Rear wheel drive.
Yes, you can also get Quattro too.

Personally, I am not a fan of front wheel drive and would not consider a front wheel drive car.
I would consider a rear wheel Audi if they made.

Lighter, better performance and cost less then Quattro. Not sure why they stick to only front wheel drive and do not offer rear wheel- Porsche, MB, BMW rear and all wheel. I guess it's a VW thing...

I think that Audi should offer rear wheel drive and all wheel drive. I would still choose quattro over rear wheel drive, but I believe rear wheel drive is superior to front wheel drive.

the grain when most German cars are rear wheel drive because they.

Handles better
Don't have torque steer
Can offer higher power engines
Controlled slides

I also think Audi would fair better in many of the automotive testing. But hey, what do I know...

That is one of the best part of it, I never worry about getting where I am going, whatever the weather or conditions.

The non-Quattro cars are FWD as that is what the models are designed as. Meaning the A3 and TT are derived from the Golf, a FWD chassis. The A6 and A8 are not available without Quattro. I guess it could be possible to design the A4 as RWD to begin, but that is about the only possibility.

Audi is based around the "unfair advantage". The greater wonder is why they offer any of their cars without Quattro at all? I think they would be better served to go all AWD, like Subaru did. Would simplify inventories and ordering, and highlight their strength and belief in the Quattro concept. How many Audis are ordered FWD only (excepting 2.0T A3 and TT, as there isn't much option). Maybe 5%? Don't know, but the percentage is surely very small.

test drive a TT 2.0t with magnetic ride and you might change your mind about FWD. It handles extraordinarily well- it won't oversteer, but it doesn't push that much either.

Even the flgship A8 is designed on a FWD platform and the 2.8 model offered in Europe is FWD.

I agree that it hurts the brand's prestige and performance as a luxury brand. In order to compete with RWD models from competitors, Audi needs stronger engines to overcome the extra heft and AWD drivetrain losses.

I recall 10-15 years ago Audi was touting the advantages of FWD over RWD by taglines like "it's better to pull a car than push it", so I think they will lose face by going back on their word. FWD was perhaps the way to go when power levels were below 200 hp. Nowadays, 200 hp is the starting point for cars costing over 25 grand.

I don't need quattro in SoCal. All it does for me relative to a RWD car is add weight and reduce gas mileage. My previous 2.0T was FWD and it was OK for 200 hp, but I certainly felt the need to not apply full throttle during certain take-off situations (making a right turn at an intersection). I don't have to worry about that with the Bimmer.

I might consider one if it were just for me. But the Audi is the "family" car, and my wife wants either front wheel or all wheel drive. She likes these two configurations better for winter driving here in WI. I would be happy with RWD, but would probably end up buying a Quattro anyway. It's an Audi after all!

between fwd and rwd for a luxury/performance car, I'd go rwd. It's nice that we don't have to make the choice. I do think the transverse engined and Vdub based A2's and A3's are fine with fwd.

It is interesting that the DTM series basically necessitates the rwd configuration to compete.....yes, a rwd A4 with a V8 no less (kind of a joke like NASCAR).

I've owned FWD Audis.

I've owned AWD Audis.

I've owned several RWD cars.

I've owned several RWD and 4WD/AWD trucks.

My preference for Audi is Quattro, but I have nothing against FWD audis. I would have nothing against a future RWD Audi but I'd still prefer Quattro.

All three drive trains have their advantages and disadvantages.

I wouldn't eliminate a potential car purchase simply because of the drive train layout.

I'd evaluate the entire car and price and then make my choice.

"I wouldn't eliminate a potential car purchase simply because of the drive train layout."

- I would. As well as tons of other folks. FWD sucks IMO. After about 275hp FWD cars turn to crap.

There's a reason why you don't see any 300hp FWD production cars. You will not see any serious performance cars that have FWD. FWD is better left to Econoboxes and grocery getters.

That said, what percentage of passenger cars sold in the US have anything BUT front wheel drive?

Maybe 5%?

FWD has it's place in the market and for very viable reasons. If it doesn't have a place in YOUR market, there's nothing wrong with that.

Compared to RWD, FWD is a good bet for better traction in bad climates. I don't know if that was Audi's original intent, but not everyone can afford Quattro. That being said, I'd still prefer RWD living in SoCal.

I think for the average, non-enthusiast buyer, it's not a gotta-have item.

personally, i may buy a slower car. gas is so expensive and i hardly ever get a chance to drive that fast.

smaller horsepower cars look attractive to many consumers. Coupled with increasing levels of congestion for the typical driver, many will move away from large displacement, higher horsepower options.

Just the sad truth.

The main reasons for FWD would be the decrease in weight and less drive-train loss which really equals better fuel efficiency!

and all of them were/are quattro. Personally I have am not against FWD and in fact some of the other cars that I have was/is FWD. I also owned RWD cars as well and in most situation I cannot detect any difference at all.

I guess it depends on what you want your car to do. If you constantly race people on the street/track then definitely 4wd/RWD. However, if you just want to haul people around then FWD is definitely more space efficient and offers better traction (when compare to RWD) and also much safer for the average driver (understeer is easier to control while oversteer need skill to catch). So if I buy an A4/A6 etc I wouldn't mind it is FWD. On the other hand I would not buy an RS4/R8 if it is FWD (not that it will ever happen anyway).

Just my .2 cents

...it can be done, but why would you?

I would never buy an Audi without quattro. I can't imagine having bought, say an A8 3.7 FWD back in the day. (though I did use the 3.7 badge to create my B7 Badge......) ;-)

yeah, who else remembers that dumb slogan? you do know they come up with a new one every year or so right?

I know I'll really remember this latest vorsprunginmungin in a couple of years from now....not that I can pronounce it or know what the hell it means. I still haven't figured out what farfigneutten means :-p

<center><img src="http://www.ajtodepo.hu/aronmatic/userfiles/quattro_logo.gif"></center><p>
Now that Audi is squarely positioned as a tier 1 luxury car company, it really should dump FWD.

Now I understand that FWD is an excellent point of entry for many consumers new to luxury cars; Not to mention that Audi has obviously built a successful business model based on aspirational FWD models.

But it's still Audi's biggest stigma, and also it's biggest technological crutch.

But dumping FWD doesn't mean Audi needs to go RWD at all. I truly believe Audi would do very well to offer quattro cars exclusively.

With the exception of the A1 (a low entry-point Mini competitor that is expected to do just fine as a FWD car), imagine Audi's entire line offered only in quattro (like Subaru). The engineers wouldn't have to develop drivetrains that play double-duty as FWD and AWD. Hence a lighter more balanced car designed from the ground up.

With Audi building quattro-only cars, their base prices may raise a bit, but I would expect the simplified drivetrain would also drop the manufacturing costs of its quattro models.

Imagine an A4/A5 built as an AWD-only car. I would think it would posses better balance and performance because it wouldn't need to be constructed to house a FWD system.

No-one would miss rear-wheel drive if all of Audi's cars were exclusively rear-wheel-biased AWD cars.

I had one FWD Audi (the other two are quattro) and it was terrible (Despite their engineers doing wonders with Front Trak). Constant front-wheel spin and lack of control in wet weather. It was also a boring ride. I've also had RWD cars and they were hella fun, but I still never liked the wheel spin and instability in bad weather. Rear-biased quattro is arguably the perfect drivetrain technology. Dynamic, fun, and safe.

So the answer IMO is not to introduce RWD to Audi, but to simply phase-out FWD and continue to refine quattro.

BMW offers AWD because the market demanded it, a market that Audi created, and more importantly has been developing for nearly 30 years, with the first mass production AWD car on the market. Not only that Audi didn't create AWD cars as a marketing ploy or to fill a gap, but because they believe it provides better performance over RWD and FWD, which it does. Although, not as fun, as RWD, 4 power wheeleds provides far more traction and ability to get power from your engine to the ground with less loss. That's partly why Audi has not been beaten in LeMans series in for ever, and they were refused entry after a while in many rally races, due to competative advantage even with weight penalties imposed. The point, if you want AWD, you want Audi.

Selling only AWD versions in NA might be possible but 2wd isn't going away worldwide which measn that Audi will have to accomodate both.

I highly doubt Audi will ever go AWD exclusive in NA, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

along with the DTM cars but your point applies well to IMSA/GTO and Trans Am of the late 80's and early 90's and recently with the S4's and RS6's in the Speed World Challenge GT series.

Too many markets plus quattros aren't big in certain markets in North AMerica. In Europe and elsewhere, Audi's are a dime-a-dozen. Cheap cars with no options, FWD, and the smallest possible diesel engine.

What Audi should be doing is releasing the A3 with the 2.0T quattro stick or DSG from the beginning. And same with the new TT though reviews on the FWD have been pretty favourable.

The handling till recently was not as good as BMW, but that has changed with the newer models. Though the biturbo BMW engine is quite nice.

I still think quattro isn't necessary for me. However, I would like rwd if Audi would go that route. I could alternatively go with a BMW, but the darn stroller just didn't fit. The Audi had just enough room in the trunk. Plus, I prefer the Audi interior.

I'm not sure if Audi makes cars that are RWD for some racing circuits, I'm pretty sure Audi sticks with the circuits that allow them to use Quattro like Le Mans Series, and take the weight penalty in circuits that don't allow AWD system.

the production version of R8 sold to the consumer of course is AWD.

Why the R8 handles so well, is because it's a mid-engine vehicle, producing the perfect balance. Mid-Engine mated with AWD is a powerful combination, Lamborghini's are also contrary to popular belief AWD cars, as well, and also mid-engine.

We think sport, most think RWD, why RWD works well is not because RWD is inherently more agile, it's because most consumer cars have their engines mounted in the front creating front weight, and this balances well with the drive train (added weight in the rear) which is mounted to the Rear Wheels. Hence nice balance.

AWD plus mid-engine is pefect combo, powering 4 wheels is inherently more desired than power 2 wheels front or rear, but you negate the handling nimbledness if the engine is placed too far front or too far back, a perfectly balanced car and best power to the ground would be mid-engine-AWD, hence, the success of R8.

<center><img src="http://www.mulsannescorner.com/Audi-JD5.jpg"></center><p>The 3 factory supported racing series that Audi particpates in use purpose built rwd cars. The A4 in the DTM series (rwd tube frame V8) and the R10 (prototype - which replaced the R8 prototype - not the road car; totally different animal) in LMES, ALMS and the Le Mans race. Btw, Audi began racing the rwd Le Mans prototype in 1999.

You need to catch-up my friend, you're about 9 years behind :-p<ul><li><a href="http://www.mulsannescorner.com/audir10.html">R10 specs</a></li></ul>

<center><img src="http://www.audipassion.com/univers_audi/audi_sport/90_imsa_gto/90_imsa_gto.jpg"></center><p><ul><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDZfEbLpxjA">Racing Quattros!</a></li></ul>

On a side note was the change do racing series requirements,or audi just wanted to goRWD? The R8 production consumer cars are all AWD though , I'm pretty sure???

handles teh svck in weather.

really, everywhere in the world, fwd is the established and accepted norm for everyday, all purpose driving. plus, servicing quattros in timbuktu may be near impossible. mate, driving rwd's in the snow went out with the volvo 240 ;)

series requirements for both. Though I can see the weight penalty and added complexity of quattro in endurance racing being a handicap. Then there's the issue of the additional space requirements for the quattro diffs and drive shafts effecting aero packaging up front.

the car that inspired the phrase "the unfair advantage"? Either way, that thing tore up the competition.

and asside from Pikes Peak, America's first introduction to the "unfair advantage". The Audi 90 in IMSA GTO was the last of the breed but yes in a similar race series against similar competition.

If you look at my attached You Tube video above you'll see both together.

for the A1, A3, A4 the entry level motor would be Fwd, and in the case of the A3, and A4 - The AWD would be an option.

For everything else- AWD.

I dont get why they offer a 3.2 A4 in FWD. it defeats the "entry level" idea.

Probably the only time a BOV is ever suited for an Audi!

Watching them race in the Trans Am series then the IMSA on TV, ah those were good days for Audi. Damn, guess racing is an effective method for marketing :)

have you seen the new caliber srt-4, 300hp, mazadaspeed 3 268hp. hrmm... check yourself before posting.
i dont like fwd, but theres a reason its around. hell throw a fwd car and a rwd on ice without snow tires and we'll see who will get farther and get more traction. and its not rwd.

Watching those quattro sedans blow past Vette's and other rwd racers off the racing line, through gravel....priceless!

Any 300hp car that is FWD will handle like crap when pushed. Live and learn dude.