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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  Love At 1st Sight! - 1999 Audi A4
  By Vegete - January 7 - 2:00 am

  Why buy a rear wheel drive BMW when you can get an AWD Audi? Great value for what youre paying for. Quattro is a god send in snowy New England. The Bose Sound System is a gem! 6 Disk changer in the trunk in only a minor inconvenience. The interior is comfortable and stylish. My friends cant get over all the gadgets to play with, expecially the heated front seats. The exterior design is beautiful as it is. Who really needs a spoiler or body kits anyway? The certified warranty it came with is decent (100,000 or 2 years). I would recommend this car to anyone!

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  Audi TT is the best - 2003 Audi TT
  By kuti3 - January 7 - 2:00 am

  its so cute and fast, its the best car ever made.

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  Best 4 door sedan in its class! - 2003 Audi A4
  By SpeedRacett - January 6 - 10:00 am

  My A4 has been nothing but fun to drive. Im getting 29 miles to the gallon which is more than I thought Id get. This car handles the S-curve on ramps like a dream-just down shift to 3rd or 4th, no brakes, press the gas and go. Many a times the hair on the back of my neck has stood up in amazement as to what this car can do.

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  Great car - 2002 Audi A6
  By alias - January 6 - 2:00 am

  Handles great - would buy an A6 again

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  Audi by JJ - 1999 Audi A6
  By JJJJ - January 5 - 2:00 am

  Solid construction - no rattles.

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  Switched from a Benz - 2003 Audi A6
  By len Bass - January 5 - 2:00 am

  Picked up the A6 2 weeks ago. The car is just flat out fun to drive the Quattro is like glue on wet and dry pavment. Has a Benz ML320- the go anywhere truck that was headache for 3 years The center of gravity is so much lower than any suv, it just is fun to accelerate into turns instead of braking. This is a drivers car in every sense of the word.

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  Audi 2002 S8 - 2003 Audi S8
  By mitchshap - January 4 - 2:00 am

  The 4 wheel drive is great but it detracts from handling around curves. Little creature comforts could be improved upon (i.e heating steering wheel should be in S8, better navigation system and computer). Overall, I would probably not buy again.

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  rattles - 2001 Audi A8
  By rattles - January 4 - 2:00 am

  I WOULD NOT PURCHASE THE CAR AGAIN! The car rattles badly. the dealer admits to the rattles privitely but admits they can`t fix them.The car has been in the shop for so many days I lost count.Other problems included multiple electronic failures, gas gauge failure, acceleration override problems where the engine management system retards acceleration when you move quickly from the brake to the accelerator before the brake pedel contacts a relay that allows the accelerator to engage. No help from audi to correct the problem has been forthcoming, in spite of dealing with high level customer service personel

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  Awesome Fun Car - 2002 Audi S4
  By Bill Bill - January 3 - 2:00 am

  Great car to drive. Handles very well, quick acceleration, good braking. All in all a great car to drive.

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  Persistent Vibration - 2003 Audi S6
  By Skitown - January 2 - 2:00 am

  Too bad that this great car has a persistent vibration above 60 mph. The dealers have attemtped (wtih varying degrees of sincerity) to fix it but have failed.