Quattro/4Motion Is Tied With Subaru's Symmetrical AWD as the Best In the Business!

[stroker4]

I found a video that highlights the differences between AWD systems from an assortment of manufacturers. At the very top of the heap, 4Motion/Quattro and Symmetrical AWD. This was a very impressive video because it shows just how sophisticated Audi's Quattro is in comparison to other manufacturers. Though there was not an Audi in this video, the Volkswagen Passat utilizes a near identical AWD system as the Audi A4.

Here is the video:

http://video.ultimatestreet.com/video/8107/not-all-awd-systems-are-the-same

Any opinions?

[Greedo]

But seriously guys, seriously, what's better...quattro or X-drive?

Seriously.

Does anyone know the answer?

I seriously want to know.

Twat

[EErie B6]

looks like it lost to me. hardly a tie.

BTW: that passat uses a Haldex AWD, different from Torsion Quattro... Haldex version behaves more like the Honda. Its not "near identical", its completely different.

Torsion > Haldex any day of the week.

[dbmA4]

50% of my decision in buying the Audi was due to Quattro, having been in an accident with a reactive AWD system, I was convinced by the Audi salesperson and some research that Quattro is indeed the best AWD system on the market (yes there is Subaru, but the cars as a whole are not as refined obviously).

For the video's use of a Passat
"Disadvantages of the Haldex Traction system include: the vehicle has inherent front-wheel drive handling characteristics.
Another important disadvantage of the Haldex system is the requirement for all four tyres to be of identical wear levels (and rolling radii), due to the Haldex requiring data from all four road wheel speed sensors."

Torsen > Haldex

[dracolnyte]

But seriously guys, seriously, what's better...quattro or X-drive?

Seriously.

Does anyone know the answer?

I seriously want to know.

Twat
I saw a video on youtube before where it compared x-drive and quattro on rollers and the X3 clearly won the face off... lemme try to find you that video and post it here. I also will try to verify this with my friends 328xi vs my A4 quattro.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7-qxXB4y30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDdB6scffPM&feature=related

[dracolnyte]

also, quattro got owned here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmCgHdfyYl0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwbIW1Zma0U&feature=related

[dracolnyte]

In my honest opinion from a business perspective, quattro is just a marketing gimmick, all hyped up by Audi.
From a technical perspective, the Torsen differential claims that it can instantaneously transfer power from the slipping wheel(s) to the wheel(s) that have the most traction. What it fails to mention is that it cannot instantaneously transfer all the torque from one wheel to another; that is its design flaw. Also I think the center differential can only transfer so much torque to each axle. Third generation Torsen can send torque in a 1:4 ratio to the axles? So that means the maximum amount of power one axle can receive is only 80% of the engine's output.

That is where x-Drive have its advantages. Sure x-Drive is a reactive type AWD system and there might be a slight delay in the transfer of power, but once the computer detects slippage, it stops sending power to the wheels that are losing traction and sends all the power to the wheels that still have traction. This is all done within 100ms, so it feels instantaneous to us anyways.

Don't get me wrong, I am still a loyal Audi enthusiast, and I love all Audi cars but I am just trying to put out the facts in an unbiased manner. I hope I am proven otherwise.

[ItsDubC]

Crown gear differential FTW [:)]

[dracolnyte]

The only application, I think, where quattro has an advantage over x-Drive is if both car's ECU fail, ESP cannot actively direct torque, and in rally racing.