Four Rings, Four-Wheel Drive: 40 Years of quattro
§ Technology and success story: around 10.5 million all-wheel drive Audis produced since 1980
§ New quattro technology with electric torque vectoring in the Audi e-tron S and etron S Sportback prototypes
§ Audi the world’s first high-volume manufacturer of cars with three electric motors
“quattro” means “Audi,” and “Audi” often means “quattro”: The principle of four-wheel drive is a cornerstone of the brand and has been for 40 years. Since the original quattro made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 1980, Audi has produced around 10.5 million cars featuring quattro drive systems. Now, it is time for the next chapter in this particular success story: With the Prototypes of Audi e-tron S and Audi e-tron S Sportback, Audi will be unveiling electric torque vectoring.
40 years of quattro: the track record and the model range
The quattro has built up an impressive track record over 40 years. By the end of 2019, Audi had produced 10,448,406 cars with all-wheel drive, including 804,224 in 2019 alone. Almost 45% of all Audi models built in 2019 featured quattro drive systems, with most coming from the factories in Changchun in China and San José Chiapa in Mexico. Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm made 258,765 new cars with the famous all-wheel drive technology in 2019. The quattro drive system is a cornerstone of the Audi brand. It is represented in every model series except the compact A1. All large and particularly powerful vehicle versions, as well as all S and RS models, transfer their horsepower to the road through four wheels.
quattro 2.0: electric torque vectoring
Audi will be presenting the next stage of development of electric all-wheel drive. In the Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback prototypes, the quattro system will be accompanied by electric torque vectoring. Electric torque vectoring – which involves distributing power between the wheels – takes mere milliseconds. It can also engage high torque, allowing the car to be driven as energetically into curves as a sports car. Audi is the first manufacturer in the premium segment to mass-produce the technology using three electric motors.
An all-star line-up: the versions of the mechanical quattro drive system
Audi’s quattro technology is versatile and tailored precisely to suit the specific vehicle concept. One thing that all models do share is the way the system works in concert with wheel-selective torque control – a function of Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) that refines handling at the limits of adhesion by gently applying the brakes at appropriate moments.
40 years of quattro: the milestones
When the Audi quattro first appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in 1980, it introduced a means of transmitting power that was entirely new for the passenger car sector – an all-wheel drive system that was lightweight, compact, efficient and tension-free. This made the quattro concept particularly suited to sporty cars and high-volume production right from the outset. The 147 kW (200 PS) original quattro remained part of the product range as a standard model until 1991 and underwent several technical revisions. In 1984, Audi added the exclusive Sport quattro with 225 kW (306 PS). In 1986, the manually locking center differential that had been fitted to the original quattro since its launch was replaced by the Torsen differential, which was able to distribute drive torque variably.
The brand continued to refine its quattro technology in subsequent years. The first Audi TDI with permanent all-wheel drive appeared in 1995. Then in 1999, the technology was applied to the A3 and TT model series and thus the compact segment. The next big step came in 2005 with the center differential with asymmetric, dynamic power distribution. In 2007, a viscous coupling appeared on the front axle on the Audi R8, followed a year later by the sport differential. quattro with ultra technology was added to the range in 2016.
40 years of quattro: supremacy in motorsports
Audi first entered the World Rally Championship in 1981 and dominated the event just one season later. The Audi team won the manufacturers’ championship in 1982, and Finnish driver HannuMikkola secured the drivers’ trophy in 1983. Audi took both titles in 1984, with StigBlomqvist of Sweden becoming world champion. That year, Audi fielded its Sport quattro with a shorter wheelbase, followed in 1985 by the Sport quattro S1 producing 350 kW (476 PS). In 1987, Walter Röhrl drove a specially modified S1 to victory at the Pikes Peak hill climb in the USA – the perfect finishing touch to the exhilarating years of rallying.
Audi subsequently shifted to racing touring cars. In 1988, the manufacturer won both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships in the US Trans-Am at its first attempt with the Audi 200, before competing with considerable success in the IMSA GTO series the following year. In 1990/91,Audi entered its mighty V8 quattro in the Deutsche Tourenwagenmeisterschaft (DTM), winning two drivers’ championships. The A4 quattro Supertouring entered seven national championships in 1996 – and won them all. Two years later, the European ruling bodies banned all-wheel drive almost completely from touring car races.
An Audi all-wheel drive race car – the Audi R18 e-tron quattro with a hybrid drive – once again took to the track in 2012. A V6-TDI drove the rear wheels, while a flywheel accumulator supplied recuperated energy to two electric motors on the front axle. The car used a temporary quattro drive system during acceleration. It boasted a formidable track record, with three overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and two drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
40 years of quattro: Vorsprung durch Technik
quattro is an icon. The name represents safe driving and sportiness, technical expertise and competitive superiority – in short, Vorsprung durch Technik. The success of quattro models on the road and in racing has cemented this status, as has a series of legendary TV commercials and advertising campaigns. In 1986, professional rally driver Harald Demuth drove an Audi 100 CS quattro up the Kaipola ski jump in Finland. Circuit and rallycross champion MattiasEkström (Sweden) performed a similar feat in 2019, using an Audi e-tron quattro with three electric motors to scale the steepest section of the Streif ski course at Kitzbühel, negotiating gradients of as much as 85%.
§ Technology and success story: around 10.5 million all-wheel drive Audis produced since 1980
§ New quattro technology with electric torque vectoring in the Audi e-tron S and etron S Sportback prototypes
§ Audi the world’s first high-volume manufacturer of cars with three electric motors
“quattro” means “Audi,” and “Audi” often means “quattro”: The principle of four-wheel drive is a cornerstone of the brand and has been for 40 years. Since the original quattro made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 1980, Audi has produced around 10.5 million cars featuring quattro drive systems. Now, it is time for the next chapter in this particular success story: With the Prototypes of Audi e-tron S and Audi e-tron S Sportback, Audi will be unveiling electric torque vectoring.
40 years of quattro: the track record and the model range
The quattro has built up an impressive track record over 40 years. By the end of 2019, Audi had produced 10,448,406 cars with all-wheel drive, including 804,224 in 2019 alone. Almost 45% of all Audi models built in 2019 featured quattro drive systems, with most coming from the factories in Changchun in China and San José Chiapa in Mexico. Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm made 258,765 new cars with the famous all-wheel drive technology in 2019. The quattro drive system is a cornerstone of the Audi brand. It is represented in every model series except the compact A1. All large and particularly powerful vehicle versions, as well as all S and RS models, transfer their horsepower to the road through four wheels.
quattro 2.0: electric torque vectoring
Audi will be presenting the next stage of development of electric all-wheel drive. In the Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback prototypes, the quattro system will be accompanied by electric torque vectoring. Electric torque vectoring – which involves distributing power between the wheels – takes mere milliseconds. It can also engage high torque, allowing the car to be driven as energetically into curves as a sports car. Audi is the first manufacturer in the premium segment to mass-produce the technology using three electric motors.
An all-star line-up: the versions of the mechanical quattro drive system
Audi’s quattro technology is versatile and tailored precisely to suit the specific vehicle concept. One thing that all models do share is the way the system works in concert with wheel-selective torque control – a function of Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) that refines handling at the limits of adhesion by gently applying the brakes at appropriate moments.
40 years of quattro: the milestones
When the Audi quattro first appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in 1980, it introduced a means of transmitting power that was entirely new for the passenger car sector – an all-wheel drive system that was lightweight, compact, efficient and tension-free. This made the quattro concept particularly suited to sporty cars and high-volume production right from the outset. The 147 kW (200 PS) original quattro remained part of the product range as a standard model until 1991 and underwent several technical revisions. In 1984, Audi added the exclusive Sport quattro with 225 kW (306 PS). In 1986, the manually locking center differential that had been fitted to the original quattro since its launch was replaced by the Torsen differential, which was able to distribute drive torque variably.
The brand continued to refine its quattro technology in subsequent years. The first Audi TDI with permanent all-wheel drive appeared in 1995. Then in 1999, the technology was applied to the A3 and TT model series and thus the compact segment. The next big step came in 2005 with the center differential with asymmetric, dynamic power distribution. In 2007, a viscous coupling appeared on the front axle on the Audi R8, followed a year later by the sport differential. quattro with ultra technology was added to the range in 2016.
40 years of quattro: supremacy in motorsports
Audi first entered the World Rally Championship in 1981 and dominated the event just one season later. The Audi team won the manufacturers’ championship in 1982, and Finnish driver HannuMikkola secured the drivers’ trophy in 1983. Audi took both titles in 1984, with StigBlomqvist of Sweden becoming world champion. That year, Audi fielded its Sport quattro with a shorter wheelbase, followed in 1985 by the Sport quattro S1 producing 350 kW (476 PS). In 1987, Walter Röhrl drove a specially modified S1 to victory at the Pikes Peak hill climb in the USA – the perfect finishing touch to the exhilarating years of rallying.
Audi subsequently shifted to racing touring cars. In 1988, the manufacturer won both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships in the US Trans-Am at its first attempt with the Audi 200, before competing with considerable success in the IMSA GTO series the following year. In 1990/91,Audi entered its mighty V8 quattro in the Deutsche Tourenwagenmeisterschaft (DTM), winning two drivers’ championships. The A4 quattro Supertouring entered seven national championships in 1996 – and won them all. Two years later, the European ruling bodies banned all-wheel drive almost completely from touring car races.
An Audi all-wheel drive race car – the Audi R18 e-tron quattro with a hybrid drive – once again took to the track in 2012. A V6-TDI drove the rear wheels, while a flywheel accumulator supplied recuperated energy to two electric motors on the front axle. The car used a temporary quattro drive system during acceleration. It boasted a formidable track record, with three overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and two drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
40 years of quattro: Vorsprung durch Technik
quattro is an icon. The name represents safe driving and sportiness, technical expertise and competitive superiority – in short, Vorsprung durch Technik. The success of quattro models on the road and in racing has cemented this status, as has a series of legendary TV commercials and advertising campaigns. In 1986, professional rally driver Harald Demuth drove an Audi 100 CS quattro up the Kaipola ski jump in Finland. Circuit and rallycross champion MattiasEkström (Sweden) performed a similar feat in 2019, using an Audi e-tron quattro with three electric motors to scale the steepest section of the Streif ski course at Kitzbühel, negotiating gradients of as much as 85%.
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