Quattro generation I

History

After the Second World War Volkswagen Group has been developing four-wheel drive (4WD). The Volkswagen Kübelwagen, Volkswagen Schwimmwagen and Volkswagen Kommandeurwagen were all military vehicles which required all four road wheels to be "driven", the latter being a 4WD Volkswagen Beetle. Their military, and four wheel drive experiences later aided them in designing the Volkswagen Iltis for the German military (Bundeswehr) in the 1970s. The Iltis utilized an early form of 4WD, which would later become synonymous with "quattro".

In that original quattro system, later found in road-going passenger cars, the engine and transmission are situated in a longitudinal position. Torque is sent through the transmission to a mechanical centre differential^[ (commonly abbreviated to "diff") which apportions (distributes) the torque between front and rear driven axles. 4WD was permanently active.

Evolution

Audi has never officially debuted quattro in specific generations—changes to quattro technology have generally been debuted with a specific range or model in the range and then brought into other models during appropriate points in the model cycle.

The exception to the above was the debut of the 2010 RS5 which was, amongst other things, heralded by Audi as the debut of a new generation of quattro.

quattro generation I

Used from 1981 to 1987 in Audi Quattro turbo coupé, Audi 80 B2 platform (1978–1987, Audi 4000 in North American market), Audi Coupé quattro B2 platform (1984–1988), Audi 100 C3 platform (1983–1987, Audi 5000 in North American market). Also, starting from 1984, used on the Volkswagen VW Passat B2 platform (VW Quantum in the US market) where it was known as Syncro.

System type: Permanent four-wheel drive.

Open centre differential, manually lockable via switch on centre console.

Open rear differential, manually lockable via switch on centre console.

Open front differential, no lock. - ABS disabled when locked.

How does the system perform: When all differentials are unlocked, the car will not be able to move if one wheel (front or rear) loses traction (is on ice or raised in the air). When center differential is locked with rear differential unlocked, the car will not be able to move if one front wheel and one rear wheel lose traction. When rear differential locked with center unlocked, the car will not be able to move if two rears or one front loses traction. When both center and rear differentials are locked, the car will not be able to move if two rears and one front lose traction.

After 1987, Audi replaced a manually locking centre differential with the Torsen (torque sensing) Type 1 ("T1") centre differential. This allowed engine torque to be automatically directed to individual axles as driving conditions, and grip warranted. Under 'normal' conditions (where grip in both front and rear axles is equal), torque is split between front and rear with a 'default" 50:50 distribution in many, though not all, versions. In adverse conditions (i.e., when there is variation in grip between front and rear), a maximum of 67-80% (depending on the transmission, or model of Torsen diff) of the engine's torque can be directed to the front or rear axles.

Date: 2016-01-05; view: 740