if the engine in the Audi TT is transverse, then how can it be quattro AWD?

Question

it makes no sense. for it to be quattro the engine has to be mounted vertically.

The quattro transmision has to be vertically mounted to be considered quattro. some say it is the AWD that is quattro. but when you look at the facts the quattro is the specially designed transmision with two diffs. one that locks. and you cant put the "quattro" transmision in a transverse mounted car.

you guys dont get it!

DAMN!!!. i own 2 audi's. i know how AWD works. stop tellin me how it works. i know exactly how. (except for the TT)

Answer 1

Typically Audi uses a Torsen differential which is positioned in a fairly central position. As the TT has a fairly compact chassis and very limited space at the front and central positions, Audi went with a Holdex differential mounted more to the rear of the vehicle. It has been the norm for Audis to have a 50/50 power split front to rear (more recently this is closer 40/60) under normal driving conditions, with the power shifting between the front and the rear in varying degrees depending on where the tyres have the best traction (with other differentials shifting left to right). This means, conceivabley, that most Audi vehicles can be driven using only one driving wheel. Having to use the Haldex system in the TT means that under normal driving conditions the power is retained 100% to the front until either slippage or handling conditions dictate otherwise and power is shifted rearward.

Edit: BTW, I used to work for Audi and quattro ONLY applies to the AWD system and has never referred to either a transmission (gearbox) or engine.

Answer 2

I think you mean the engine is mounted longitudinally. Vertically mounted engines work great for helicopters ;-)

AWD drive cars have 3 differentials, one for the front, one for the rear, and one to transfer power back and forth to the axle that needs it the most. The front and center differentials are typically housed as one unit in the transaxle in a transverse mounted engine. The center diff is mounted 90* to the rest of the transaxle... this can be done either with beveled gears or a crown and pinion gear. From there a driveshaft connects the center diff to the rear diff. That in a nutshell is how AWD basically works.

Edit: Maybe you need to learn to phrase your questions better so that people can understand what it is you want instead of whining about how nobody "gets it". We're only trying to help you, so don't get your panties balled up in a wad if you ask a bad question and expect us to read minds.

Answer 3

Quattro simply means 4 wheel drive. Since there are 4 wheels this is all wheel drive. The output from a transverse engine can be fed via the gearbox and diff to the front wheels and via a crownwheel assembly to a second dif and to the rear wheels. Simple. All the fancy stuff such as stability control and locking diffs now comes from electronics applying brakes, etc.
I raced for a number of years (mostly Fords) and using Mechanical diff locking produces a different effect. Faster power down to the road surface but much more skill required

Answer 4

Transverse Engine

Answer 5

A transverse engine simply means that the engine is mounted crossway between the fenders. It has nothing to do with whether or not the car has a drivetrain designed to deliver power to all four wheels, be it AWD or four wheel drive.

Often manufacturers of front engine cars mount the engine transversely, rather than in line with the car (grill to firewall) to allow for a shorter hood. Also, particularly in the case of straight fours (all four cylinders in line) the manufacturer can also slant the four cylinder engine backward a bit to get more rake on the hood and better aerodynamics. If the engine is upright and not transversely mounted then the hood must be fairly high up front to cover the high leading corner of the engine. Accordingly this results in a lot of humps in the middle of the hood, as you will see on a good many Jaguars for example.

Answer 6

Audi calls its all wheel drive system quattro. It makes no difference where the trans and engine meet or the drive shaft comes out the side or back of the trans. Also it the transfer case that locks not the transmission. All that does is make it a 50/50 split all the time. Not something Audi says you should do unless your stuck.

Answer 7

Transfer cases, transaxle drive systems do not require the engine to be mounted one way or the other. It's just a matter of packaging.

Answer 8

Just take a look at the Freelander (from LAND ROVER) and you'll find maybe an answer to what seems to get you confuse. It has a viscous coupling and and IRD, which transmitt the power to both differentials. (Iternal Reduction Drive)

Answer 9

because it has a AWD unit made by HALDEX just as the first quattro did

Answer 10

The engine layout has nothing to do with an al-lwheel drive capability of a car.