It there any connection between the Audi Quattro four wheel drive system and AWD on Subaru.

It was a remark passed by Audi salesman, nice car (Subaru WRX) they uses our four wheel drive system.

So who copied who??

 

I think Audi were doing 4 wheel drive cars in the early 80's. Quite a bit before the Impreza I think...

 

Subaru launched their first 4wd in 1972.

Rich

 

Audi defo did it first on cars in the 80's

 

Haven't most Subaru's had permanent 4WD since the late 70's? I know Audi were the first to use it in the WRC in the 80's but I doubt if Subaru were the 1st in the production world, even if they predated Audi. How about Land Rover for example?

You should have asked the salesman why Audi doesn't use permanent 4WD now?

Matt

 

As far as i know audi were the first to use it in rally and on road cars. Off road vehicles is another matter.

 

First 4wd car available in the UK was the Jensen Interceptor.

 

They do.....RS4. RS6, S4, S6, S8, basically anything that says Quattro that isn't a A3 has permenant 4wd

 

mutant_matt: I thought they did on Quattro models

http://www.audi.co.uk/experience/techdesign/quattro.jsp

I quote:
In 1980, Audi turned a corner: Quattro was born
The cornering and wet road-holding of Audi’s permanent four-wheel drive system is universally recognised as a phenomenon. On the day of its launch, quattro created shock-waves throughout the motoring world. In one fell swoop, it redefined the public’s concept of a high-performance road car and sent other manufacturers scuttling back to their drawing boards.

Quite simply, quattro is one of the most important motoring inventions ever - the kingpin around which automotive design turned and headed off in a totally new direction. Now using fifth-generation technology, it’s an idea that still holds fast on both road and racetrack.

So when did the first Subaru AWD come out??

 

I think it's decided by the orientation of the engine, so any models with transverse motors (so the TT as well) only have the part time Haldex system.

According to this link the stylish and fashionable Subaru Leon estate was the pioneer of AWD vehicles back in 1972

Deano

[Edited by Beemer_Deano - 7/16/2003 6:57:33 PM]

 

Now I am confused, I saw an Audi Quattro in the garage the other day, now you tell me it’s a part time Haldex system

What’s the difference.

 

I remember seeing a thread (might have been on here) with lots of info and a lot of Audi purists complaining that Haldex might not be worthy of the Quattro name, especially as Audi don't exactly shout from the rooftops that the A3 and TT are 100% FWD most of the time. I can't find that thread, but remembered Difflock was one of the quoted sources and found this snippet.

Or I might have seen it on the TT forums when I was checking out a few Scoobynet pranksters handywork (only went there in the name of research, of course ).

Deano

 

Beemer_Deano: thanks for the link
Says it all realy to quote............
Audi TT and the A3 quattro will use this system (Haldex).
Note that this is still a part time, automatically enganging four wheel drive system. The quattro name, which used to have special significance is now being diluted by marketing expediency. Considerable confusion has arisen from the naming corruption by the two companies.


[Edited by Ajax - 7/16/2003 8:50:59 PM]

 

Does this apply to the S3 as well?

My boss has one and I would love to wind him up.

 

It is was Jenson who first used 4wd in a car not Audi as Audi like to have people think.

 

http://www.subaru-global.com/about/history/1971-001.html

 

stiler83: You are not wrong m8
http://home.no.net/jensenff/jensenbrothers.html

Audi actually bought a Jensen FF for study when developing the Quattro in the eighties, and today's most 4WD cars still followed FF's mechanism. One can easily see how advanced the FF was.
--------------------------------------------------------
I think this is an opinion about invention and development
Probably all nicking each others ideas along the way.


[Edited by Ajax - 7/16/2003 11:31:23 PM]

 

Ver sprung nicked it

LOL

 

The first production 4wd (apart from 1966 Jenson FF) was the subaru Leone which made it`s debut in 1971 Come along way since then (Thank God)

 

I'm sure there were 4wd's even before the jenson, give me a day or two to research, and i'll be back!
I spose the Land Rover doesn't count..........

Ron.

 

i'll be back!
Just like the Terminator, sorry Ron could`nt resist

 

Yes, the S3 uses the same system. I can't understand how Audi can still claim it's a full time system, unless it's because it is always there monitoring the slip??

Anyway, if you're out to get fired just show him this, or suggest he needs one of these if he wants a "proper" AWD car

Deano

 

You can program the Haldex system to be permenant 4wd if you wanted too...

 

Im sure i read somewhere the original Subaru gearboxes were based on that of a Jowet Jupiter with some mods to make AWD.

I might be wrong though.

 

I had an Audi 90 Quattro which was full time 4x4 and had a button which would lock all the diffs untill you reached 20mph. That thing would go almost anywhere.

The main prob. was some of the internals were nylon and would wear realy badly if you mismatched tyre types or ware levels.

Not as much fun as the Scoob though

 

I'm Back!!!!!!

Right, there was a company in Milwaukee in 1904, that mads four wheel drive trucks, they mad a few cars though, so this could be deemed the first four wheel drive!!

There was an associated company in Wisconsin, who made more between 1909, and 1912, they were imaginatively called the 'four wheel drive company'. How original is that!!!

Doesn't really answer the original question, but I thought it was interesting!!

Ron.

 

There's an interesting timeline here as well as this 4WD of the Century article (which again points to the Leone as the first AWD production car)

Why do I find this anarak subject so interesting?

Just going back to the original salesman's statement though - a few of those sites state that Audi's "proper" Quattro is a Torsen system, whilst the Scoob uses the Ferguson system (like that Jensen)? The differences are too techie for me, but it sounds like the Scoob certainly doesn't use "Audi's" system?

Deano

[Edited by Beemer_Deano - 7/17/2003 11:29:42 AM]

 

I thought the Jensen in 1966 was the first 4WD production car (310 built)....finished production in 1971

 

It does seem to be the Jensen - that 4WD of the Century site is American so the Yanks probably can't believe anything original would come out of 'lil old England

Deano

 

Jeff,

You have a point about the S/RS4 and up range - I was thinking more about the Haldex based systems.....They are both "proper" systems though the Torsen system is in most people's opinions, better. Having said that, it depends which Scoob you are talking about because some of them have a mechanical centre diff (Torsen type) rather than a Viscous Coupling (Ferguson type) and is why you will find John Felstead pointing out that all the best Scoob's have this (22B, RA, Spec-C, USDM STi etc.).

Matt