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From the spectacular beauty of the Garden Route to the many rigorous challenges of the Sani Pass, the number of scenic drives and unrivalled 4x4 adventures to be found in South Africa has made it a spectacular driving destination and off-road paradise for any motoring enthusiast. Yet, the opportunity to take the driving experience across vast landscapes and challenging terrain has always been the domain of more rough and rugged vehicles. Although more able to deal with the unique challenges of differing and often harsh landscapes, these vehicles lacked the style and comfort of the luxury class. Being able to tackle snow covered mountain passes, rain-slicked highways and gravel-strewn rural roads with ease, while still enjoying a level of performance unachievable by two-wheel drive cars on smooth dry roads is what quattro® technology brought to the luxury class. A Legendary Advancement Forged in the fires of competitive motorsport and translated to the everyday luxury car, Audi’s legendary four wheel-drive system has been unparalleled in tackling the harshest terrain in the most adverse of conditions. First introduced to the World Rally Championship, the startling acceleration and remarkable traction achieved by quattro® technology was eventually deemed an “unfair advantage”. This simple, yet powerful idea of sending power to all wheels has not only raised the benchmark in high-performance engineering, but also pushed the envelope in what is achievable for the luxury class. Better traction during acceleration and greater safety thanks to exceptional road holding has given the luxury vehicles, which incorporate this system the ability to negotiate road conditions that would hamper previous incarnations. A Revolutionary Concept The simple, yet powerful idea of permanent power being applied to all four wheels distributed between the front and rear axles forms the basis for quattro® technology. A much lower power requirement and very well balanced handling can be achieved by sending power to each axle resulting in a driving experience like no other. Even in conditions where two-wheel-drive vehicles would lose grip and threaten to spin, the drive torque in a quattro® system, is redirected in the central differential to the other axle, automatically and continuously. This proactive mechanical system has a self-locking centre differential and continuously variable torque distribution to instantly respond to wheel speed differences and dynamically adjust power to the wheels with the best traction. This system can further be enhanced with an advanced electronic control system for numerous benefits over other all-wheel drive systems. A Proven Legacy First introduced in 1980 at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, quattro® technology has gone on to tackle extreme conditions and unexpected situations for the everyday driver. It’s a technology which has not only raised the benchmark in high-performance engineering but this permanent four-wheel drive solution has fast become an industry standard. As a result luxury motoring can now be taken to further extremes due mostly to the creation of this system. In a country with so much off-road adventuring to be had, the safety and performance enhancing qualities of quattro® technology is a must have for South African off-road motoring enthusiasts. About The Author Audi South Africa will be bringing their innovative spirit to the Johannesburg International Motor Show. Visit an Audi Dealership today and experience the Land of quattro® behind the wheel of one of Audi’s automotive masterpieces.
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