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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  The best sportscar wagon! - 1999 Audi A6
  By JWA6 - May 2 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has offered nothing but pleasure and lots of dependability. It is a great design that will age gracefully.

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  The New 8... - 2004 Audi A8
  By sixmonthowner - May 2 - 2:00 am

  Beautiful car that is so good that its faults stand out more than they otherwise would. I love a big ride, but this one is so large that Parktronic should be standard... almost impossible to park in tight quarters without it (or without playing bumper cars). DO NOT BUY WITHOUT IT, despite its over-sensativity or your assumption that you can park a car without a computer (thats me!)

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  Understated and Overlooked - 2000 Audi A8
  By Jrock - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Great car (bought used with 33,000 miles). Dealer was fantastic. Only item I will be changing are the tires which (Goodyear Eagles) are noisy. Car is very classy but yet understated.

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  s4 review - 2004 Audi S4
  By TRISTAN - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Car is the ultimate in luxury and performance..

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  Better than I could have imagined - 2003 Audi A4
  By AudiConvert - May 1 - 2:00 am

  After looking at MB c240, BMW 330ci and the Audi 1.8t I finally bought a 2003 3.0, Quattro, 6 spd and can I just tell everyone, its probably the best car I have ever driven. I mean, the BMW was nice... but not worth the extra cash (plus the interior of the Bimmer is bland). The c240 was solid, but wasnt much fun to drive. Moreover, the interior looked like someone just started sticking stuff on the dash (very poor layout) My suggestion is to take the plunge, get the Audi, you wont be disappointed (but an Assured car might be a good idea... just in case).

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  Awesome Wagon! - 2006 Audi A4
  By Wahine - April 30 - 5:56 pm

  I love this car! We were ready to downsize from an SUV, but still wanted an expanded cargo area. This fits our needs perfectly. We looked at the Subarus, but they didnt compare to the Audi. The 6 speed manual transmission shifts smoothly and is fun to drive.

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  Great Value - 2003 Audi A4
  By 03Avant1.8T - April 30 - 2:00 am

  This is an excellent vehicle for the price. I went from a SUV to the Avant and dont regret it one bit. Especially when I fill tank. Just buy some racks and put all the toys on top. The trunk is also just a littl to small to fit golf clubs in the back. So I just fold down one of seats. Although I am a bit concern now since after 18000 miles a oil leak on the cam seal was discovered. I just hope this is not an on-going issue. Other than that a very reliable car.

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  Sams Review - 2004 Audi TT
  By Samman19 - April 27 - 2:00 am

  I like it a lot because yeah my dad got it for me and I just love it thanks guys for building this fine! machine

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  Competition Yellow Audi - 2001 Audi A4
  By grahamj3 - April 26 - 5:36 pm

  I have the most beautiful Audi ever made. The A4 has beautiful outer styling that molds to its shell like skin. I have the screaming yellow color that catches attention everywhere I go. I was so impressed with my Audi A6 2.7T Quattro that the dealer got me into another Audi which is the A4 2.8 Quattro. I have never stopped smiling.

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  Great car for the price! - 2003 Audi A4
  By vllyboy - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Good combination - great price.