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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  Unbelivable Quality - 1998 Audi A6
  By JohnJaylayer - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Silly Ride, and Handling - LIke a Spider crawling Through the Roads, Grips roads with LOVE. Pure Luxury at an Affordable PRICE.

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  A6 Class B Luxury Affordable Relaible - 1998 Audi A6
  By AudiFan48 - April 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car about a year ago. Heard many electrical problems with the car, And it said it was very UN- Relaible.. NOT TRUE! Had a Minor window problem, Connection Got loose, My mech tells me this happens a lot with these cars. Only Problem, and the car is driven RUFF. Has 100k On it now, Drove 25k Miles - Very smooth Ride.

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  A4 Quattro - 1999 Audi A4
  By SavvyPlayer - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Great car -- just wish I didnt go with silver.

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  Perfect - 2004 Audi TT
  By Nevaeh - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Great car !! Great buy !! I love it !! Everyone should have one !! Best car ever !! I love this car !!

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  Excellent SUV Alternative - 2002 Audi A4
  By Audi John - April 2 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I bought this car a month ago, and we love it already. You rarely see A4 Avants, unlike the ubiquitous BMW/Volvo/VW wagons. Its also a superb value, especially Certified. I laugh at SUV drivers who paid a lot more for terrible handling, fuel economy, and in some cases, less room. It will not overwhelm you with power, but its got plenty of zip for a family car, and Quattro ensures excellent handling. Its not big, but its very comfortable. The interior lighting is great- at night, EVERY control lights up so you dont have to fumble in the dark. It’s a really intelligently designed car with great attention to detail. Very highly recommended!

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  Audi 2.7 s-line - 2004 Audi A6
  By Mr. Les - April 1 - 2:00 am

  I just traded my 3.0 A6 2003 for a new 2004 A6 2.7 s-line. I really liked my 3.0 but I love my 2.7 The acceleration and handling is just outstanding. The spoiler is just what was needed to finish the rear end. Too top it off, the quattro is awesome. By the way, the 9 spoke wheels are handsomely crafted. The braking is great. I would highly recommend the s-line to any car enthusiast.

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  nice "looking" car - 1999 Audi A6
  By firefighterlfd - March 31 - 2:00 am

  I love the interior. Heated steering wheel, front and rear seats. I only have 38,000 and the front stunts squeek. I had to change the water pump and thermostat $700 and the front fight CV boot $200 in less than a year. Seems like there would be a warranty for this type of vehical but nope 3 yr 40000.

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  Great car... not with the service - 2000 Audi A6
  By 00AUDIA6 - March 31 - 2:00 am

  The car itself is decent, the Quattro does an excellent job in a Maine winter, but the quality from there on out drops. The rear cupholders both broke in December 02. We have yet to hear back from the dealer who is ordering the parts. Vehicle is safe, was in a minor accident and we did not feel anything, but we sent it to the dealership, and they fixed the rear bumper... with a dent in the front bumper. Way to go for quality control. Car has had many service problems, and dealers service has been unsatisfactory

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  audi 8L-mixed bag - 2004 Audi A8
  By alfred elk - March 31 - 2:00 am

  This my first Audi, I have previously driven other high end sedans and sport cars. The beautiful interior, especially the dash was the best selling point. The car has great power, handling and braking. I have had a number of serious technical problems. The first was being locked out of the car, with only 500 miles, a non operatin heated steering wheel, and most importantly a less than complete NAV system. The NAV system occasionally takes me to the right address in the wrong town. It also fails to give complete numerical addresses. Audi does not seem to have a fix for this problem.

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  Wow, what a car! - 2004 Audi A8
  By audiman13 - March 31 - 2:00 am

  So far this car is outstanding, the comfort, the performance and the look. this sedan is big, a lot of leg room in this vehicle. the truck is huge, i can place 4 golf bags and still have room for luggage.