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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  Great car, Infuriating Controls - 2008 Audi S8
  By Dave - February 27 - 8:45 pm

  Fantastic car. Great handling, styling and quality. The MMI controls will drive you insane. The simplest function becomes very complex. Turning on the heated seats, solar shade, etc. The navigation system - thought was broken. Numerious major addresses in major cities could not be found. Turns out for 2008 you dont enter the city, but the county of location. That is insane, Florida has like 50 counties. No idea, where one starts and stops.

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  Amazing car - 2007 Audi A4
  By AudimanS4 - February 27 - 5:40 pm

  I have now owned my 6th Audi (4th A4) and I will say for sure, Audi has come back to be the overall segment leader in the compact luxury car segment for the total package. I have already put over 5K miles on the car without a hitch, just got the first scheduled service for free. Even being front drive this car handles extremely well and the performance is much greater than expected for a 4 cylinder, thanks to direct injection. The "base" stereo system rocks as well as the Bose stereo from previous A4s. Heated seats arent really necessary in Arizona but have come in handy on a few cool nights. Overall fit and finish is unmatched by any other cars in class

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  Audi Gets It Right - 2008 Audi A5
  By LGA5 - February 25 - 10:53 pm

  Ive owned more than 18 cars over the past 23 years (mostly premium imports -- Audi, BMW, MB, Lexus, Acura), and the A5 is one of my favorites. Its an exceptional combination of style, performance, comfort and build quality. No car can do everything perfectly, but this one does so many things extremely well. I might even keep this car longer than a year or two.

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  ALLROAD - 2003 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By JCrow - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Station wagons are cool again...its hard to be cool with two booster seats in back, but this car helps. This car is fun to drive(6 spd), has a beautiful interior, and has an impressive list of safety features. After owning a car for 8 mos. I am usually starting to think about whats next, but I would buy the Allroad again today in a heartbeat

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  This is a great car. - 2003 Audi A4
  By JHBTN - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Buying the A4 is the best thing I have done in a long time. I almost bought another Saab 9-3, but the deal I got from the dealer made me go for the A4. I dont regret my decision one bit. The car is smooth in ride and performance. You can do almost anything in this car. Wow. Driving to work is actually fun.

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  Certified 2006 - 2006 Audi A4
  By R8deeo - February 22 - 9:53 pm

  I picked up a 2006 A4 2.0T with all the bells and whistles and I love it. It handles wonderfully, it wants to be driven fast and in tight spots. I have wanted an A4 since the 2005.5 was introduced. The style and comfort make me smile everytime! I finally enjoy driving everyday. I will never drive a two wheel drive vehicle again (I live in Michigan).

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  My Dream Car! - 2008 Audi TT
  By Philj - February 22 - 1:46 pm

  Had my TT for 1 week and loving it! Fully loaded excl. nav and mag. ride. Was considering an 04/05 but then saw the 08 and it was all over. I test drove the 2.0 but decided on the 3.2 due to power and Quattro - I expect to keep this car for a long time.

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  Best all around - 2009 Audi A4
  By Andreas - February 19 - 1:56 am

  The new A4 is an all around excellent auto. It surpasses all others in its class and then some. Wheelbase is similar to the MBenz E-class. Style is literally a jaw dropper. Acceleration 0-60 is better than my 225hp TT which was 6.3 sec. Im guessing the A4 3.2 quattro is similar to the A5 3.2 rating of 5.8sec 0-60, not the 6.3 posted on the Audi website. The exhaust sound is deep and throaty. Braking is quick with minimal nose dive. The best feature is the steering feel. Its very light and nimble. Interior and exterior finish quality is top notch. I test drove this car at Infineon raceway a few months ago and couldnt wait for its arrival. A well equipped A4 3.2 quattro for $40k, what a deal!

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  The Best Yet - 2005 Audi A6
  By Lee - February 18 - 12:53 pm

  This is the 9th Audi I have owned since 1996.This car is by far the best vehicle I have ever driven. The car handles very well. The new 6 speed transmission is both smooth and firm. The new interior is sensational and utilitarian. The 3.2 engine has plenty of power and git go for me. Audi has outdone themselves with the new A6. My car has almost all of the options with the exception of the sport package and the 18 inch wheels.

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  Sweet car for the price! - 2006 Audi A3
  By Mumma - February 16 - 9:26 pm

  I was looking for an everyday fun car to drive to and from work. There was an auto show in town and I spotted the Audi A3. It looked small and standing 62", I fit very well into the car. The next day I stopped at the dealership and bought an 2006 A3 Manual. I have about 100 miles on the car and I love it! I love speed, handling, and no turbo lag. I have the performance package and the seats are great, the hold you in the seat. All in all a great little car for about 30K