Quattro definition....a real one!

[Daniel Hussey <GY3WSX@UNIVSCVM.CSD.SCAROLINA.EDU>]

      Chris,

          I agree, we have gotten just a _little_ off the subject here since I
was seeing posts about what "fire" means in spanish.  Who cares?  Anyways, yes
"quattro" means four in italian.

          Well, about a definition, I have a neat pamphlet I picked up from the
local Audi dealer a few months ago that explains what "quattro" is and what it
does.  Here goes:


            On the front is:
            "For your convenience, we've explained quattro in two languages"

            Then you open it up to see two sections:
            The one to the left says "English" and,
            The one to the right says "Technospeak"

            When you open up the left flap (the "English" one), it folds out in
to a couple of different sections, each going more in depth of a definition of
what "quattro" is.  Here's what it said:

            "quattro makes you feel glued to the road."

            "No system inspires more driver confidence in any condition."

            "If only all cars offered the safety and security of Audi quattro's
            full-time, all-wheel drive.  Then they, too, would drive fearlessly
            in the face of daunting circumstances, gripped to the road on sunny
            days or in snowstorms, around curves and in and out of corners.
            With quattro (R), all four wheels are powered all of the time, givi
            ng you up to twice as much traction as any two-wheel drive system.
            Hit a slick spot, and quattro transfers power from the wheels that
            are slipping to those that do the most good.  All you need is one w
            heel with traction to get you going.
            Four-wheel drive sport utility vehicles simply can't match an Audi
            equipped with quattro for road control, ride quality or ease of ent
            ry - real benefits for the real world we drive in.  Traction contro
            l vs. quattro?  No comparison.  Many traction control systems engag
            e only after you're in a slick situation - and only at lower speeds
            .  Finally, quattro is now a stand-alone option.  Making it not jus
            t one of the safest drives on the road, but one of the smartest."


       Well, most of us already know all of this, but then again, that's why we
own them!  Anyways, under the right flap (the "Technospeak" one) was this:


            "quattro is a sophistocated drivetrain system that distributes powe
            r to all four wheels, providing up to twice as much traction as any
            two-wheel drive system."

            "quattro instantly reads the road, shifting power to the wheels tha
            t do you the most good.  A torque-sensing differential called Torse
            n (R) has the remarkable ability to shift up to 75% of engine power
            to the axle with the best traction for maximum control on any surfa
            ce, at any speed."

            The next section goes real into depth on how quattro shifts power,
but I won't go into that unless someone wants me to.

        This is a good explanation, but I always liked Audi's catchy advertisin
g slogans like "Take Control", "The Alternate Route" and "The Soul of Audi".  A
lso, my favorite quote from an Audi add is "Most four wheel drive systems are d
esighned to take you off road, quattro is desighned to keep you on it....Take C
ontrol (Audi)."  Anyways, I think that was more what Chris was looking for.

         Also, for you out-of-warranty Audi owners (like me), there's "Maintain
the Integrity"!  We try!
                                                                 Later,
                                                                 Dan