From the earliest to the quirkiest, we revisit the game-changers.
The all-wheel-drive layout has been part of the motoring scene for almost as long as there has been a motoring scene, but its proliferation into just about every automotive segment is relatively recent. Its most common use was in off-roading vehicles to help improve traction over slippery surfaces. The added complexity and weight did not make such a layout suitable for on-road applications but that didn’t stop engineers from trying. So we thought it'd be interesting to take a closer look at 10 of some of the most relevant AWD vehicles in history.
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The Very First 4x4s
The very first AWD car ever built was the 1900 Lohner-Porsche. It was
designed by a very young Ferdinand Porsche for Ludwig Lohner & Co. and also
has the distinction of being the very first hybrid ever built too. An electric
motor in each wheel hub was powered by batteries which received their charge
from an onboard gasoline-powered generator. Fiercely complex and ungainly it
nevertheless marked the beginning of the 4x4 layout. It was another three years
before a more conventional internal combustion engine was to power all four
wheels, the car was called the Spyker 60-HP. It featured braking on all four
wheels and a six-cylinder engine, both world firsts.
![]()
![]()
The Quirky Ones
The demand for four-wheel-drive layouts increased exponentially as the years
wore on, especially for military vehicles but it wasn’t until 1966 that the
first performance car was to make use of an AWD system. This car was the British
Jensen Interceptor. Powered by a massive Chrysler V8 it was a rare derivative
with only 320 examples finding buyers. The first American-built passenger car to
use a 4x4 layout was the 1979 Eagle AMC. Funnily enough, the full-time 4x4
system was provided by a British firm called Ferguson Research. While the Eagle
wagon was the most popular you could also get a suitable quirky 4x4 convertible
too.
![]()
![]()
Audi Quattro Revolution
Up until the introduction of the Audi Quattro, the tangible benefits of
increased traction and grip 4x4s offered had never been so starkly demonstrated.
The relatively simple yet rugged permanent all-wheel-drive system proved to be a
game changer in rallying and soon a roadgoing version was introduced. While
European versions eventually had up to 217-hp the handful of American imports
were somewhat watered down and made only 160-hp. Nevertheless, the Quattro UR
marked a turning point in road-going sports cars and its combination of
turbocharging and AWD traction has been widely adopted since.
![]()
![]()
Early AWD Supercars
The limited production 1991 Bugatti EB110 was one of the first supercars to
have AWD and this gave the quad-turbo 600-hp supercar serious acceleration off
the line. The Modern-day Chiron is in many ways a descendant of this original
AWD monster. The slightly mad LM002 off-roader introduced in 1986 was the first
Lamborghini to come equipped with AWD but it was the V12 Diablo that first used
this technology to improve on-road performance. The 1993 Diablo VT could channel
up to 25% of engine torque to the front wheels which made this fearsome beast a
bit more manageable at the limit. Except for a few limited-edition models, modern Lamborghinis are almost always fitted as
standard with AWD. With up to 740-hp available from the current Aventador
SV, this is definitely a good thing.
![]()
![]()
Nissan GT-R Domination
The GT-R may have started off as a rear-wheel-drive sedan but the more modern
iterations all had complex AWD systems that gave them the ability to take on and
often beat much more powerful and expensive supercars. The current GT-R is into its 10th year of
production yet its acceleration off the line is still comparable with the
latest crop of supercars. Continual updates and improvements are partly
responsible for this impressive performance but it is the AWD system that
provides it with the necessary grip to deploy 600-hp effectively. Modified
examples producing close on 2000-hp have been built, showcasing the inherent
toughness of the standard car.
![]()
![]()
BMW M5 U-Turn
BMWs have long been touted as the ‘ultimate driving machines’ primarily due
to their 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel-drive layouts. The continual
rise in power outputs has meant that some of the latest M models are a bit of a
handful when trying to deploy all of that ultimate driving excitement. Enter the
latest M5, equipped with a switchable AWD system, it offers the best of both
worlds. Despite making no more power than the outgoing model it can launch to
60mph almost a second quicker. Turn it back to 2WD mode and you can slide around
every corner just like you could in the old car.
![]()
![]()
AWD Ferrari GT
Ferrari developed a unique AWD system for their FF GT car back in 2011.
Featuring a secondary gearbox and Haldex clutches that transmitted power to the
front wheels in lower gears, the car remained primarily rear-wheel driven but
would provide additional traction when conditions required. Its replacement, the GTC4 Lusso retained the
system in the top V12 variant and remains a superb GT car. This sort of tech may
well find its way into other Ferrari products in the future although no official
announcements have yet been made.
![]()
![]()
Porsche 918 Spyder
One of the original hybrid hypercar trio, the Porsche 918 was the only one to
feature AWD and it proved to be the fastest to 60 mph of the lot. Its 2.5-second
time is still at the very pointy end of what the latest batch of supercars and
hypercars can manage. Aside from the ground-breaking technology required to make
a hybrid hypercar, the AWD system has also been designed to work even when the
918 is being powered by the electric motors alone. Porsche has utilized AWD
technology in cars like the ‘80s 959 supercar to good effect before and it is
quite likely that its new generation of hybrid and all-electric vehicles will
continue with this trend going forward.
![]()
![]()
Ariel Madness
Fast AWD cars are nothing new these days, there are powerful versions of just
about everybody style and configuration around. The Ariel Nomad, however, is a
rather special car as it takes the minimalist approach of the Ariel Atom and
translates it into an off-road capable package. The result is one of the very
fastest production off-roaders on the planet.
Acceleration times are V8 sportscar quick and can be attained on a variety of road surfaces. Such single-minded leisure-based vehicles are very popular these days and the Nomad comes with the backing and engineering pedigree of an established company to boot.
![]()
![]()
The Future of AWD? The Zarooq Sand Racer
The Sandracer 500GT is promoted as being the first Emirati car ever and it
promises a carbon-fiber body construction, Corvette-sourced 6.2-liter 525-hp V8
and the ability to flatten even the most daunting of sand dunes with ease.
Production numbers will be kept low and the pricing will reflect its supercar-for-the-dunes aspirations. Not much more is known from this potential off-roading disruptor, but we hope that things are still on track as it looks fantastic and that pesky little Ariel Nomad could do with some stiff competition.
![]()
![]()
The all-wheel-drive layout has been part of the motoring scene for almost as long as there has been a motoring scene, but its proliferation into just about every automotive segment is relatively recent. Its most common use was in off-roading vehicles to help improve traction over slippery surfaces. The added complexity and weight did not make such a layout suitable for on-road applications but that didn’t stop engineers from trying. So we thought it'd be interesting to take a closer look at 10 of some of the most relevant AWD vehicles in history.
The Very First 4x4s
The very first AWD car ever built was the 1900 Lohner-Porsche. It was
designed by a very young Ferdinand Porsche for Ludwig Lohner & Co. and also
has the distinction of being the very first hybrid ever built too. An electric
motor in each wheel hub was powered by batteries which received their charge
from an onboard gasoline-powered generator. Fiercely complex and ungainly it
nevertheless marked the beginning of the 4x4 layout. It was another three years
before a more conventional internal combustion engine was to power all four
wheels, the car was called the Spyker 60-HP. It featured braking on all four
wheels and a six-cylinder engine, both world firsts.
The Quirky Ones
The demand for four-wheel-drive layouts increased exponentially as the years
wore on, especially for military vehicles but it wasn’t until 1966 that the
first performance car was to make use of an AWD system. This car was the British
Jensen Interceptor. Powered by a massive Chrysler V8 it was a rare derivative
with only 320 examples finding buyers. The first American-built passenger car to
use a 4x4 layout was the 1979 Eagle AMC. Funnily enough, the full-time 4x4
system was provided by a British firm called Ferguson Research. While the Eagle
wagon was the most popular you could also get a suitable quirky 4x4 convertible
too.
Audi Quattro Revolution
Up until the introduction of the Audi Quattro, the tangible benefits of
increased traction and grip 4x4s offered had never been so starkly demonstrated.
The relatively simple yet rugged permanent all-wheel-drive system proved to be a
game changer in rallying and soon a roadgoing version was introduced. While
European versions eventually had up to 217-hp the handful of American imports
were somewhat watered down and made only 160-hp. Nevertheless, the Quattro UR
marked a turning point in road-going sports cars and its combination of
turbocharging and AWD traction has been widely adopted since.
Early AWD Supercars
The limited production 1991 Bugatti EB110 was one of the first supercars to
have AWD and this gave the quad-turbo 600-hp supercar serious acceleration off
the line. The Modern-day Chiron is in many ways a descendant of this original
AWD monster. The slightly mad LM002 off-roader introduced in 1986 was the first
Lamborghini to come equipped with AWD but it was the V12 Diablo that first used
this technology to improve on-road performance. The 1993 Diablo VT could channel
up to 25% of engine torque to the front wheels which made this fearsome beast a
bit more manageable at the limit. Except for a few limited-edition models, modern Lamborghinis are almost always fitted as
standard with AWD. With up to 740-hp available from the current Aventador
SV, this is definitely a good thing.
Nissan GT-R Domination
The GT-R may have started off as a rear-wheel-drive sedan but the more modern
iterations all had complex AWD systems that gave them the ability to take on and
often beat much more powerful and expensive supercars. The current GT-R is into its 10th year of
production yet its acceleration off the line is still comparable with the
latest crop of supercars. Continual updates and improvements are partly
responsible for this impressive performance but it is the AWD system that
provides it with the necessary grip to deploy 600-hp effectively. Modified
examples producing close on 2000-hp have been built, showcasing the inherent
toughness of the standard car.
BMW M5 U-Turn
BMWs have long been touted as the ‘ultimate driving machines’ primarily due
to their 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel-drive layouts. The continual
rise in power outputs has meant that some of the latest M models are a bit of a
handful when trying to deploy all of that ultimate driving excitement. Enter the
latest M5, equipped with a switchable AWD system, it offers the best of both
worlds. Despite making no more power than the outgoing model it can launch to
60mph almost a second quicker. Turn it back to 2WD mode and you can slide around
every corner just like you could in the old car.
AWD Ferrari GT
Ferrari developed a unique AWD system for their FF GT car back in 2011.
Featuring a secondary gearbox and Haldex clutches that transmitted power to the
front wheels in lower gears, the car remained primarily rear-wheel driven but
would provide additional traction when conditions required. Its replacement, the GTC4 Lusso retained the
system in the top V12 variant and remains a superb GT car. This sort of tech may
well find its way into other Ferrari products in the future although no official
announcements have yet been made.
Porsche 918 Spyder
One of the original hybrid hypercar trio, the Porsche 918 was the only one to
feature AWD and it proved to be the fastest to 60 mph of the lot. Its 2.5-second
time is still at the very pointy end of what the latest batch of supercars and
hypercars can manage. Aside from the ground-breaking technology required to make
a hybrid hypercar, the AWD system has also been designed to work even when the
918 is being powered by the electric motors alone. Porsche has utilized AWD
technology in cars like the ‘80s 959 supercar to good effect before and it is
quite likely that its new generation of hybrid and all-electric vehicles will
continue with this trend going forward.
Ariel Madness
Fast AWD cars are nothing new these days, there are powerful versions of just
about everybody style and configuration around. The Ariel Nomad, however, is a
rather special car as it takes the minimalist approach of the Ariel Atom and
translates it into an off-road capable package. The result is one of the very
fastest production off-roaders on the planet.Acceleration times are V8 sportscar quick and can be attained on a variety of road surfaces. Such single-minded leisure-based vehicles are very popular these days and the Nomad comes with the backing and engineering pedigree of an established company to boot.
The Future of AWD? The Zarooq Sand Racer
The Sandracer 500GT is promoted as being the first Emirati car ever and it
promises a carbon-fiber body construction, Corvette-sourced 6.2-liter 525-hp V8
and the ability to flatten even the most daunting of sand dunes with ease. Production numbers will be kept low and the pricing will reflect its supercar-for-the-dunes aspirations. Not much more is known from this potential off-roading disruptor, but we hope that things are still on track as it looks fantastic and that pesky little Ariel Nomad could do with some stiff competition.
