Title: The four-wheel drive Audi Quattro

Authors: W. Treser

Addresses: Volkswagenwerk AG, West Germany

Abstract: Following a brief review of the development of road vehicle transmissions, the Audi Quattro is introduced as a new vehicle using permanent four-wheel drive for all road conditions. The use of four-wheel drive with optimum engine capacity enables the Audi Quattro to avoid the disadvantages of excessive drive-wheel tyre width. The longitudinally mounted transmission layout, incorporating a central differential, is described, and the functional advantages of the four-wheel drive system are outlined.

Keywords: vehicle design; Audi Quattro; transmission design; central differential; two-wheel drive; permanent four-wheel drive; drive wheel tyre width; aquaplaning; all-weather driving; fuel economy; vehicle configuration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1981.061258

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1981 Vol.2 No.2, pp.174 - 181

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

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