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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  An automotive jewell! - 1997 Audi A8
  By jojo mojo - December 20 - 3:05 pm

  I purchased a used 97 Quattro with all extras - winter, hot weather and convenience packages. On top of that the Nav system is upgraded to the Euro version with a big screen in the center console, as well as 3 10" subs in the trunk. All I need is a Phatnoise MP3 player in place of the CD changer, and a fridge, and I can live in this car. :)) Learn how to do small repairs and youll avoid the dealer charges. I just replaced valve cover gasket myself - $60 for parts (not from the dealer - plenty websites sell original parts) and two hours because I took my time. I change my oil, brakes, sparkplugs, and other simple maintenance!

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  Im in love! - 1997 Audi Cabriolet
  By Julie - December 20 - 9:33 am

  I can only say great things about this car. It has been a sheer joy to drive and it looks incredibly beautiful. Good luck finding one!

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  Supermodel - 2003 Audi A4
  By newportgary - December 20 - 2:00 am

  I would say this car is like a supermodel. Very good looking, but not very quick. The car has a lot of fine qualities, but if you are looking for off-the-line zip or passing power, you will be disappointed. Probably the best built, best looking car in its class. I cant wait until they put a decent engine in the next round of A4s. Looking back I should have gone for the 3.0 w/o the quattro.

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  Best car for the money in US - 2003 Audi A4
  By duke_u_fan - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Whats not to love about Audi. The quality and workmanship is so beyond every other european make. Its unbelievable how much comes standard.

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  Should I Stay or Should I Go? - 2001 Audi A6
  By MikeR - December 19 - 4:43 pm

  I bought a 2001 2.7T with 80,000 miles in September 2005. Since then, I had to replace two bad turbos and oxygen sensors. After that it was a couple broken seals. Then a couple months after having the 80,000 mile check up, the transmission/4 wheel drive system went out (3 weeks at an Audi dealer waiting for parts). I had begun to notice some strange goings on with the interior lights. In addition, when in heavy traffic for an extended period of time, the trip meter (miles before filling up) flips out and a blinking time set begins to display. Good thing I bought an expensive 2 year extended warranty with the car, but Im really falling out of love.

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  A3 is a great car! - 2006 Audi A3
  By dan - December 19 - 11:12 am

  The A3 is a cross between the TT and A4 Avant. The 2-liter turbo scoots, car handles well and the wagon design is practical. Interior design is a beauty, with brushed aluminum trim included with the premium group. And you dont see A3s coming and going all the time on the roads. Its almost a well-kept secret.

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  Safe well built car - 2006 Audi A3
  By jenna - December 19 - 9:15 am

  I got my Audi A3 sport back 3.2 quattro and think its a great car with loads of space. I just picked up a freezer easily. It went in back with two seats down and room for my mum in back seat. Build is perfect, safe and the quattro makes wet or snow weather easy to drive in. Petrol isnt too bad - 32 mpg on motorway doing 70mph and round town 23mpg. The dsg box is great, wont go back to manual now . Its fast, 3.2 sport and driving on long journeys is great. Hardly any wind noise or road noise which you would expect having quattro.

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  Great Fun to Drive - 2005 Audi A6
  By RKK - December 19 - 7:10 am

  The A6 is extremely fun to drive. There really arent many negatives. One thing I noticed is that there are some interior pieces that started to "fall apart", such as the rear view mirror came disconnected, the panel on the drivers side came loose, and finally the A6 symbol on the back of the car broke. All this was easily replaced at no charge with their excellent service package that comes with the car (even if you buy it used). Positives: definitely a unique car, even in a big city like Chicago, fun to drive, the quattro is felt, especially in the snow when all those BMWs are slipping in the snow due to their rear-wheel drive and the room in the back is unreal.

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  Best care - its my second one - 2006 Audi A4
  By Dutchy - December 18 - 9:43 am

  Excellent vehicle, comfortable, perfect drive experience. Will buy the TT for the missus.

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  Flawless at 15,000 Miles - 2006 Audi A4
  By Bandit Three - December 16 - 12:33 pm

  Mechanically there have been zero problems. The car has performed nicely. Last week, pulling into an intersection I was within three meters of being broad sided by a car running through the red light at high speed. I punched the gas pedal and the cars AWD gripped the road allowing the 2.0 Liter Turbo to haul me out of harms way, permitting the other car to screech around and behind mien Audi. My life, or quality thereof, was saved by this car.