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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  Hotttt!!!! - 2006 Audi A4
  By noah - January 9 - 9:53 am

  I just traded in my 2005 A4 (old body style) for a new 2.0T fully loaded. Much better purchase. This thing flys, and handles so much better than my old 1.8T. The packages available deliver a much needed update to the technology in the cabin and out. I bought mine fully loaded (I guess I was desperate for features after the bland 2005) with the tech package, nav, bose, sirius... Everything works and its quick to figure out. I love the new engine, it has pep, and is well balanced to a heavy body. Really fun around the sweeping esses, especially in bad weather with quattro! Buy one, its worth it!

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  Love this car - 2005 Audi TT
  By Kent - January 7 - 5:09 pm

  This car is just plain fun! I smile every time I drive it, heck, even when I look at it. My wife says it is more comfortable to ride in on a road trip that our Volvo. My little 180hp engine has all the pep Ill ever need and gives me 34MPG on the freeway. The trunk storage space is amazing, great for trips. Also a neat city car to get into parking spaces. The back seat is just a great place to keep stuff you want handy, and once in a while you fold it down as you now have a mini-wagon. Only problem was the airconditioner went out on a hot day, they fixed right away and has been fine. Im not really a car nut, but Im nuts about this car.

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  the best - 2005 Audi S4
  By CRANDADDY - January 6 - 5:10 pm

  The best handling car I have ever driven. The powertrain lets you do anything you want. At 2,000 miles the engine really opens up and becomes even more impressive. The adaptive transmission in the automatic really adapts to how you are driving, hit the gas and youre gone. I found a little hesitation of the line, but if you put it in sport mode and turn off the esp traction control, it more than solves the problem. With the top down the stereo adapts with road noise and is a lot of fun. The three layered top sounds as quite as a coupe with the top up. The two doors make it difficult to fit 4, but I dont have to ride back there so I dont care. The car is worth it!!!!!!!

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  As close to perfect - 2004 Audi A4
  By Audi Love - January 6 - 2:00 am

  The 3.0 6 Speed I just picked up is as close to perfect as any automobile ever made. Prior to this car I had a 1998 2.8 quattro that I thought was very hard to improve upon. Audi has done it with the 2004 A4. The driving characteristics and refinement has improved while sacrificing litte of the edgy performance feel of the prior model. The fit and finish of this car is impecable. Having recently been in a Mercedes S500 and BMW 745i, I believe the interior quality of my new A4 is superior. The Dolphin Gray Exterior and Platinum interior make for one beutiful machine.

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  EJNLMN Great Avant - 2004 Audi A4
  By EJNLMN - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This car is a sports car discuised as a wagon. Its fun to drive, responsive with the 3.0 quattro and stick shift. I could use more leg width and less console, my only real gripe.

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  Audi Does it right! - 2004 Audi A4
  By Mony&Tom - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This is a kickass fun car to drive -the quattro is fantastic and the 1.8 turbo is peppy enough. Overall ride is racing tight but still comfortable for everday driving. The styling is "classy edge"- not beemer commom and not lexus staid- just CLEAN. Interior is clean, not overdone but stylish with great touches -like the storage bins under the seat. But get the sports package and the manual for true fun.

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  Fun, fast car - 2006 Audi A4
  By joshua schreer - January 5 - 12:53 am

  It is a fun and very fast car. Very eye apealing and turns many heads on the road. Only down side is the turbo doesnt kick in till about 2,500 RPMs so it has a delay for a second in take off speed once you hit the gas. But as soon as the Turbo kicks in it makes up for it.

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  Better than Advertised - 2005 Audi A8
  By Welschman - January 4 - 9:45 pm

  The 2005 Audi A8 is silent, smooth, powerful, smart and handsome. OK, enough about me..:-) What a car! I just let my 2000 740iL go and got an 05 A8L. The 7-Series was a great car, but the A8 is even better. I cannot think of one thing I dont like about the car. Being able to change suspensions and shift points makes it like having two or three cars all with the best interior in the world. Get one!

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  What a Car - 2001 Audi A6
  By Fadi - January 4 - 3:48 pm

  Ive had absolutely no complaints since purchasing my 2001 Audi A6 2.8 quattro Sedan a little over four months ago. The driving is superb for any weather, especially Chicagos cold and harsh winters. The leather seats fit me comfortably, and the Bose sound system blows me away. What a car!

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  2005 Audi S4 - 2005 Audi S4
  By G - January 4 - 2:14 pm

  The Audi S4 is an iron fist in a silk glove. Every time you hit the right foot it feels like two hands shoving you forward, and it corners like its on rails. I took the family allroad 2.7T to the dealer for a service, and test drove the S4 while I waited. I had a 2000 A4 2.8 before and was curious... I got out grinning from ear to ear and feeling like Id been on a rollercoaster. The deal was $2,000 down/ $499 month, it was a steal I signed up for on the spot. The tiptronic was not nearly as much fun as the manual 6 spd. It shifts up to 6th and rumbles along most of the time. However, the auto has better fuel economy, just enough to avoid the $1700 gas guzzler tax for the manual.