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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  Audi A4 - 2003 Audi A4
  By Smacker - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Aluminum trim is my favorite. The car launches and handles like its on rails. Get the Bose!

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  A4 - 2003 Audi A4
  By tynes - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Very comfortable ride, smooth and quiet interior, a joy of a drive.

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  Quattro A4 - 2003 Audi A4
  By VietQT - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Wonderful performance all-around. I would not have chosen another car.

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  Best all around-er - 2005 Audi A4
  By Ryan - March 1 - 6:55 pm

  Absolutely wonderful car! Great looking/performing sporty 4 seater convertible with all-wheel-drive for Omaha winters.. you wont be disappointed with this one!

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  Fun, Utility, and an Excellent Value - 2006 Audi A3
  By walkerhound1 - February 27 - 6:33 pm

  After 5 months of ownership, I can recommend this car. If you buy specs, you may get something else, but Im pretty confident the 2.0Ts 200hp rating is a little conservative. Engine is flexible, strong & has delivered 27mpg overall (22-26 town, 28-32 hwy). Premium packs suspension is comfortable, but can handle spirited driving. DSG is outstanding & you can use the paddle shifters even in the automatic modes (Drive/Sport). Quality interior w/ room for 4 adults. The all-season Pirellis have been better than expected, once broken in- sure-footed in the wet & fairly capable in the corners. Great car for commuting, road trips & just plain fun.

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  Vroom . . . gasp - 2002 Audi A6
  By ak9 - February 27 - 12:04 am

  The ultimate luxury sleeper - one minute youre quietly cruising a residential street looking very stately - next minute the bi-turbo takes a deep breath and this torquey little spacecraft catapults you effortlessly into the traffic flow on the interstate doing 90. Very big trunk, roomy backseat and all the creature comforts - oh, and did I mention, all-wheel drive for those north country winters. Would have liked a little bit better gas mileage, but still beats the last Dodge and Ford sixes I owned on fuel efficiency. This is a very cushy rocket - dont miss it.

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  Tank Solid Reliable Luxury - 1997 Audi A6
  By anonmartin - February 26 - 6:40 pm

  Weve been very pleased at the quality and reliability of this Avant quattro. In silver, it looks fantastic. Audi/VW had relied on this 12V V6 motor for several of its platforms, and after living with it, and having no problems at all, I can see why. At 172 bhp, it is a little under-powered, but does great at speed. Leather interior holds up well if regularly treated. Quattro drive grips the road, dry, wet, or in ice and snow. We drove through a blizzard up a mountain and were passing some SUVs that were struggling. The pop-up rear-facing seats work great for our small kids and cousins, plus, they love riding back there. Interior cargo room is pretty good with rear seats folded down.

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  Deep pockets required - 1999 Audi A8
  By nomoreaudi - February 26 - 4:52 pm

  A beautiful car smooth and quiet ride. Was looking forward to several years of ownership and driving pleasure. However, transmission trouble, numerous MIL error codes and gasket leaks generated enormous shop bills, (primarily the labor to diagnose problem & access components for servicing). There are few options for service outside of the dealer network. Yet, dealers and independent shops that specialize in German automobile service alike seemed puzzled by some of the issues this car presented. At purchase time, it looked like a bargain in comparison to the Lexus LS400. However, long term cost of ownership is outrageous. 1 year repair/maint. costs exceeded $7K with no end in sight.

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  love this car - 2006 Audi A6
  By lenny - February 25 - 4:56 am

  Runs great and is fun to drive Buy the all weather Mats .. look good and work better than cloth mats

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  Audi A3 DSG - 2006 Audi A3
  By alan - February 24 - 7:24 pm

  I planned to buy this car and I test drove it, its the best transmission I ever experience, no matter up-shift or down-shift, its so smooth and I think I will make the right choice. Engine response is very good, I drove 2 turbos before and this one is a new experience since I dont need to use gas pedal and clutch to minimize the turbo lags. Thanks to DSG, and its only offer in A3s or TTs, dont get the manual, get DSG, its the best tranny so far in the market! (and its easily to get the engine improve to 250 horses and matching the V6 power - except the quattro unless you think its a must!)