What is quattro®? It's what sets us apart from the rest.

quattro® isn’t just an all-wheel drive system—it’s what makes an Audi an Audi. Combining exceptional driving dynamics with extraordinary traction and efficiency, quattro creates a driving experience like no other.

quattro history is Audi history

The legend of quattro began nearly five decades ago—and the story is still unfolding. Discover the full timeline below.

Past.

quattro came to be in the winter of 1976, when Audi engineers noticed that AWD prototypes outperformed their FWD counterparts in the deep snow. Shortly after, quattro became the first permanent all-wheel drive system for passenger cars. Since then, it's inspired many imitations—but no equal.

Present.

Since 1980, Audi has built nearly 11 million vehicles with quattro. The technology has grown and evolved along with the vehicles, and these days, more than 80% of current models have at least one quattro variant, making quattro synonymous with the Audi name.

Future.

As Audi enters a new age of mobility, so will quattro. The Audi activesphere concept comes equipped with a redefined quattro system imbued with driving pleasure and fascinating augmented reality experiences—taking it to a whole new level.

quattro features

Variable torque split

A variable torque split between the front and rear wheels delivers power where and when it's needed most, granting more traction to the axle with the most grip for a surefooted feeling in almost any condition.

Torque vectoring

Torque vectoring works by braking the inside wheel in corners, proactively transferring torque to the outside wheel—which helps turn the car and improve handling performance.

Rear sport differential

The available rear sport differential sends power to the outside rear wheel when turning, allowing the rear wheel to rotate faster for improved cornering performance.

Rear torque splitter

Standard on the RS 3, the rear torque splitter diverts available rear power individually to the rear wheels when needed—providing sharp, precise handling.

quattro systems

One-size-fits-all isn’t in our vocabulary. That’s why we’ve tailored quattro to complement each and every one of our models—for an exhilarating ride, every time.

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quattro with ultra

Legendary quattro all-wheel drive with ultra technology proactively switches to all-wheel drive in specific driving circumstances—offering additional grip before it’s needed, and efficiency when it's not.

Multi-plate clutch

Under normal driving conditions, the quattro system directs most of its power to the front wheels for improved efficiency. When conditions become demanding, more torque is sent to the rear wheels for traction you can trust.

Self-locking differential

This quattro system normally splits torque between the front and rear, always powering all four wheels. Power can be quickly sent to the axle with the best traction for enhanced control depending on driving conditions.

Reimagined for an electric future

Driving an EV doesn’t mean compromising performance. Audi e-quattro systems deliver the same exceptional driving dynamics that Audi has been providing for decades—so you can make the switch with confidence.

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Quick response.

Audi e-quattro distributes torque from the electric motors to the wheels in around 30 milliseconds, providing a remarkable level of control.

e-torque vectoring plus

Available on e-tron S and e-tron GT models, e-torque vectoring plus quickly distributes torque on the rear axle to the wheel that needs it most—making for excellent traction and improved agility when powering through turns.

Maximum efficiency.

Under normal driving conditions, e-quattro delivers power to a single axle, helping reduce energy consumption—and boosting your vehicle’s range capabilities as a result.