Audi Unveils its New Quattro System with Ultra Technology

1. The new quattro sends full power to the front

Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system has long held the reputation as both a reliable and effective means for providing drivers with the support needed to safely traverse even the most difficult of driving situations. Last year, Audi introduced a new variation of the system called “quattro with ultra technology.” Little is known about its enhancements, so we tried to break down some of the new features.

Unlike the quattro, the quattro ultra system is not a permanent four-wheel drive system. Referred to as the "all-wheel-drive system fit for the future," quattro ultra adds the ability to seamlessly decouple the rear axle and differential completely; this, in turn, sends full power to the front wheels to improve the car’s fuel economy.

This improvement of emissions and efficiency occurs when the system detects the car’s grip on the road is sufficient enough that four wheels aren’t required to keep things steady.

>>Join the conversation about Audi's new quattro ultra system right here in Audiworld.com.

2. Two electronically-controlled clutches

One clutch is located up front on the prop shaft; specifically, it’s placed at the back of the gearbox. The other is inside the rear differential. When the car’s system detects four-wheel drive is unnecessary, the front clutch will disconnect the prop shaft, thus sending all torque to the front wheels. When this happens, the rear clutch opens to decouple the rear axle and reduce as much friction as possible. Audi then uses an electric motor to reactive and connect the front-clutch, and re-engage all four wheels. It sounds like a lot, but all told, the system is able to complete this "adjustment," if you will, in 200-250 milliseconds.

>>Join the conversation about Audi's new quattro ultra system right here in Audiworld.com.

3. It takes a a ton of tech to pull this off

There are a ton of sensors in the Audi quattro ultra, and the car’s computer uses the information they collect to analyze everything going on in and around the vehicle, including wheel speed, incline, steering angle and more. Updates are sent every 10 milliseconds.

>>Join the conversation about Audi's new quattro ultra system right here in Audiworld.com.

4. So, is it worth it?

As with any sort of technologically-based improvement, there’s an increase in cost tied to the new capabilities. The question here is whether or not having this type of drivetrain worth the extra dough? Well, Audi doesn’t want the prospective owner to focus on that. Instead, the company promises a fuel economy improvement of at least 5% on the highway. While some might argue that this actually does more to help Audi’s emission ratings (as opposed to buyers’ wallets), when you take into consideration how many tanks of gas the car could potentially save long-distance drivers on an annual basis, the case can be made into a strong one.

>>Join the conversation about Audi's new quattro ultra system right here in Audiworld.com.

5. Ultra select models

Audi's new quattro system with ultra technology was officially introduced with this year’s Audi A4 Allroad. Today, it can be found on most next-gen models that feature longitudinally-mounted front engines. This includes the new Q7, Q5, A5, and more.

>>Join the conversation about Audi's new quattro ultra system right here in Audiworld.com.

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