How the legendary Audi quattro system works – Video

See the power of Audi quattro in action and discover how its renowned all-wheel drive technology delivers driving confidence in all conditions.

For quattro, Audi’s engineers aimed to build an all-wheel drive sports car without the need for a traditional transfer box, as used in many traditional off roaders. They’re bulky and add significant weight – hardly ideal in a motorsport application. Audi’s system makes use of a centre differential.

A differential is a component which allows the engine’s torque to be divided between driven wheels even if they are rotating at different speeds. Ordinarily, one will be mounted on each driven axle, but quattro makes use of one to separate torque between front and rear wheels too. Mounted within the gearbox, it connects the two axles when slip is detected, allowing an infinitely variable split of torque depending on road conditions. Compared to a traditional transfer box, this system is much lighter and more efficient.

It’s great for road cars, too. In most applications, torque is split 50:50 from front to rear in order to provide greater stability, though sportier models like the RS4 and RS6 have a more rearward bias.