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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  Not For the "Me Too" Crowd - 2004 Audi A6
  By Audi Guy - September 21 - 2:00 am

  My Audi A6 S Line 2.7t Quattro is a stand-out car in all respects. Its interior and exterior both scream uniqueness, sport-luxury and quality. This is my second Audi A6 and the 04 is better than my 01. Ive got all the get-up-and-go I could ever need for over-taking and freeway merging and the Quattro 4 wheel drive provides that extra road handeling competence that you just have to personally experience to fully appreciate. I mean slot-car like road holding around corners. When you punch the gas, the torque just keeps pulling and pulling and before you know it, youre just going too damn fast!

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  The best Audi yet !!! - 2004 Audi Allroad Quattro
  By kjlade;riouiadsf - September 20 - 10:00 am

  I love this allroad. This is my 2nd Audi and they keep making these cars better and better ...

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  By far the best car I have owned - 2005 Audi S4
  By mlaz - September 20 - 2:00 am

  If youre looking for a car thats more soul than show, this is the car for you. Its the best of both worlds when it comes to comfort and performance. The seats are fantastic, the interior is tight and the drive is unbelievable. A pure blast to drive!

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  Exceptional - 2001 Audi A4
  By iofreeze - September 19 - 2:00 am

  This car is exceptional in most every way. Classic AUDI handling/cornering coupled with the luxurious appointments. What I really like about this vehicle that no one speaks about is the TURBO aspect. It can be changed out with an aftermarket configuration and squeeze out much more performance with ease. It is not unrealistic to get 325+ hp out of this vehicle. Overall I think the AUDI A4 is absolutely beautiful.

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  The car Ive been waiting for... - 2004 Audi S4
  By mwuagi - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I bought mine at a huge discount because it was a dealer buy- back. Apparently, some earlier S4s had engine & tranny problems, so mine got a new engine and a new transmission with "bug" fixes, and now the car runs perfectly. The previous owner should have kept it, because I am now enjoying a flawless vehicle! We all know about the super performance and the bad gas mileage, so lets get past that and talk about what a great stealth vehicle this car is. I also own a heavily modified Mitsu Eclipse GSX that is a "Fast and Furious" type vehicle, but my S4 outperforms it, and has quiet "class" as well. With the premium package, this car is tops! M3? Humbug!

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  Cool Fun - 2002 Audi TT
  By wiz - September 18 - 2:00 am

  From the moment I saw the prototype of this car I knew it was a classic.After years of lusting for it I finally purchased the red ALMS.Its a classy car, loads of fun to drive and always gets a thumbs up on the road.No mechanical problems after 2 years and my weekend ritual is keeping it clean. I put a computer chip in it and changed the exhaust system for a little more kick. A sunroof would be nice but really its a great car!

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  awesome - 2003 Audi A4
  By alo - September 18 - 2:00 am

  best car ever driven!!!!

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2004 Audi A4
  By jb1170 - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this vehicle for a year now. It performs beautifully, and gets great mileage. Fun to drive around town, performs great on the highway, and is extremely quick for a 4 cyl with the tip-tronic transmission. If you can push a button, then you know how to use the top. Comes standard with numerous comfort options. If you are interested in a convertable in this category then I highly recommend looking at this vehicle. You wont be disappointed.

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  Great German Automobile - 2002 Audi A4
  By cramerpp - September 17 - 2:00 am

  I purchased a pre-owned A4 and have been thrilled with the car. Additional 2 years of bumber-bumper pre-owned warranty is great. Car rides beautiful. Tight German feel. Hugs the road. The 1.8T has great torque. Could be more powerful, especially with Quattro drive, but gas mileage is great. I switched to synthetic oil and larger capacity filter and have been getting over 30 mpg highway. Car has tons of great features and electronics. Safety is excellent. Ive had no problems with this vehicle and hope to own if for many years. Too bad my wife gets to drive it all the time.

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  Awesome! - 2005 Audi S4
  By MolarDoc - September 15 - 2:00 am

  The first day I picked the car up I drove it from Oregon to California,so I had a chance to test it on the Freeways and Mountain Roads...it exceeded all my expectations...it has power..it is very stable...the engine sound is terrific...this car can fly! The German engeneering brings top quality fit and finish far beyond what other car manufacturers bring to the market!