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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  Used A6 2.7 BiT - 2000 Audi A6
  By lfbmdpc - August 24 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car for my wife (we live in a snowy area, hence the need for a quattro). It was an off-lease vehicle from Audi- superclean and well taken care of. Fun to drive, but not as much fun as a BMW. I love the interior layout and general fit/finish of this vehicle. Great highway cruiser- strong, quiet, solid. Suspension a little mushy. Terrible gas mileage, as one would expect. Car is tight as a drum after 2.5 years. Fair amount of turbo lag with acceleration. Im happy to date, and the car still has 6 mon ths left of free maintenance!!

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  Superb quality - 1999 Audi A4
  By DAVID COPPE - August 23 - 2:00 am

  --Excellent manufacturing quality --Fun to drive. Go for the Turbo engine over the 2.8V6: cheaper, lighter engine (4 vs. 6 cyl), sportier. You really dont feel the hp difference!

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  Why buy Benz? Perfect Audi! - 2002 Audi A6
  By David E. McGowan - August 23 - 2:00 am

  Whoa, 2.7 liter V6 with bahaus designed twin turbo system. Can life get any sweeter? The interior is beyond beautiful, a PERFECT dash design. First class exterior. Plus twin turbos that BLAST you into the back seat! Not a single problem yet and Im at 13,600 miles. I love this car and Im in no hurry to get a new car and Ive been spoiled by the best brands my other cars have been a 2000 Infiniti Q45, and a 2001 Lexus RX 300. Ive never owned a better car and I never never will! Try to catch me Benz.

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  A4 1.8T Quattro - 2000 Audi A4
  By Demographer - August 22 - 2:00 am

  I love my Audi. It is fun to drive, looks great, and handles superbly. I also love the free scheduled maintenance for the first 50,000 miles.

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  so far so good - 2002 Audi A6
  By Sdkv101 - August 22 - 2:00 am

  Well its been a month since i purchased my A6. I have been a frequent bmw driver for 4 years but receieved poor customer service from bmw. So i decided to buy an A6. I was warned by consumers that there were reliability problems. So far so good! People usually buy car for looks and handling and the A6 has both. It is a lease so im not worried when it comes off warranty, because its not my problem anymore. Also, I have leased all my previous bmw and nothing beats audi/vws leasing program! Way to go Audi!!! Kurt San Diego CA

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  Oldie but a goodie - 1993 Audi S4
  By car_nut - August 21 - 2:00 am

  The S4 is a great combination of luxury and performance. A unique 5 cyl. turbo coupled with a 5 speed transmision and all wheel drive, make this car extremely fun to drive. It is great fun to accelerate through the curves and feel the quattro glue you to the road. Hope to put many more miles on this one.

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  Audi Lover - 1999 Audi A6
  By audi lover - August 21 - 2:00 am

  An absolutely wonderful perfect, realiable, luxurious, powerful, dream car!!!

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  Great car w/couple of nitpicks - 2002 Audi A6
  By ashvinS - August 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car a few weeks in a mingblau, colors are sharp, interior materials are really high class, great power this machine is like a rocket! So far, no problems whatsoever, and gets plenty of car envy looks from people.

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  225QC - 2002 Audi TT
  By josh - August 21 - 2:00 am

  What a great car. People underestimate the performance of the TT, but it is a performer. 225hp from a 1.8 liter thats just amazing. You also get world class interior and exterior that doesnt look like anything else.

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  225QC - 2002 Audi TT
  By Josh - August 21 - 2:00 am

  What a great car. People underestimate the performance of the TT, but it is a performer. 225hp from a 1.8 liter thats just amazing. You also get world class interior and exterior that doesnt look like anything else.