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:

• 

  Great Fun - 2003 Audi TT
  By dbh - June 15 - 2:00 am

  Great sytle, great handling, better than average power, more cargo space than a sports car, good sound system, I can drive it every day of the year, and its a head turner. Whats not to like? Well, the blind spots caused by the body style, but you get use to them.

• 

  Top of the Class - 2004 Audi A8
  By 52Ray52 - June 14 - 2:00 am

  This car has raised the bar on the Luxury Sedan Class. Quality, Comfort, Fit & Finish at supurb. The drive is unique for the class, very sporty yet no less luxurious than a Mercedes S Class or BMW 745Li. Audi deserves a standing O for this one!

• 

  A4 #2 and I love it! - 2001 Audi A4
  By Pegmac - June 14 - 2:00 am

  I had a 1996 manual A4 Quattro,sold it to my brother and bought the 2001 automatic with triptronic. I love these cars! Once you sit in one and drive, you are spoiled for life!

• 

  audi s-8 - 2003 Audi S8
  By sami - June 13 - 2:00 am

  this is such a fun hard fast car

• 

  Best of both worlds - 2003 Audi A6
  By RPF - June 13 - 2:00 am

  A masterful blend of sport and luxury. Capable handling without a punishing ride. More than adequate power, albeit not as muscular as some other comparable offerings. Comfortable without the squishiness of domestic offerings. Proper use of technology for purpose and not just gee-whiz gadgets.

• 

  Build Quality? Lack of Power? - 2004 Audi A4
  By pgk22 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Within less than 1 yr of ownership been to the dealer 7 times now to fix the drivers power seat. Audi just doesnt seem to get the hydraulics of the power seat right? Parts again questionable? Owned a 3-series BMW for 7 yrs without any problems. Engine lacks low end torque. The other problems are interior room for the passengers in the back.

• 

  EXCELLENT GERMAN CAR - 2002 Audi A4
  By jjvillar - June 11 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR IS AMAZING, GOOD PERFORMANCE, CONFORTABLE, GOOD QUALITY, AND GOOD SERVICE.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.