Since the first four-wheeled vehicles, the development of passenger cars and racing cars has exhibited a fluctuating balance. When a discovery is made in one field, it will inevitably be applied in another, often with unequaled success. Many of the innovations that come to mind are adaptations of racing components installed on production versions with modified functions created for passenger cars. For instance, variable valve timing is utilized in performance cars to increase power but in commuter cars to improve fuel economy in urban areas. A typically conservative automaker from Ingolstadt made a breakthrough for passenger cars in the 1970s that would make it famous. Audi’s introduction of the Quattro technology forever altered the racing industry and solidified the brand in consumers’ perceptions as a desirable, sporty, affordable choice that has attracted a significant following to this day.
As a tuning firm, it is exceedingly challenging for us to make improvements to some of the most capable and well-made vehicles to ever hit the road. Our customer base includes a sizable portion of Audi owners, and it is simple to understand why. From their entry-level RS3 to their top-of-the-line RS7 Sportback, their lineup of automobiles has something to offer practically everyone. Even a 5-cylinder turbocharged TTRS coupe has incredible power in an agile, short wheelbase frame designed exclusively for pushing the envelope of all-around performance potential. It wasn’t always the case, despite the fact that Audi is renowned for their excellent racing vehicles and their aptitude at transferring those innovations to production versions.
Four auto manufacturers came together to form Audi in the beginning under the moniker Auto Union. The vehicles built under the Auto Union brand were not in any way geared for racing and featured stereotyped looks from the depression-era fashions. August Horch, one of the founders, stood out in this aspect because he had a passion for motorsports. In fact, his backers for his first automobile company had enough of his wasteful spending of their money and withdrew from his company. He was no longer in charge of the Horsch automobile company, so he returned a short while later with another automobile business in the same city. This time, in a moment of brilliant insight, he would give it the name Horsch Automobile Company. Let’s talk about German ingenuity. He may have as well referred to it as “Horch 2.” It was a blessing that the German government refused to let the establishment of a second firm with the same name because it was likely familiar with dealing with this kind of absurd lack of flexibility before. Horch accomplished the most German thing imaginable by keeping the name unchanged and simply translating it into Latin. For the first time, Audi was introduced to the world under its own name.
After 1934, Audi joined with Auto Union, which had previously rebranded as Horch and added the four rings to their logo. Not until the middle of the 1960s would the name Audi be reintroduced. Before the business made its first significant advancementdiscovering the possibility of an effective all-wheel-drive system for passenger carsit would take another ten years.
Audi engineer Jrg Bensinger fell in love with an all-wheel-drive platform that the automaker had created for the German military while conducting some winter testing. The front-wheel-drive platforms Audi was testing for production cars were comprehensively surpassed by the front-wheel-drive Iltis, an off-road truck of sorts, on the cold Finnish terrain. Their center differential design, which included a hollow secondary shaft encasing a tertiary shaft and enabled passenger cars to have all-wheel drives without the need for a transfer case and an additional driveshaft, was inspired by this finding. Due to the equally distributed torque from the engine, the small design kept the cars low to the ground while maintaining exceptional stability. It was given the name Quattro. The addition of a “t” to the term for “four” is yet another gift from German ingenuity to the automotive industry.
When the Quattro system made its debut in Group B, the pinnacle of racing, it was an instant hit. Audi’s first compact Sportback, the Quattro Coupe, included all the key elements for which the company is now renowned. The real innovation of Audi was immediately evident in Rally as they provided the only all-wheel-drive vehicle available in those early Group B races. When driven by renowned Audi drivers like Michele Mouton and Hans Stuck, the Quattro was unstoppable thanks to its distinctive 5-cylinder turbo engine that produced nearly 500 horsepower. Most notably, Walter Rhl was the first driver of an Audi Quattro. After recognizing the vehicle’s potential, he was contacted by the production team. The rally great continues to laud the S1 and Group B today, but his victory at Pike’s Peak is what made him famous. Before the entire route was paved due to mounting safety concerns, Rhl propelled the S1 to its third record-breaking hill climb there at Millen Mountain and managed to seal the S1 and his run as the fastest ever recorded. That nerve-wracking accomplishment showed Rhl’s capacity to push himself and the Quattro to their physical limitations as well as his ability to determine the point at which one may (un)safely attempt the renowned hill-climb.
Audi left Group B in 1986 and turned their attention to the American market. Because of their successes in the racing scene, they enjoyed success in the European market, but Americans were less familiar with the series in which the Quattro finally outperformed competitors. In order to produce the 1988 200 Trans-Am automobiles, Audi redesign their 200 model. In comparison to the RWD, V8, coupes that dominated the series, these huge sedans with their pathetic 5-cylinder engines appeared to be the German equivalent of a joke. The Audi squad finished second in its first race and won the pole for the following one. The Americans swiftly shifted their attention away from the awkward youths and onto Audi as a rival. That 1988 season had barely begun when the other teams started to lobby for more stringent regulations on their vehicles on the grounds that the Audi had a “unfair edge.” Before the governing authority acknowledged that the Audis were out of balance, had smaller tires, a more constrained turbo intake, and weight disadvantages, the season had not even ended. Despite being barred for the following year, Audi nevertheless easily won the season.
Audi advanced to the top level of production racing in America in place of Trans-Am. Audi joined the IMSA series in 1989. To create their IMSA 90, they basically threw out the entire 90 Quattro, a similarly nondescript sedan to the 200. Though not nearly as stunning as the 200 Trans-Am, the 90 was fairly popular. They stayed in IMSA for two seasons before leaving to concentrate on DTM in Germany.
Audi still participates in IMSA and other racing today. The Quattro system has been adopted and lauded by almost every significant manufacturer as a result of their amazing discovery of the advantages of the AWD system for passenger automobiles. The boxy little Audi is where the WRX, Lan Evo, GTR, and x-Drive BMWs all had their start. The Quattro systems are still available for Audi’s current production vehicles, albeit in more modern iterations than the largely mechanical racing versions seen in the 1980s and 1990s. We might not have ever had some of the most capable vehicles ever built if not for those early racing successes in the Quattro.
We currently have multiple generations of the original Quattro’s grandchildren. Before abandoning the 5-cylinder turbo after 21 years with the introduction of the first S4, Audi continued to be fixated on it. Our latest model, the B9 S4, is a convergence of luxury and performance born from the split history Audi experienced both on and off the track. The S4 is one of the most competitive vehicles on the road and is a favorite among fans all over the world thanks to its tremendous power and handling capabilities. The S4 is still a terrific platform, even though they might not possess the same unrestrained sense of dread as the previous Quattro did. Audi may have created the most complete passenger sedan on the market thanks to their achievements in racing and on rally stages across the globe.
The Quattro system has now completed its circle. These “huge Audis” have been tested, raced, and produced for more than 40 years, earning them the undisputed throne in AWD performance. Better passenger vehicles and some of the most technologically advanced race cars in the world were produced as a result of the improvements in passenger car development that helped Audi to new heights in the 1980s and 1990s.
In This Article...
Audi invented all-wheel drive, right?
Audi quattro was the first permanent all-wheel drive system for passenger cars when it was introduced 35 years ago. Since then, there have been countless imitations, but none that compare.
Audi first used AWD when?
Given that the word “quattro” is associated with Audi’s all-wheel drive system, the Italian word for “four” seems fitting. However, it wasn’t always like this. Actually a separate vehicle, the Audi Quattro (yep, with a capital Q) debuted in 1980.
In addition to being the first Audi vehicle with AWD, Quattro also entered competitive rally racing as a result of a regulation modification that made the drive system acceptable. Four world championships were won by the car for the company in the early 1980s. After 40 years, the term Quattro now specifically refers to the automaker’s AWD technology, which is offered on the majority of its portfolio and is officially trademarked as quattro in lowercase.
What does a winning rally car’s drive system have to do with what the typical consumer should care about or even want? Of course, for the same factors that made the Audi Quattro successful in racing.
Who is the inventor of all-wheel drive?
I went to Birmingham’s National Exhibition Center’s largest Classic Car Show last month, which was held there.
There were numerous vehicles from my youth on display during this year’s show, which was the biggest and most prosperous in the event’s history. And some I had never even heard of before but were incredible.
One in particular attracted my attentiona 1952 Ferguson F4 Prototypeand piqued my curiosity about the development of 4X4s and other forms of all-wheel drive.
British engineer Joseph Diplock created the first four-wheel drive (or 4WD) system in 1893 and received a patent for it. It was designed for traction motors. Ferdinand Porsche created a four-wheel drive electric vehicle six years later.
The 1903 Spyker 60 HP, which is on display in the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands, was the first four-wheel-drive internal combustion vehicle in history.
Until the Second World War, go-anywhere-44 utility vehicles were not necessary. That would be the first production-made Jeep as we know it today, constructed by Willys and Ford. History reveals that GAZ, which constructed the GAZ-61 in 1938, actually beat them to it, but at the time, the world was less aware of what was happening in Russia.
All-wheel drive automobiles are widely used today. I quickly counted the four cars in my family and found that three of theman American, a German, and a Japanesehave permanent all-wheel drive.
Harry Ferguson, the inventor of the modern agricultural tractor, created the Ferguson Formula, a 4WD system for cars, in a facility close to Coventry, England, in the early 1950s.
It is equipped with four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel drive, Dunlop four-wheel disc brakes, and the Maxaret anti-locking system. It is powered by a 2.2-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine.
The FF (Ferguson Formula) technique was initially used by the American Motors Corporation to mass produce passenger cars.
The 1980 Eagle model line was the first full lineup (sedan, coupe, and wagon) of permanently automatic all-wheel-drive passenger automobiles, and it was the only one made in America.
Has Audi pioneered four-wheel drive?
The trademark quattro, which translates to “four” in Italian, is used by the car manufacturer Audi to designate the usage of all-wheel drive (AWD) systems or technologies on particular types of their vehicles.
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The German automaker Volkswagen Group’s subsidiary Audi AG owns the registered trademark “quattro.”
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The permanent four-wheel drive Audi Quattro model, often known as the Ur-Quattro, was the vehicle that originally featured Quattro in 1980. (meaning “original” or “first”). All following Audi AWD models have been referred to as “quattro” since then. In honor of its former namesake, the term “quattro” is now usually spelt with a lower case “q” thanks to nomenclature rights obtained from the trademark.
Audi has 4WD or AWD?
Since quattro has been methodically developed over the past 40 years to deliver an unmatched performance in any weather, there is currently no Audi 4WD system.
Do they all have quattros?
vehicles that support quattro Audi is aware that each car is unique and has particular requirements that must be satisfied in order for it to operate at its peak level on the road. According to this idea, several Quattro configurations are offered on various Audi vehicles.
What makes Audi Quattro superior?
With driver confidence and active safety, quattro provides motorists with a number of benefits over a conventional all-wheel drive system. On a range of driving surfaces, drivers are aware that all four wheels will consistently deliver trustworthy traction: windy circumstances. seasonal precipitation (sleet, snow, hail)
Can the Audi Quattro handle snow?
You commuters this week were undoubtedly reminded of one very crucial factwe do, in fact, live in Canadaby the recent snowfall. You probably won’t be able to avoid the coldest season in Canada no matter how hard you try. What then, if we cannot escape the winter? Join it then, of course. And what better way than in the new A4 to face our snowy fate. It can make our Canadian winters a little more tolerable when equipped with the strength of Audi quattro all-wheel drive and the latest technologies to make it through the toughest kinds of weather.
There is merit in having an athlete who is able to excel in a variety of sports. This is an excellent comparison for the Audi A4. It is quite capable in all weather conditions and will easily get you through the slush and snow. It isn’t the fastest sports sedan available, no. In reality, it possibly lacks the laser-like focus that some other European sedans may have, but the A4’s main selling point isn’t that (although, we are certainly excited for the S4 to arrive).
The A4 is a versatile athlete who excels in all of its endeavors. During cottage season, it will take you comfortably and silently up those congested Northern routes. You’ll smile as you speed over the winding backroads amidst the changing leaves and autumnal colors. With quattro all-wheel drive and some of the greatest LED headlights on the market, it excels in our snowy winters. The A4 pushes through even the harshest circumstances because it is enthusiastic and bright.
Additionally, the A4’s interior is a pleasant place to pass some time. It is obvious that the engineers at Audi spent a lot of time perfecting the materials and ergonomics to create essentially the ideally suited interior thanks to the soft leather and clever tiny details (Alcantara lining around the seatbelt holders so the leather doesn’t wear!). Unquestionably finer than any other vehicle in this price range. Inside the A4, quiet comfort is the name of the game. All controls are within easy reach, and the numerous switches and knobs have a lovely tactile feel.
Speaking of the different knobs and switches, the A4’s technology is guaranteed to impress. We get a peek of the future when we choose the optional Audi virtual cockpit, which turns the conventional analog gauges into an entirely new digital experience. The 12.3-inch high-resolution LCD panel gives the driver all the information they require in a neat and straightforward manner. With the help of Apple CarPlay, your mobile device may seamlessly connect to the car, and safety features like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Traffic Jam Assist make dangerous driving much simpler.
The A4’s calm demeanor is a welcome surprise as well. It never seems to struggle when traveling down the highway or when passing vehicles since its turbocharged 4-cylinder engine moves the vehicle faster than you may imagine. The tiny engine offers outstanding fuel efficiency even during more energetic driving, and blind spot sensors on the inside of the mirrors assist in identifying traffic and the surrounding environment while you’re driving. The steering wheel has a wonderful weight to it and a lovely curve that seems to fit your hands well.
Simply said, the Audi A4 is among the most complete sports sedans available for the money, and every time you lock the doors and store it at the end of the day, you feel delighted. Possibly not a speedster for a marathon, but an all-weather warrior? Indeed, I do.