Overview & Reviews

In business for more than 100 years, Audi is an automaker that builds luxury cars and SUVs. The company was started in Germany and has remained Deutschland-based to this day.

"Audi Automobile Works" entered the German car-manufacturing business in 1910 and remained independent until the Great Depression. Because Audi's founder, August Horch, had left a 10-year-old company bearing his own name, he chose a Latin form of his name -- Audi -- for his new company. Audi joined with three other auto manufacturers in 1932 to form Auto Union. Audi, the only surviving nameplate from that union, was purchased by Volkswagen in 1964.

During the 1970s, Audi started to get noticed in the U.S. with its 100LS luxury sedan and compact and sprightly Fox coupe and sedan. By the late '70s the brand had replaced the dated 100LS with its new 5000 luxury sedan.

Every manufacturer has its defining moments. For Audi, one such moment came in March 1980 at the Geneva Motor Show. The automaker unveiled the Audi Quattro, an all-wheel-drive sport coupe that was met with a wildly enthusiastic response on the show floor. The Quattro's all-wheel-drive system went on to help Audi win accolades in motorsports and it was eventually integrated into the entire model range.

That year also saw the Fox replaced by the 4000. Four years later, the range-topping 5000 was redesigned. Audi's sales shot up nearly 50 percent, thanks chiefly to that newly aerodynamic yet handsome flagship that featured what would become an Audi hallmark -- an elegantly stylish, high-quality cabin.

Sadly, Audi's fortunes turned for the worse when the carmaker's 5000 model was accused of unintended acceleration in a 60 Minutes television episode. A subsequent government investigation found Audi innocent of the charge, but the resulting drop in sales nearly put Audi out of business in the U.S.

The late '80s saw Audi redesign the 4000, renaming it the 80 and 90 (with the 90 having more equipment) and also rename the 5000, dubbing it the 100 or 200. The 200 featured a turbocharged five-cylinder with all-wheel drive as opposed to a non-turbo five and front-wheel drive, as on the 100. A Coupe also debuted, as did a new flagship, a V8-powered 200 sedan simply called the "V8".

The following decade saw the A4 and Cabriolet models, as well as the renaming of the 100 to A6. The stunning A8 was introduced as Audi's new flagship, boasting all-aluminum construction and a beefy V8. High-performance versions of the various models bowed, dubbed S4, S6 and S8.

The start of the new millennium brought the TT, Audi's low-slung sport coupe (and later roadster). It also introduced RS versions of the A4 and A6, providing even more performance than "S" variants. In addition to "S" and "RS" versions of the TT, Audi's more recent releases include the A3 hatchback, Q5 crossover SUV, slick A5 coupe, exotic R8 sports car and A7 luxury hatchback sedan.

Today, Audi continues its success in the prestige car marketplace by offering a wide range of vehicles that impressively combine luxury and sport.

User Reviews:

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  SMALL STUFF! - 2004 Audi A6
  By JOHN MATT - March 9 - 2:00 am

  IM 63"AND DRIVING SPACE FOR MY LEGS IS GOOD WITH SEAT ALMOST ALL THE WAY BACK. GOOD POWER FROM THE MOTOR,BUT WOULD LIKE BETTER GAS MILEAGE.NO MECANICAL OR DRIVING PROBLEMS.VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER STATIONWAGON.

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  ALMS for me - 2002 Audi TT
  By jon weden - March 6 - 2:00 am

  Ive loved this car from the first day I took possession of it. With the turbocharged engine, nicely matched 6-speed manual and quattro all-wheel drive this car provides all the performance of cars priced thousands higher. The TT is really in its element on open, twisting roads - but Ive found that it is fun to slalom through the ponderously large SUVs which congest our urban freeways! The details of this car are designed to delight - all the way down to the beautifully designed gas filler - makes filling the tank marginally enjoyable. In the two years Ive had the car I have had had no mechanical problems and only minor issues with the radio system.

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  Audi allroad - 2004 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By Jill H - March 4 - 1:30 pm

  I LOVE this car.....

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  Avant 2.8 - thumbs up! - 1998 Audi A4
  By Wagonsrule - March 3 - 2:00 am

  great car, versatile and reliable. had to replace all 10 suspension arms in front end which is a very well known problem on A4s. other than that it has been a great car.Quattro goes through any weather without blinking.

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  Q car - 2004 Audi S4
  By BMW??? - March 1 - 2:00 am

  Great "Wolf in sheeps clothing " car. Does not get much notice (except in the know car enthusiasts). Great V-8 6speed combo

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  Ill Miss Her - 2001 Audi A4
  By mulli1277 - February 28 - 10:00 am

  I love the car overall. The transmission went out at 4000 miles. Slow off the line.

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  Looks Nice...Falls apart - 1999 Audi A6
  By AudiMakesMeSad - February 28 - 2:00 am

  What a shame...I loved this car for the first two months...Thats when the problems started. I had it at the dealership 5 times in 10 months. Anyway, not reliable and Audi was overall indifferent to the poor quality. BEWARE

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  Great car - 2000 Audi A6
  By rfparedes - February 27 - 2:00 am

  This car is great. I am happy with it and it is great with kids.

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  If I built a dream car from scratch ... - 2004 Audi S4
  By S4-fun - February 23 - 2:00 am

  ....it would be an S4. I can name 5 sports cars I would love to have. You can’t get groceries in them. Forget a baby seat. If you only drive when its sunny, get an exotic. The S4 is an exotic for every day. The genius is in the etails. The Recarro seats. Cabin storage everywhere but out of sight. A motor that sings. Just test drive it. Nothing compares. A sports car you can live with... put a baby seat in... take a spin around the racetrack. (not in that order) I just got one for my wife to replace a 94 Audi 90 with 199,730 miles (still running strong). I am jealous. If I needed car I would buy another S4.

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  Luxury but Affordable - 2000 Audi A6
  By David McConnell - February 22 - 2:00 am

  I have found my 200 A-6 2.8 to be more luxurious than my previous BMW 5- series, but not as sporty.