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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  A4 is better than S4!! - 2002 Audi A4
  By jasoo - June 11 - 10:00 am

  this car is smoother than the S4 but the S6 is better than the A6.

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  Fun under the sun - 2002 Audi TT
  By W. B. Lovern - June 11 - 2:00 am

  all positive in first sixteen months and 11,700 miles. Dealer (Steve White in Greenville, S.C.) is top notch. Impossible to pay for anything but gas and tires once the car is yours and that sure makes driving easy on the wallet. my wife likes it as much or more than the Boxster she had and the quattro awd system is terrific.

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  Audi Excellent - 2002 Audi A4
  By Jeff T - June 11 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car If this continues I will be an Audi Driver for life.

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  2007 Audi A4 - Impressive! - 2007 Audi A4
  By Dan - June 9 - 12:00 pm

  This is my first Audi and so far Im very pleased. The overall muscular look of the exterior and refined interior was what attracted me. The turbo engine has plenty of power especially in "s" mode. Interior controls are well laid out and the dual climate control works exceptionally well - very cold A/C. The ride is rather quiet and wind noise is relatively unnoticeable. Fuel economy is a bit less than advertised. I do mostly highway driving at 60-70 mph and I have been getting 30 mpg versus 32 mpg advertised. Overall, Im very pleased with the value and quality of this car!

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  Sweet car! - 2003 Audi A6
  By bobdog7 - June 9 - 2:00 am

  The 4.2 is taut,firm yet very comfortable.Tossable around town,smooth and stable on highway.Got 4.2 sedan for my wife now I need to figure a way to get RS6 for me.

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  NewAudiOwner - 2004 Audi A4
  By Naudi - June 8 - 10:00 am

  This is my first Audi as well as the first car under my name. It truly makes driving fun and what really sold me was the sleek classy look of the interior. After driving this vehichle for only 5 months and 7000 mi I have already decided that I am going to treasure it for at least the next 93000 mi. and am confident that it will be able to handle the miles with little too no out of pocket $$$. Regardless, my next vehicle will be an Audi as well. Perhaps the Le Mons series!

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  My new audi is awesome - 2004 Audi A4
  By GDeP - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this car. It is perfect. I recomend this car to anyone who wants a beautiful and fun car.

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  My Audi 1.8T - 2002 Audi A4
  By Rainbowman - June 8 - 2:00 am

  All in all, the car has lived up to its ratings by the automotive press. Acceleration from a standstill is not the greatest, until the turbocharger kicks in... then it feels a lot stronger and reacts. The sport suspension handles very well, but the agressive tires are fairly noisy, especially at highway speeds. The center console does restrict leg movement and can be a little uncomfortable for a taller driver. The seating is firm and may be considered stiff by some.

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  Wow - 2004 Audi A8
  By Redeemer - June 7 - 2:00 am

  Watch out Lexus, BMW, and MB, your undersized, overpriced lux sedans are about to be outsold by this new car...all i can say about this car is wow...

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  great vehicle - 2003 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By KSALLROAD - June 6 - 10:00 am

  Having owned two Landrover 4.6s and a BMW X5-4.4 in the four years before trying this car, I didnt know whether I would like it. Love it! Quieter, roomier and more reliable than the BMW. Much faster than the Rovers. Kind of funny looking but a great driver and quite quick. Turbos are great in the mountains.