A gripping success story - Audi produces its eight-millionth quattro

Audi is quattro and quattro is Audi. The famous all-wheel drive system has been a defining feature of the Vorsprung durch Technik brand for over 35 years, and proof of that enduring appeal has been provided this week by the eight-millionth quattro-equipped model to leave the production line. Fittingly, the worthy recipient of this particularly momentous example of the all-weather road-holding and driver appeal amplifier is a new Audi Q5 in Garnet Red fresh from a brand new plant in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico.

Quattro technology made its debut in 1980, and today it is available in more than 100 model versions. The quattro all-wheel drive system is standard in the Audi Q7, the Audi A4 allroad quattro, the Audi A6 allroad quattro, the Audi A8, the Audi R8 and all S and RS models. It is also available as an option in all other model series'.

Audi offers quattro all-wheel drive in different versions tailored to each model. For the compact model series with transverse-mounted engines, an electronically-controlled hydraulic multi-plate clutch is mounted to the rear axle. On the R8 mid-engine sports car, the multi-plate clutch is mounted to the front axle. According to the driving situation encountered, these active systems distribute drive torque variably to both axles.