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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  Worth the wait! - 2006 Audi A3
  By Lotus72 - March 23 - 7:19 pm

  I had been looking to replace my VW Passat for the past year. The new Passats left me cold, I was waiting for the new GTI but after comparing the two and driving the A3 I had to have the Audi. Had mine special ordered as black, silver & grey are the only colors dealers seem to be stocking in the Northeast. I had mine done in white and it really stands out and shows off the cars lines. Great driving, awesome performance (zero turbo lag) and superb roadholding. Will dust many more expensive cars. Front seats very comfortable and sound system rocks.

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  Kicks! - 2006 Audi S4
  By Doctor - March 22 - 10:52 pm

  Much smoother, classier, funner to drive than the M3 by far! Real sports feeling.

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  4DR TT - 2006 Audi A3
  By EricT - March 22 - 9:23 pm

  I purchased my A3 w/sport, convenience, cold weather, Bose, Open Sky and Xenon in Jan. CPO vehicle with 4,000 miles so I got the 6 yr/100k warrantee. I know who the previous owner was. Traded my 00 VR6 VW Jetta. I loved my VW but this car is it. The looks and build quality are top notch. Performance for a 4 cyl Turbo is fantastic. This thing goes. The exhaust note when on the gas is music to my ears. Just loud enough to let you know that this baby has a little something under the hood. Xenon lights are great, Bose is plenty fine, I am not an audiophile and my girls really like the glass over the rear seats. Ergonomics are just right inside. Just a solid package for around 30K.

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  Audi Satisfaction - 2005 Audi A8
  By DenaliinPA - March 20 - 9:42 pm

  i leased my 05 A8 in December of 2004. this is my first Audi. so far my vehicle has been completely trouble free and a pleasure to own. the attention to detail inside and out is amazing. from the beautifully crafted interior to the exteriors crisp clean lines the A8 is visually satisfying from all angles. the performance and handling feel as though you are driving a much smaller vehicle. i live in the northeast and had become accustomed to parking my car and using my SUV when the snow starts to fly. not anymore. the A8 has performed flawlessly in the snowy weather. even with the original equipment all season tires you feel very confident driving on snow covered roads.

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  The best kept secret - 2006 Audi A3
  By Frabol - March 20 - 3:39 pm

  When you get behind the wheel of an A3 the first thing you notice is the attention to detail in the form and the lines, the ergonomics are great. Second, the driving experience is like no other due to the super speed in which the gears are changed by the automatic transmission. There is almost no turbo lag, and the handling is secure at all times. Lastly, the sporty look of this vehicle and how many people stare this little aggresive car might actually change the view that wagons are boring. Why I know that, because I used to think that too, not anymore thanks to the A3.

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  Im in Luv! - 2006 Audi A6
  By Bpau - March 19 - 8:16 pm

  I finally got the call the my order was in. Picked it on Saturday. All I can say is "Im in Luv!" It was sitting in delivery as I pulled into the dealership. I almost ran into something as it caught my eye. The color was worth the wait. I live on the east cost about an hour from Atlantic City. Went down that night and it felt like I was gliding on the road. What a wonderful drive. Im glad I didnt get the 4.2...Im sure I would accumulate many speeding tickets if I had. I was doing 80 and it felt like 55/60. Also, Ive heard mixed reviews regarding the MMI system being difficult...I do not find it difficult at all.

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  One great car - 2006 Audi A3
  By ksven - March 18 - 8:14 am

  After a one-year search for a car that could make me happy without spending 50K the Audi A3 has achieved that feat. I love the design and hatchback flexibility, and solid interior ergonomics (the seats are awesome). The drive is pure bliss: Great acceleration, fun manual shifter and pretty low interior noise. Steering is precise, low body-roll. As mentioned below, some improvements can be done, of which the most important ones are the handbrake and climate control issues. If you are looking for a hatchback at an entry-luxury level, there is nothing better out there than the A3 (BMW 1 series and Mercedes A class need not apply).

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  Great Performance and Value - 2006 Audi A3
  By a3fan - March 16 - 8:23 pm

  After owning three BMWs I thought it was time for a change. The press reviews of the A3 2.0T lulled me into an Audi dealership and within an hour it became a no-brainer: BMW-like performance and quality for under 30k. Im in. Go easy on the options (I went for the Premium Package, standard, no sun roof) and enjoy the ride. Its not quite the "riding on rails" handling of my 2000 323ci, but its faster. Really! And 10k cheaper.

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  Fantastic Sports Sedan 20 Valve Audi S6 - 1995 Audi S6
  By Ronald F Farina - March 16 - 5:04 pm

  This is my fourth 20 valve s car over a 9 year period and by far the best of the bunch. It is a 95 1/2 or essentially the 96 they never imported. Its performance is stunning, and its reliablility and build quality are unmatched. After over 10 years this pearl white/ecru S6 looks new inside and out. Its too bad they stopped building the 20 valve cars. The newer V6 is apparently a higher maintenance vehicle, and the V8s lost the soul of where they came from...the 2.2 liter world rallye champion 20 valve Sport Quattro.

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  Fun2Drive - 2006 Audi A3
  By Robert - March 16 - 11:56 am

  The first thing I noticed about this car was its solidity. Closing the trunk yields a solid thump. The entire chassis feels like it was carved from one piece of metal. The second thing I noticed was the steering. Much lighter than the 3 series, but still providing a lot of road feel and sporty playfullness. This steering really begs the driver to toss the car around. Ditto for the engine, though I havent fully pushed it yet-still breaking in. One thing I love is the low-end torque. You can really thrash the car around and keep it under 3000 rpm. The interior is beautiful-love the amber lighting, but I have one gripe-the stereo (both bose and std) sounds muffled-get new speakers/amp.