Re: AWD und FWD

["Al Powell" <apowell@agcom.tamu.edu>]

Mike said:
 
> I know this doesn't make much rational sense but...According to a chapter in
> a book "Audi Quattro" about the development of quattro awd, it is stated (I
> will get exact quotes if anyone desires) that Audi engineers were initialy
> confused as to why the awd version of the test mule (an 80...aka 4000 I
> think, maybe even a fox?) got better mileage than the fwd version. Upon
> researching this, it was found that rolling resistance of driven wheels was
> lower than that of un-driven wheels, enough that the mileage actualy
> increased slightly, not decreased. Another rather strange quattro reality I
> guess...less (fuel) for more (weight and mechanical drag)? Of course YMMV ;-)

Thanks, Mike.  You were the second person to point this out, so I 
thought I would acknowledge it...I stand corrected, at least as far 
as Audis.

I suspect it's not the same game with 4x4 pickups, but wadda I 
know????


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