Three quarter view of an A6 Allroad in motion.

quattro®

Legendary quattro all-wheel drive. Only from Audi.

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 features

  • Illustration of the Audi rear torque splitter.
  • Demonstration of the quattro torque vectoring feature.
  • Illustration of the Audi rear sport differential.
  • Illustration of the Audi rear torque splitter.

  • 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.

  • 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. Watch the videos below to learn about the different systems.

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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.

Explore EV Technology
  • Three quarter view of an e-tron GT in motion.
  • Demonstration of the e-torque vectoring plus function.
  • Three quarter view of an e-tron GT in motion.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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.

A 1980s Audi vehicle driving through the snow.

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.

When driving during cold, rainy, snowy or icy weather conditions, ensure that your vehicle is equipped with appropriate all-season or winter tires. Even with appropriate tires, you must always drive in a manner appropriate for the weather, visibility and road conditions.

Experience quattro in action.

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Audi of America takes efforts to ensure the accuracy of information on the general vehicle information pages. Models are shown for illustration purposes only and may include features that are not available on the US model. As errors may occur or availability may change, please see dealer for complete details and current model specifications.