Year 1980 when the first Audi quattro in history was presented at the Geneva Motor Show. Four decades later, the brand with four rings has accumulated experience that places it as a benchmark in quattro permanent drive technology, which is used in Audis to better transmit power to the road.
The legendary quattro drive has served Audi to write a success story: approximately twelve million vehicles with quattro four-wheel drive have been built to date, vehicles that enhance the brand’s unique DNA. With the exception of the A1, all current Audi models are available with quattro all-wheel drive versions.
Audi’s quattro technology is versatile and tailored to suit every vehicle concept. All existing variants have a common goal, to improve stability and grip limits by selectively braking the wheels at the appropriate time while driving. The main mission of quattro at Audi is to ensure that the car is controlled for drivers who unexpectedly come to the side of a slippery road.
essential for survival
When it comes to driving on surfaces with little or no grip such as snow or ice, all-wheel drive is essential to achieve a high level of safety and efficiency. It is in this situation when Audi’s quattro drive, the technology responsible for distributing the force from the engine between the four wheels of the vehicle, thus becomes essential for stability, forward momentum and, consequently, safety.
All Audis with quattro drive benefit from a selective wheel torque control system that manages to facilitate driving at its dynamic limit through slight interventions in the braking system. In particular, it slightly brakes the inside curve wheel -which has the lowest load- when driving dynamically and sportily. The difference in propulsion forces ensures that the vehicle turns easily and the behavior is more neutral.
The importance of having quattro drive when driving on icy or snowy surfaces is related to both safety and efficiency. The intelligent distribution of power to each wheel of the vehicle translates into higher dynamic possibilities: curves can be tackled more quickly and, in turn, can be followed with less steering effort and with the desired precision which trajectory Understeer and the vehicle enters the curve according to the angle set by the steering.
quattro electric drive
quattro drive is also available in Audi’s electric models. The German brand with four rings combines quattro and e-tron in a powerful combination of high performance and impressive economy, offering a four-wheel drive system that is highly variable, dynamic and precise , while making efficient use of Energy.
Enjoying electric quattro drive is possible by configuring one electric motor on the front axle and one or two motors on the rear axle. If needed, the front axle moves in milliseconds and is imperceptible to the driver, activating only when needed. Audi integrates functions that enable variable torque distribution such as electric vectoring, selective torque control, brake intervention or energy recovery.
As with quattro models equipped with a combustion engine, the driver can adapt the response of the electric quattro via Audi drive select. There are different profiles that adapt the electric traction, suspension and other systems to road conditions and personal preferences.
more emotions than before
The new season of Audi Winter driving experience driving courses on snow and ice in the ski resorts of Baqueira-Beret and Sierra Nevada allows you to learn all the secrets of the efficiency of Audi’s quattro drive. In 2023, these courses have important new features and expanded offerings for customers to improve their safety behind the wheel while enjoying the technology of Audi vehicles and an exciting experience.
Attendees can live several exciting days designed to improve their technique behind the wheel driving some of the representatives of the Audi RS range, such as the RS 3 Sportback, the RS 4 Avant and RS 5 Sportback, the RS Q3 Sportback, the TT RS Coupé and the RS e-tron GT with electric propulsion, depending on the season selected.
The basis of the courses is to work on the anticipation, agility and reaction time of the participants on a low-adherence surface such as snow, thus improving the ability to overcome the unexpected events that we may encounter on a daily basis driving. Audi’s team of professional monitors has designed a course where, after the first theoretical part, various exercises are carried out to learn how to dose the braking force and calculate the distance required to stop the car, control the rolling and sliding and make the curves correctly.
On the ice and snow circuit, the participants check their evolution by thoroughly testing the Audi quattro drive and enjoy the unique sensation of driving a powerful sports car on a very low-adherence surface, putting everything they have learned into practice.
Audi Winter driving experience in Baqueira Beret
The 2023 courses at the Valle de Arán station include important innovations. Attendees will have a more exclusive space while theoretical classes are given and enjoy a day in the snow at the renovated Audi Lodge. The circuit route was extended, covering almost double the area, and the new Audi Mountain driving experience course was added to the program.
Focused on learning basic safety concepts for driving on mountain roads, in the Audi Mountain driving experience course participants can put what they’ve learned into practice on Baqueira’s mountain roads, and end up on the ice and snow circuit at the controls of the Audi RS e-tron GT, the first 100% electric RS model. These courses will be held individually every Saturday and Sunday until February 26, at a price of 110 euros (90 euros for Audi customers).
As for the Audi Winter driving experience courses, which take place every weekend until February 26, the price is 420 euros (360 euros for Audi customers), including a 25% discount voucher on purchase of two ski passes for skiing at the resort, the loan of Salomon ski equipment for one day and a lunch for one person at the Möet Winter Lounge.
Audi Winter driving experience in the Sierra Nevada
Ski resort courses in southern Spain, as something new this season, are also held every Friday, to meet the great reception and demand. In addition, a new modality has been incorporated, the Audi Night Winter experience driving course, which allows attendees to live a more challenging experience: night driving on an illuminated circuit, when the ski slopes are closed.
The Audi Winter driving experience courses are held every weekend until February 26, and every Friday from January 27 to February 24. In turn, the Audi Night Winter experience courses are held every Thursday on the following dates: January 26 and February 2, 16 and 23.
The experience includes two ski passes for skiing at the resort, the loan of Salomon ski equipment for one day and a lunch for one person at La Alcazaba Restaurant, or dinner at the Rumaykiyya hotel on the Audi Night Winter experience course. The price of the Audi Winter driving experience courses is 340 euros (300 euros for Audi customers) and the price of the Audi Night Winter experience courses is 440 euros for Audi customers (400 euros for to Audi customers).
Reservations and inquiries about the dates and times of the Audi Winter driving experience courses in Sierra Nevada and Baqueira Beret can be made through the website www.audidrivingperience.es.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
