Audi quattro®: What Does it Mean?

Have you ever seen the “quattro” badge on the back of an Audi and wondered what it stood for? You’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll be going over what vehicles quattro® is found in, the origin of the Audi quattro® system, what it is, and should you choose it when buying your next Audi.

Audi quattro® is Available On:

• A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8
• S3, S4, S5, S6 (Sport RD), S7
• RS 3, RS 5 (Sport RD), RS 7
• Q3, Q5, Q7, Q8
• SQ5
• TT, TTS, TT RS
• R8

Where Did Audi quattro® Start?

It all started when Audi engineers examined military vehicles hugging icy roads in the Alps, but sports cars were unable to drive in such conditions due to sliding. So they wanted to combine the two and make sports cars capable of driving on this terrain. But how? They came out with a concept car, the “Audi Quattro” in the late ’70s. It was then in the late ’80s when the first Audi Quattro was produced. The Audi Quattro was the first of its kind because it was a high-performance four-wheel-drive sports car. This jump-started an innovation for Audi that has been around for 30 years and won’t stop in the future. Enough about the vehicle, what about the word “quattro®”?

What is Audi Quattro®?

Before any confusion, Audi labeled the vehicle with a “Q” and the revolutionary AWD system with a “q”. So, we gave a little hint of what quattro® is in the previous paragraph and it isn’t a specific vehicle. “Quattro” means four in Italian and since it is found on a car, it means 4 wheel drive. With that said, Audi quattro® is an all-wheel-drive system that is not like any other OEMs that offer AWD. Since the introduction of the four-wheel-drive system, Audi has produced over 10 million quattro® units, which is the most permanent four-wheel-drive vehicles produced by a premium brand.

This four-wheel-drive system created by Audi immediately responds to different wheel speeds by dynamically adjusting its power to meet the needs of the vehicle’s wheels, which results in the best traction possible. In short, the way that Audi designed this system is it gives an Audi quattro® vehicle much more grip than other four-wheel-drive systems provided by OEMs on the market. Depending on the driving situation, whether it be rain, sleet, or snow, the quattro® active system distributes the road’s forces variably which delivers the driver the best and safest driving experience. Not only does it tailor to the climate, but it also tailors to specific vehicles.

Should I choose Audi quattro®?

This is a great question because typically the quattro® trim in Audi’s is considerably more expensive. However, if you experience any of the driving situations listed, the answer is yes, the money is totally worth it.

• Regular snowy or icy winters
• Rural living
• Regularly towing
• Legally racing
• Hilly terrain

Even if you don’t find yourself in any of the above situations, the quattro® system is arguably safer than two-wheel drive in any driving situation. Four wheels moving a vehicle forward versus two wheels, will always provide more grip to the road, which in turn will be safer. So if you are looking for extra peace of mind while driving in any situation, quattro® is the way to go.

Audi quattro® Conclusion

Again, Audi Quattro and Audi quattro® are two different things. The “Q” relates to the revolutionary high-performance four-wheel-drive sports car that initiated the quattro® movement for Audi. Audi is continuing to refine this system and will not stop implementing it in future vehicles any time soon. In fact, with electric vehicles being the norm by 2030, Audi’s quattro® system will stand out in the future since the majority of electric vehicles will have 4-wheel-drive out of the factory. Audi was ahead of the game in the ’80s and will continue to be ahead of the game in the future, especially with the addition of Ken Block to lead the new performance electric vehicle initiative.

If you are interested in more Audi content, here is our write-up on How to Build a 500hp B8/B8.5 S4.