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Where volcanoes once formed an entire chain of islands and where the earth still boils in many places, Audi demonstrates a core of its DNA: the quattro drive. The fourth generation of A3 shows itself in its most emotional form in the original landscape of São Miguel - the location of the spectacular Azores Rally. All-wheel drive in a compact model is the latest evolution in successful technology. At its heart is an electrohydraulic multi-plate clutch that is managed by precisely coordinated all-wheel drive software. It gives the A3 maximum stability, grip and driving pleasure, and it also works extremely efficiently. The interaction with the adaptive suspension and progressive steering results in a sporty performance that is particularly impressive in tight hairpin bends and varied mountain and valley passages.
Intelligent: the quattro drive in detail
The clutch is located at the end of the cardan shaft in front of the rear axle differential - an installation position that not least benefits the axle load distribution. Inside is a package of slats that run in an oil bath. Its metal friction rings lie in pairs one behind the other - one ring is firmly interlocked with the rotating basket of the clutch, which rotates with the cardan shaft, the other with the short output shaft to the rear axle differential. Audi has tailored the electronic torque distribution control specifically to the new A3 and integrated it into the Audi drive select driving dynamics system. It incorporates the data from the chassis sensors and, in addition to the driving condition and road properties, also detects the driving style. Accordingly, the control unit calculates an efficiency-optimized torque distribution and passes the value on to the clutch - this is particularly efficient.
All-wheel drive: fully variable front and rear
The all-wheel drive distributes the torque fully variable between the front and rear axles. During normal driving, the largest part of the engine power gets on the front wheels. When starting off or with low traction on the front axle, the clutch redirects the moments at lightning speed: Now an electric axial piston pump is activated, which exerts up to 44 bar hydraulic pressure on the disk pack. The more she presses it together, the more drive torque reaches the rear axle - maximum 100 percent. The clutch can direct some of the torque to the rear axle when the driver is steering in a sporty driving style. As soon as it accelerates, you push the A3 into the curve without any effort. When changing the load, the torque distribution enables targeted screwing in, which further increases driving dynamics.
Full control: electronic stabilization control
The wheel-selective torque control, a software function of the electronic stabilization control (ESC), puts the icing on the cake of the sporty properties. When the new Audi A3 drives through a curve very quickly, it engages the two wheels on the inside of the curve with slight braking intervention. Due to the difference in the driving forces on both axles, the car turns into the curve and follows the steering angle precisely. This makes handling even more agile, fluid and safe.
The experience of the quattro drive also changes in the three function modes of the ESC. This allows the traction and driving stability to be adjusted according to the driver's wishes. If the ESC has to regulate, its interventions are soft and almost imperceptible. In the ESC ON mode, the maximum adhesion is granted. That means the acceleration is safe and stable - with as little wheel slip as possible. If the driver selects the sport mode, he can drift in a controlled and safe manner on surfaces with a low coefficient of friction, such as snow. Here the wheel slip is greater, which ensures increased driving pleasure. In ESC Off mode, the possible wheel slip is almost unlimited, which means that the Audi A3 offers puristic driving behavior.
Variable in every position: progressive steering
Conventional steering systems always force a compromise between sportiness and comfort. The electromechanical progressive steering in the new Audi A3 solves this conflict. Your rack and pinion are specially shaped and toothed. This results in different gear ratios depending on the steering angle. With a strong turn it is smaller and the steering is very direct. This reduces steering work in city traffic and when maneuvering - a considerable gain in comfort. Progressive steering increases driving dynamics on winding roads - the A3 drives even sportier. From stop to stop, just 2,5 turns of the steering wheel are sufficient; the steering ratio in the middle position is 14,3: 1.
The servo support harmonises perfectly with this character and adapts to the driven speed. At low speeds, it is high for easier maneuverability, and decreases as the speed increases. So the driver experiences a calm, full steering feeling when driving quickly on the motorway.
Progressive steering has a highly efficient electromechanical drive that only delivers power when it is needed. It works closely with various assistance systems, such as the adaptive driver assistant, the evasive assistant and the parking assistant.
New damper technology in a compact model: the adaptive chassis
Comfortably soft or sporty and firm? The chassis with adaptive damper control enables both. Three damper characteristics ensure a noticeable spread of driving characteristics and particularly agile handling. Sensors measure the vertical acceleration of the body structure and the relative movement of the individual wheels to it. The control unit processes its signals within milliseconds and adapts each damper individually and permanently to the road conditions, the driving situation and the driver's wishes. The dampers house electromagnetically actuated valves that can be regulated at lightning speed and very energy-efficiently. Depending on their position, they allow the hydraulic fluid to flow higher or lower. This changes the characteristics of the dampers between soft and hard.
In the Audi drive select system, the driver can switch the basic setting of the dampers in three modes: comfort, auto and dynamic. In this way, the chassis increases the range between smooth rolling when driving smoothly and tight handling, so that the spread can be experienced intensively. In sporty driving in bends, the dampers support the car and immerse it less when braking. This keeps the wheels in closer contact with the road.
Character: Audi drive select
The Audi drive select system forms the interface between the regulated chassis and drive systems and the driver. It can switch between five modes using a physical button near the shift or selector lever - they are called comfort, auto, dynamic, efficiency and individual. If the driver chooses the individual setting, he can largely set his personal preferences freely.
For every A3 model, Audi drive select varies the characteristics of the throttle response and steering assistance. Depending on the equipment, the system also integrates the S tronic, the quattro drive and the chassis with damper control. It also affects comfort and safety systems such as automatic climate control, Matrix LED headlights, belt tensioners and adaptive cruise control.
(Photos: Audi)
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