattro system until they begin to lose traction, at which point a multi-plate clutch shifts power to the rear wheels, but they never receive more than 50% of it.
The Audi R8 quattro boasts supercar performance, and its four-wheel-drive system sends 85% of its engine power to the rear wheels under normal driving circumstances. It also instantly switches to the front wheels when necessary to prevent a loss of traction at the rear wheels.
Is having a quattro worth it?
Rear-drive and quattro all-wheel drive vehicles have a sizable but not exorbitant price difference. Remember that if you decide to buy a new Audi, you'll probably benefit from a larger residual value when you decide to sell the vehicle on; used quattro models are popular, and older vehicles continue to command premium prices.
Whether or whether you actually need it depends on your driving habits and the kind of driving circumstances you encounter; after all, most Audis without quattro aren't known for crashing on wet roundabouts.
It's important to keep in mind that tyre condition and specification may be more important aspects to take into account when it comes to traction and grip. For snowy and slippery circumstances, for instance, choosing to invest in a pair of winter tires may offer better advantages than quattro alone.
Before choosing quattro, think about if the additional expense and slight increase in fuel consumption from the added weight justifies the advantages of enhanced handling.
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