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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  My third q5 - 2016 Audi Q5
  By Rich - April 13 - 9:13 am

  Traded in a 2.0 liter q5. For loaded 3.0. Just love this vehicle. It is heavier then the 2.0 and better in ice and snow. The 3.0 liter is very quick and really goes when you need it. It is quiet with windows up and the sun roof is huge with no vibration with Windows up. A first for me. Voice command could be better and thats my only complaint. Quiet ride which is stiff and secure which I prefer. Decided to buy before model change because I knew what I was getting and really like this model.

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  Great Car - 2000 Audi A4
  By mehurrman - April 13 - 2:00 am

  GREAT CAR the most fun, its very sexy, i love it, its soo amazing id never get anything else.

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  audi - 2004 Audi A4
  By kol - April 13 - 2:00 am

  it was a very good car

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  Concept Car Brought To Life - 2001 Audi TT
  By JAHRMB - April 12 - 2:00 am

  This is one of the most beuatiful cars to ever roll off the assembly line. The interior (especially with the baseball optic leather) is flat-out gorgeous! This car, while not a hard- core sports car, can still deliver 85% of the performance of a Prosche 911 S4 Cabriolet at less than 1/2 the price - and it has a better interior with more room for front passengers. Much better overall car than Z4 or SLK. Better ergonimics than Boxster or 911. More room and better performance than Miata. Best bang for the buck - all things considered.

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  nice car - 2002 Audi A4
  By art42 - April 11 - 10:00 am

  nice/comfortable car. beautiful design. excellent build quality. reliable. BUT it is NOT a sports sedan. entertaining family sedan, maybe. but definitely not a sports sedan.

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  One of a kind ***** - 2002 Audi A4
  By vosk - April 11 - 10:00 am

  The new a4 comes with a lot of options standard wich BMW doesnt.(6 disc indash cd player,duel auto air,full size spare wheel with maching rims,first aide kit,5 cup holders,4 link suspemsion,head light washers,full size side curtain airbags,safty triangle in the trunk,

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  My 00 S4 - 2000 Audi S4
  By CharlyS4 - April 11 - 2:00 am

  The most fun I have ever had in a 4 door ride. My buddies 03 M3 is fun to drive but the S4 is a much smoother ride. The minor issues Ive had were all covered by warranty... wiper sprayer pump, plastic radiator reservior tank crack, etc. C.

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  Oh What a Feeling!!! - 2004 Audi S4
  By aamyot - April 11 - 2:00 am

  Unbelievable, smooth and powerful. A joy just to sit in and admire. Smoothest tranny I have ever experienced. Not a day goes by where either the color (Nogaro blue) or the Alacantara recaro (blue) interior doesnt get noticed by a passer-by!

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  Great Car - 2001 Audi TT
  By smfatf - April 11 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive, maintenance free, and great design. Only issue with vehicle was power at lower speeds. The new 250HP models fixes this.

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  If Looks Could Kill! - 2004 Audi TT
  By Biggster - April 10 - 2:00 am

  We tested other roadsters and settled on the TT because it felt "tighter" in steering and suspension. We choose the 1.8L automatic only to discover that it has four modes: normal drive, sport drive, push shift, and steering wheel paddles (Ive never seen the latter mentioned in a review). The sport drive has higher shift points for a sound and feel identical to a manual transmission. And looks? The visual impact of our neon yellow TT with black roof is stunning! Heads turn when cars pass on the Interstate.