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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  Great Audi - 1994 Audi 100
  By request124me - July 1 - 2:00 am

  Bought this vehicle used with 100,000 miles, now has 150,000. Had to compromise and get an automatic transmission, car would have performed better with manual. Car has been very reliable and maintenance has been very good. Exhaust systems are very expensive and only available from dealer in Canada

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  Not a Toyota :) - 1997 Audi A4
  By digger - June 30 - 2:00 am

  This was my first Audi, 5 years and I still love it. The only things negative were the remote fobs are junk and the cost for anything is way too high, a new key was $60 and the transducers dont even do anything in 97.

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  Terrific performance - 1996 Audi A4
  By SaD - June 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought it used (96) in 4/99. Fantastic handling, cornering and shifting. Great Bose audio with 8 speakers. Very comfortable leather seats for long drive. I drove from DC to Quebec city - it was a lot of fun. Handles well at 120 mph (in Canada !). Overall fun and luxurious car to drive. Will definitely buy it again. Only had some trouble with front suspension once.

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  No title - 2002 Audi A6
  By pythonfan6 - June 29 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. I actually purchased the 2000 model, but they didnt have anywhere for me to sound off, so Im doing it here. I recently had to decide whether or not to trade in my A6 for a BMW 530 and I actually started to cry at the thought of giving up my car. Needless to say, my A6 is still safely parked in my driveway.

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  fun - 1996 Audi A4
  By diana - June 28 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great car to drive. Very comfortable and great handling. It did not loose anything even after 2 front-end wrecks. I agree the cup holders are a joke. If you make a fast turn, big cups tip. Dashboard layout is easy to use. I have not had any significant mechanical problems other than a fuelpump that faltered in the first year. It was cheerfully replaced while I drove a loaner.

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  Best Car I have Ever Bought - 1991 Audi 100
  By blue2290 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  For such an old car, I have had to do relatively little to fix it. The interior is gorgeous, a luxury car for a small budget. I have had a few electrical glitches, which are common in this model. Overall I would buy 2 if I could, but the other one would be a Quattro.

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  Less A4s nice change from 2 many B 3s - 2004 Audi A4
  By Unique-unlike Bmers - June 26 - 10:00 am

  Great interior/ exterior design typical of German engineers and materials. Rides great , not a whole lotta initial "uummphh" off the start. Handles superb. Nothing but good things to say (so far) since purchasing new vehicle one month ago. I enjoy the fact that not every other car is an Audi, my own preference, not that BMWs are bad...

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  Still in love - 2001 Audi S4
  By JakeS4 - June 26 - 2:00 am

  This car has smooth power delivery and great looks. The Quattro is excellent in wet and snowy conditions and delivers power well during acceleration. I love the six-speed transmission and the turbos allow passing without down-shifting. I cant wait to see what Ingolstadt comes out with for the next generation S4!

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  If you drive it, you will own it. - 2000 Audi A6
  By a6man - June 26 - 2:00 am

  Although I think the BMW 5 series is the cherry on top, the A6 is the cream with the cherry stain on it. This is an awesome car. Comfort, looks, all wheel drive, you will have to get the 5 to beat it.

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  Great, reliable buy! - 1996 Audi A4
  By jayb - June 25 - 2:00 am

  I loved this car the day I bought it. I purchased with 85K and have only had work on the rear brakes. Car is amazingly fast and handles like a sports car. Suspension is perfect for any driving situation and has an extremely comfortable ride. I would encourage any one to buy this vehicle.