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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  super high tech performer - 2001 Audi TT
  By jdipoalasr - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Had only two minor mechanical problems repaired under warranty with excellent customer service to include a free loaner until completed.

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  The Mother of all Sports Coupes - 2003 Audi TT
  By daninoah - March 20 - 2:00 am

  This car has been out since 2000, and it still turns heads. It has a great engine sound. The car is very fast. It might not beat a 350z or GS Coupe 6MT, but its styling and build quality blow away any similarly priced sport coupe. The seats are firm. The gears are short and easy to find. The turbo lag is negligible. The quattro handling is like nothing youve ever experienced. One would have to be very reckless and make many mistakes to get into trouble with this car. The car is solidly built and can be driven every day.

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  TT 2WD 180HP CPE -great handling&design - 2001 Audi TT
  By PGG - March 19 - 2:00 am

  have 16,250 mi on this daily driver. raven blk. handles like its on rails, loves to run between 3000-5000rpm,2nd -4th. still love design, art and concept of this car.minor qc so far, side mirror lens (gel spot of thermal,failed horn,buggy hatch-fuel release switch, exhaust heat shield rattle. great brakes for your avg sports car enthusiast on public rds.all interior pwr features perform as promised.warreny support excellent thus far. note: TT 180hp has required 94 octane spec.

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  Very great vehicle for the price. - 2001 Audi A4
  By Kritika Deo - March 18 - 8:16 pm

  First of all I would like to say that this car rocks. Its the best german car that anyone can get there hands on for under 30k. The performance is amazing and so is the comfort and the ride. And man is it fun to ride. The 5 speed is very fun and the car is surpriseling fast for the amount of horses it has. But than again, I cant complain since I bought the vehicle for 25.5K. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who is looking for an entry level sports luxury sedan.

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  Wunderbar! - 1999 Audi A4
  By Fast Eddy - March 18 - 10:00 am

  This is the best Audi I have driven thus far, and I have driven many! From Audi 200 (V8) Quattro Turbo to Audi 80 GTE...and they were all great cars.

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  03-18-03 - 1999 Audi A8
  By Rich NM - March 18 - 2:00 am

  My car now has 103,000 and it has not had any problems at all. Also, it does great in the snow, even deep snow. The dual climate control is a well designed feature. The heated seats work very well, and heat up fast even when it is -25, like it was a few times this winter. This car does not handle like other cars in the same class, it feels light and nimble (relative to the size), and can be driven at its handling limits with ease.

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  Awesome - 2003 Audi A6
  By A6 Lover - March 18 - 2:00 am

  So, this is what 1st class is truly like. There is nothing like the steering and handling of a high end German engineered vehicle. The A6 has it all.

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  Best $28,000 ever spent on a car! - 1999 Audi A4
  By snoynaer - March 17 - 2:00 am

  This was my first new car, initially purchased to get through the VT winters. I have been on road trips from Quebec City to New York, New England to Texas and Texas to Colorado. It excells in the snow (with proper tires), handles very well (sport suspension) and is a very good highway cruiser (despite the high rpms in 5th).

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  exceptional - 2005 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By ward lile - March 16 - 3:56 pm

  It seems to do everything exceptionally well. Its amazing in snow and rain, and even mud. But still fun to drive like a sports sedan. Rarely does a car that does so many things competantly do any of them so exceptionally, but the All Road does.

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  You cant be happy without Quattro - 2004 Audi A4
  By Quattro35 - March 14 - 10:00 am

  I love my new audi. Quattro is such a great feature... My new audi is so much more fun and cleaner lookin then my Infiniti Q45.