The origins of the company are complex, dating back to the early 20th century and the initial enterprises (Horch and theAudiwerke) founded by engineerAugust Horch. Two other manufacturers (DKW andWanderer) also contributed to the foundation ofAuto Union in 1932. The modern Audi era began in the 1960s, when Auto Union was acquired byVolkswagen fromDaimler-Benz.[7] After relaunching the Audi brand with the 1965 introduction of theAudi F103 series, Volkswagen merged Auto Union withNSU Motorenwerke in 1969, thus creating the present-day form of the company.
The company name is based on theLatin translation of the surname of the founder,August Horch.Horch, meaning 'listen', becomesaudi in Latin. The four rings of the Audi logo each represent one of four car companies that banded together to create Audi's predecessor company, Auto Union. Audi's slogan isVorsprung durch Technik, which is translated as 'Progress through Technology'.[8] Audi, along with German brandsBMW andMercedes-Benz, is among the best-selling luxury automobile brands in the world.[9]
History
Birth of the company and its name
Automobile company Wanderer was originally established in 1885, later becoming a branch of Audi AG. Another company, NSU, which also later merged into Audi, was founded during this time, and later supplied the chassis forGottlieb Daimler's four-wheeler.[10]
On 14 November 1899,August Horch (1868–1951) established the companyA. Horch & Cie. in theEhrenfeld district ofCologne. In 1902, he moved with his company toReichenbach im Vogtland. On 10 May 1904, he founded theAugust Horch & Cie. Motorwagenwerke AG, a joint-stock company inZwickau (State ofSaxony).
After troubles with Horch chief financial officer, August Horch left Motorwagenwerke and founded in Zwickau on 16 July 1909, his second company, theAugust Horch Automobilwerke GmbH. His former partners sued him for trademark infringement. The GermanReichsgericht (Supreme Court) inLeipzig,[11] eventually determined that the Horch brand belonged to his former company.[12]
Since August Horch was prohibited from usinghorch as a trade name in his new car business, he called a meeting with close business friends, Paul and Franz Fikentscher from Zwickau. At the apartment of Franz Fikentscher, they discussed how to come up with a new name for the company. During this meeting, Franz's son was quietly studying Latin in a corner of the room. Several times he looked like he was on the verge of saying something but would just swallow his words and continue working, until he finally blurted out, "Father –audiatur et altera pars... wouldn't it be a good idea to call itaudi instead ofhorch?".[13]Horch in German means 'hark' or 'hear', which isaudi in the singular imperative form ofaudire—'to listen'—in Latin. The idea was enthusiastically accepted by everyone attending the meeting.[14] On 25 April 1910 theAudi Automobilwerke GmbH Zwickau (from 1915 onAudiwerke AG Zwickau) was entered in the company's register of Zwickau registration court.
The first Audi automobile, theAudi Type A 10/22 hp (16 kW) Sport-Phaeton, was produced in the same year,[15] followed by the successorType B 10/28PS in the same year.[16]
Audi started with a 2,612 ccstraight-four engine model Type A, followed by a 3,564 cc model, as well as 4,680 cc and 5,720 cc models. These cars were successful even in sporting events. The firstsix-cylinder model Type M, 4,655 cc appeared in 1924.[17]
August Horch left theAudiwerke in 1920 for a high position at the ministry of transport, but he was still involved with Audi as a member of the board of trustees. In September 1921, Audi became the first German car manufacturer to present a production car, the Audi Type K, with left-handed drive.[18] Left-hand drive spread and established dominance during the 1920s because it provided a better view of oncoming traffic, making overtaking safer[18] when driving on the right.
The merger of the four companies under the logo of four rings
In August 1928,Jørgen Rasmussen, the owner ofDampf-Kraft-Wagen (DKW), acquired the majority of shares in Audiwerke AG.[19] In the same year, Rasmussen bought the remains of the U.S.automobile manufacturerRickenbacker, including the manufacturing equipment for 8-cylinder engines. These engines were used inAudi Zwickau andAudi Dresden models that were launched in 1929. At the same time, 6-cylinder and 4-cylinder (the "four" with aPeugeot engine) models were manufactured. Audi cars of that era were luxurious cars equipped with special bodywork.
In 1932, Audi merged withHorch, DKW, andWanderer, to formAuto Union AG,Chemnitz. It was during this period that the company offered theAudi Front that became the first European car to combine a six-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive. It used a power train shared with the Wanderer, but turned 180 degrees, so that the drive shaft faced the front.
BeforeWorld War II, Auto Union used the four interlinked rings that make up the Audi badge today, representing these four brands. However, this badge was used only on Auto Union racing cars in that period while the member companies used their own names and emblems. The technological development became more and more concentrated and some Audi models were propelled by Horch- or Wanderer-built engines.
Reflecting the economic pressures of the time, Auto Union concentrated increasingly on smaller cars through the 1930s, so that by 1938 the company's DKW brand accounted for 17.9% of the German car market, while Audi held only 0.1%. After the final few Audis were delivered in 1939 the "Audi" name disappeared completely from the new car market for more than two decades.
World War II
Richard Bruhn, aNazi party member, was Auto Union's chairman of the board from 1932 to 1945 and then again after the war when the company was reestablished. In 2014 Audi became the last major German car company, after Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler, to commission a study of their wartime activities.[20] The investigation found that the company worked with theSS to build seven labor camps where more than 3,700 prisoners were put to work for Auto Union.[21] In addition, 16,500 more people were forced to work at the company's factories inZwickau andChemnitz, and another 18,000 at an underground plant in Bavaria where 4,500 people died.[20]
With no prospect of continuing production in Soviet-controlled East Germany, Auto Union executives began the process of relocating what was left of the company toWest Germany.[citation needed] A site was chosen inIngolstadt,Bavaria, to start a spare parts operation in late 1945, which would eventually serve as the headquarters of the reformed Auto Union in 1949.[citation needed]
On 17 August 1948, Auto Union AG of Chemnitz was deleted from the commercial register.[19] These actions had the effect of liquidating Germany's Auto Union AG. The remains of the Audi plant of Zwickau became theVEB (for "People Owned Enterprise")Automobilwerk Zwickau [de] or AWZ (in English: Automobile Works Zwickau).
The former Audi factory in Zwickau restarted assembly of the pre-war models in 1949. These DKW models were renamed toIFA F8 andIFA F9 and were similar to the West German versions. West and East German models were equipped with the traditional and renowned DKW two-stroke engines. The Zwickau plant later manufactured the infamousTrabant until 1991, after it was acquired by the Volkswagen Group following the reunification of Germany, and has since been substantially rebuilt. In 2021, production of theAudi Q4 e-tron began at the plant, marking the return of Audis being manufactured at Zwickau after over 80 years.
New Auto Union unit
A new West German headquartered Auto Union was launched in Ingolstadt with loans from the Bavarian state government andMarshall Plan aid.[22] The reformed company was launched 3 September 1949 and continued DKW's tradition of producing front-wheel drive vehicles with two-stroke engines.[22] This included production of a small but sturdy 125 cc motorcycle and a DKW delivery van, theDKW F89 L at Ingolstadt. The Ingolstadt site was large, consisting of an extensive complex of formerly military buildings which was suitable for administration as well as vehicle warehousing and distribution, but at this stage there was at Ingolstadt no dedicated plant suitable for mass production of automobiles: for manufacturing the company'sfirst post-war mass-market passenger car plant capacity inDüsseldorf was rented fromRheinmetall-Borsig. It was only ten years later, after the company had attracted an investor, when funds became available for construction of major car plant at the Ingolstadt head office site.
In 1958, in response to pressure fromFriedrich Flick, then the company's largest single shareholder,[23]Daimler-Benz took an 87% holding in the Auto Union company, and this was increased to a 100% holding in 1959. However, small two-stroke cars were not the focus of Daimler-Benz's interests, and while the early 1960s saw major investment in new Mercedes models and in a state of the art factory for Auto Union's, the company's aging model range at this time did not benefit from the economic boom of the early 1960s to the same extent as competitor manufacturers such asVolkswagen andOpel. The decision to dispose of the Auto Union business was based on its lack of profitability.[24] Ironically, by the time they sold the business, it also included a large new factory and near production-ready modern four-stroke engine, which would enable the Auto Union business, under a new owner, to embark on a period of profitable growth, now producing not Auto Unions or DKWs, but using the "Audi" name, resurrected in 1965 after a 25-year gap.
In 1964, Volkswagen acquired a 50% holding in the business, which included the new factory in Ingolstadt, the DKW and Audi brands along with the rights to the new engine design which had been funded by Daimler-Benz, who in return retained the dormant Horch trademark and the Düsseldorf factory which became a Mercedes-Benz van assembly plant. Eighteen months later, Volkswagen bought complete control of Ingolstadt, and by 1966 were using the spare capacity of the Ingolstadt plant to assemble an additional 60,000Volkswagen Beetles per year.[25] Two-stroke engines became less popular during the 1960s as customers were more attracted to the smoother four-stroke engines. In September 1965, theDKW F102 was fitted with a four-stroke engine and afacelift for the car's front and rear. Volkswagen dumped the DKW brand because of its associations with two-stroke technology, and having classified the model internally as theF103, sold it simply as the "Audi". Later developments of the model were named after their horsepower ratings and sold as the Audi 60, 75, 80, and Super 90, selling until 1972. Initially, Volkswagen was hostile to the idea of Auto Union as a standalone entity producing its own models having acquired the company merely to boost its own production capacity through the Ingolstadt assembly plant—to the point where Volkswagen executives ordered that the Auto Union name and flags bearing the four rings were removed from the factory buildings. Then VW chiefHeinz Nordhoff explicitly forbade Auto Union from any further product development. Fearing that Volkswagen had no long-term ambition for the Audi brand, Auto Union engineers under the leadership of Ludwig Kraus developed the firstAudi 100 in secret, without Nordhoff's knowledge. When presented with a finished prototype, Nordhoff was so impressed he authorised the car for production, which when launched in 1968, went on to be a huge success. With this, the resurrection of the Audi brand was now complete, this being followed by the first generationAudi 80 in 1972, which would in turn provide a template for VW's new front-wheel-drive water-cooled range which debuted from the mid-1970s onward.
In 1969, Auto Union merged withNSU, based inNeckarsulm, nearStuttgart. In the 1950s, NSU had been the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles, but had moved on to produce small cars like theNSU Prinz, the TT and TTS versions of which are still popular as vintage race cars. NSU then focused on new rotary engines based on the ideas ofFelix Wankel. In 1967, the newNSU Ro 80 was a car well ahead of its time in technical details such as aerodynamics, light weight, and safety. However, teething problems with the rotary engines put an end to the independence of NSU. The Neckarsulm plant is now used to produce the larger Audi modelsA6 andA8. The Neckarsulm factory is also home of the "quattro GmbH" (from November 2016 "Audi Sport GmbH"), a subsidiary responsible for development and production of Audi high-performance models: theR8 and theRS model range.
Modern era
Participation certificate of the Audi NSU Auto Union AG, issued August 1969
The new merged company was incorporated on 1 January 1969 and was known asAudi NSU Auto Union AG, with its headquarters at NSU's Neckarsulm plant, and saw the emergence of Audi as a separate brand for the first time since the pre-war era. Volkswagen introduced the Audi brand to the United States for the 1970 model year. That same year, the mid-sized car that NSU had been working on, theK70, originally intended to slot between the rear-engined Prinz models and the futuristicNSU Ro 80, was instead launched as a Volkswagen.
After the launch of theAudi 100 of 1968, theAudi 80/Fox (which formed the basis for the 1973Volkswagen Passat) followed in 1972 and theAudi 50 (later rebadged as theVolkswagen Polo) in 1974. The Audi 50 was a seminal design because it was the first incarnation of theGolf/Polo concept, one that led to a hugely successful world car. Ultimately, the Audi 80 and 100 (progenitors of theA4 andA6, respectively) became the company's biggest sellers, whilst little investment was made in the fading NSU range; thePrinz models were dropped in 1973 whilst the fatally flawedNSU Ro80 went out of production in 1977, spelling the effective end of the NSU brand. Production of the Audi 100 had been steadily moved from Ingolstadt to Neckarsulm as the 1970s had progressed, and by the appearance of the second generation C2 version in 1976, all production was now at the former NSU plant. Neckarsulm from that point onward would produce Audi's higher-end models.
The Audi image at this time was a conservative one, and so, a proposal from chassis engineerJörg Bensinger[26] was accepted to develop thefour-wheel drive technology inVolkswagen'sIltis military vehicle for an Audi performance car andrally racing car. The performance car, introduced in 1980, was named the "Audi Quattro", aturbocharged coupé which was also the first German large-scale production vehicle to feature permanentall-wheel drive through a centredifferential. Commonly referred to as the "Ur-Quattro" (the "Ur-" prefix is a Germanaugmentative used, in this case, to mean 'original' and is also applied to the first generation of Audi'sS4 andS6 Sport Saloons, as in "UrS4" and "UrS6"), few of these vehicles were produced (all hand-built by a single team), but the model was a great success in rallying. Prominent wins proved the viability of all-wheel-drive racecars, and the Audi name became associated with advances in automotive technology.
In 1985, with the Auto Union and NSU brands effectively dead, the company's official name was now shortened to simplyAudi AG. At the same time the company's headquarters moved back to Ingolstadt and two new wholly owned subsidiaries;Auto Union GmbH andNSU GmbH, were formed to own and manage the historical trademarks and intellectual property of the original constituent companies (the exception being Horch, which had been retained by Daimler-Benz after the VW takeover), and to operate Audi's heritage operations.
In 1986, as the Passat-basedAudi 80 was beginning to develop a kind of "grandfather's car" image, thetype 89 was introduced. This completely new development sold extremely well. However, its modern and dynamic exterior belied the low performance of its base engine, and its base package was quite spartan (even the passenger-side mirror was an option). In 1987, Audi put forward a new and very elegantAudi 90, which had a much superior set of standard features. In the early 1990s, sales began to slump for the Audi 80 series, and some basic construction problems started to surface.
Through the early 1990s, Audi began to shift its target market upscale to compete against German automakersMercedes-Benz andBMW. This began with the release of theAudi V8 in 1990. It was essentially a new engine fitted to the Audi 100/200, but with noticeable bodywork differences. Most obvious was the new grille that was now incorporated in the bonnet.
By 1991, Audi had the four-cylinder Audi 80, the 5-cylinderAudi 90 andAudi 100, the turbochargedAudi 200 and the Audi V8. There was also acoupé version of the 80/90 with both four- and five-cylinder engines.
Although the five-cylinder engine was a successful and robust powerplant, it was still a little too different for the target market. With the introduction of an all-new Audi 100 in 1992, Audi introduced a 2.8LV6 engine. This engine was also fitted to a face-lifted Audi 80 (all 80 and 90 models were now badged 80 except for the USA), giving this model a choice of four-, five-, and six-cylinder engines, insaloon,coupé andconvertible body styles.
The five-cylinder was soon dropped as a major engine choice; however, aturbocharged 220 PS (160 kW; 220 hp) version remained. The engine, initially fitted to the 200 quattro 20V of 1991, was a derivative of the engine fitted to theSport Quattro. It was fitted to theAudi Coupé, named theS2, and also to the Audi 100 body, and named theS4. These two models were the beginning of the mass-producedS series of performance cars.
Audi 5000 unintended acceleration allegations
Sales in the United States fell after a series of recalls from 1982 to 1987 ofAudi 5000 models[27] associated with reported incidents ofsudden unintended acceleration linked to six deaths and 700 accidents.[27] At the time, NHTSA was investigating 50 car models from 20 manufacturers for sudden surges of power.[28]
A60 Minutes report aired 23 November 1986,[29] featuring interviews with six people who had sued Audi after reporting unintended acceleration, showing an Audi 5000 ostensibly suffering a problem when the brake pedal was pushed.[30][31] Subsequent investigation revealed that60 Minutes had engineered the failure—fitting a canister of compressed air on the passenger-side floor, linked via a hose to a hole drilled into the transmission.[29]
Audi contended, prior to findings by outside investigators,[28] that the problems were caused by driver error, specifically pedal misapplication.[28] Subsequently, theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that the majority of unintended acceleration cases, including all the ones that prompted the60 Minutes report, were caused by driver error such as confusion of pedals.[32] CBS did not acknowledge the test results of involved government agencies, but did acknowledge the similar results of another study.[30]
In a review study published in 2012, NHTSA summarized its past findings about the Audi unintended acceleration problems: "Once an unintended acceleration had begun, in the Audi 5000, due to a failure in the idle-stabilizer system (producing an initial acceleration of 0.3g), pedal misapplication resulting from panic, confusion, or unfamiliarity with the Audi 5000 contributed to the severity of the incident."[33]
This summary is consistent with the conclusions of NHTSA's most technical analysis at the time: "Audi idle-stabilization systems were prone to defects which resulted in excessive idle speeds and brief unanticipated accelerations of up to 0.3g [which is similar in magnitude to an emergency stop in a subway car]. These accelerations could not be the sole cause of [(long-duration) sudden acceleration incidents (SAI)], but might have triggered some SAIs by startling the driver.[34] The defective idle-stabilization system performed a type ofelectronic throttle control. Significantly: multiple "intermittent malfunctions of the electronic control unit were observed and recorded ... and [were also observed and] reported by Transport Canada."[34]
With a series of recall campaigns, Audi made several modifications; the first adjusted the distance between the brake and accelerator pedal on automatic-transmission models.[27] Later repairs, of 250,000 cars dating back to 1978, added a device requiring the driver to press the brake pedal before shifting out of park.[27] A legacy of the Audi 5000 and other reported cases of sudden unintended acceleration are intricategear stick patterns and brakeinterlock mechanisms to prevent inadvertent shifting into forward or reverse. It is unclear how the defects in the idle-stabilization system were addressed.
Audi's U.S. sales, which had reached 74,061 in 1985, dropped to 12,283 in 1991 and remained level for three years,[27]—with resale values falling dramatically.[35] Audi subsequently offered increased warranty protection[35] and renamed the affected models—with the5000 becoming the100 and200 in 1989[28]—and reached the same sales levels again only by model year 2000.[27]
A 2010BusinessWeek article—outlining possible parallels between Audi's experience and2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls—noted a class-action lawsuit filed in 1987 by about 7,500 Audi 5000-model owners remains unsettled and remains contested inChicago'sCook County after appeals at the Illinois state and U.S. federal levels.[27]
Model introductions
In the mid-to-late 1990s, Audi introduced new technologies including the use of aluminium construction. Produced from 1999 to 2005, theAudi A2 was a futuristic super mini, born from the Al2 concept, with many features that helped regain consumer confidence, like the aluminiumspace frame, which was a first in production car design. In the A2 Audi further expanded their TDI technology through the use of frugal three-cylinder engines. The A2 was extremely aerodynamic and was designed around awind tunnel. The Audi A2 was criticised for its high price and was never really a sales success but it planted Audi as a cutting-edge manufacturer. The model, aMercedes-Benz A-Class competitor, sold relatively well in Europe. However, the A2 was discontinued in 2005 and Audi decided not to develop an immediate replacement.
The next major model change came in 1995 when theAudi A4 replaced theAudi 80. The new nomenclature scheme was applied to the Audi 100 to become theAudi A6 (with a minor facelift). This also meant the S4 became theS6 and a new S4 was introduced in the A4 body. The S2 was discontinued. TheAudi Cabriolet continued on (based on the Audi 80 platform) until 1999, gaining the engine upgrades along the way. A newA3hatchback model (sharing theVolkswagen Golf Mk4's platform) was introduced to the range in 1996, and the radicalAudi TTcoupé androadster were debuted in 1998 based on the same underpinnings.
The petrol engines available throughout the range were now a 1.4 L, 1.6 L and 1.8 L four-cylinder, 1.8 L four-cylinder turbo, 2.6 L and 2.8 LV6, 2.2 L turbo-charged five-cylinder and the 4.2 LV8 engine. The V6s were replaced by new 2.4 L and 2.8 L 30V V6s in 1998, with marked improvement in power, torque and smoothness. Further engines were added along the way, including a 3.7 L V8 and 6.0 LW12 engine for the A8.
Audi AG today
Audi's sales grew strongly in the 2000s, with deliveries to customers increasing from 653,000 in 2000 to 1,003,000 in 2008. The largest sales increases came from Eastern Europe (+19.3%), Africa (+17.2%) and the Middle East (+58.5%). China in particular has become a key market, representing 108,000 out of 705,000 cars delivered in the first three quarters of 2009. One factor for its popularity in China is that Audis have become the car of choice for purchase by the Chinese government for officials, and purchases by the government are responsible for 20% of its sales in China.[36] As of late 2009, Audi's operating profit of €1.17 billion ($1.85 billion) made it the biggest contributor to parent Volkswagen Group's nine-month operating profit of €1.5 billion, while the other marques in Group such as Bentley andSEAT had suffered considerable losses.[37] May 2011 saw record sales for Audi of America with the newAudi A7 andAudi A3 TDI Clean Diesel.[38] In May 2012, Audi reported a 10% increase in its sales—from 408 units to 480 in the last year alone.[39]
Audi manufactures vehicles in seven plants around the world, some of which are shared with other VW Group marques[40] although many sub-assemblies such as engines and transmissions are manufactured within other Volkswagen Group plants.
Audi's two principal assembly plants in Germany are:
Ingolstadt, the former Auto Union site originally opened in 1945 and substantially rebuilt by Daimler-Benz in 1962, and acquired by Volkswagen in 1964 (Q2, A3, A4, A5)
Neckarsulm, the former NSU plant, acquired by Volkswagen in 1969: (A4, A5 (cabrio), A6, A7, A8, R8, and all RS variants) - a satellite plant at nearby Böllinger Höfe produces the e-tron GT
In September 2012, Audi announced the construction of its first North American manufacturing plant inPuebla, Mexico. This plant became operative in 2016 and produces the second generation Q5.[41]
From 2002 up to 2003, Audi headed the Audi Brand Group, a subdivision of the Volkswagen Group's Automotive Division consisting of Audi, Lamborghini and SEAT, which was focused on sporty values, with the marques' product vehicles and performance being under the higher responsibility of the Audi brand.
In January 2014, Audi, along with theWireless Power Consortium, operated a booth which demonstrated a phone compartment using theQiopeninterface standard at theConsumer Electronics Show (CES).[42] In May, most of the Audi dealers in the UK falsely claimed that the Audi A7, A8, and R8 were Euro NCAP safety tested, all achieving five out of five stars. In fact none were tested.[43]
In 2015, Audi admitted that at least 2.1 million Audi cars had been involved in theVolkswagen emissions testing scandal in which software installed in the cars manipulated emissions data to fool regulators and allow the cars to pollute at higher than government-mandated levels. The A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, TT, Q3 and Q5 models were implicated in the scandal.[44] Audi promised to quickly find a technical solution and upgrade the cars so they can function within emissions regulations.[45] Ulrich Hackenberg, the head of research and development at Audi, was suspended in relation to the scandal.[46] Despite widespread media coverage about the scandal through the month of September, Audi reported that U.S. sales for the month had increased by 16.2%.[47] Audi's parent company Volkswagen announced on 18 June 2018 that Audi chief executive Rupert Stadler had been arrested.[48]
In November 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency implicated the 3-liter diesel engine versions of the 2016 Audi A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L and the Q5 as further models that had emissions regulation defeat-device software installed.[49] Thus, these models emitted nitrogen oxide at up to nine times the legal limit when the car detected that it was not hooked up to emissions testing equipment.[50]
In November 2016, Audi expressed an intention to establish an assembly factory inPakistan, with the company's local partner acquiring land for a plant inKorangi Creek Industrial Park inKarachi. Approval of the plan would lead to an investment of $30 million in the new plant.[51] Audi planned to cut 9,500 jobs inGermany starting from 2020 till 2025 to fund electric vehicles and digital working.[52]
In February 2020, Volkswagen AG announced that it plans to take over all Audi shares it does not own (totalling 0.36%) via a squeeze-out according to German stock corporation law, thus making Audi a fully owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.[53] This change took effect from 16 November 2020, when Audi became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.[54]
In January 2021, Audi announced that it is planning to sell 1 million vehicles in China in 2023, comparing to 726,000 vehicles in 2020.[55]
Technology
Audi AI
Audi AI is adriver assist feature offered by Audi. The company's stated intent is to offer fully autonomous driving at a future time, acknowledging that legal, regulatory and technical hurdles must be overcome to achieve this goal. On 4 June 2017, Audi stated that its newA8 will be fully self-driving for speeds up to 60 km/h using its Audi AI. Contrary to other cars, the driver will not have to do safety checks such as touching the steering wheel every 15 seconds to use this feature. The Audi A8 will therefore be the first production car to reachlevel 3 autonomous driving, meaning that the driver can safely turn their attention away from driving tasks, e.g. the driver can text or watch a movie. Audi will also be the first manufacturer to use a 3DLidar system in addition to cameras and ultrasonic sensors for their AI.[56][57]
Bodyshells
Audi produces 100%galvanisedcars to preventcorrosion,[58] and was the first mass-market vehicle to do so, following introduction of the process byPorsche, c. 1975. Along with other precautionary measures, the full-bodyzinc coating has proved to be very effective in preventing rust. The body's resulting durability even surpassed Audi's own expectations, causing the manufacturer to extend its original 10-yearwarranty against corrosion perforation to currently 12 years (except for aluminium bodies which do not rust).[59]
Audi introduced a new series of vehicles in the mid-1990s and continues to pursue new technology and high performance. An all-aluminium car was brought forward by Audi, and in 1994 theAudi A8 was launched, which introduced aluminiumspace frame technology (calledAudi Space Frame or ASF) which saves weight and improves torsion rigidity compared to a conventional steel frame. Prior to that effort, Audi used examples of the Type 44 chassis fabricated out of aluminium as test-beds for the technique. The disadvantage of the aluminium frame is that it is very expensive to repair and requires a specialized aluminium bodyshop.[60] The weight reduction is somewhat offset by thequattrofour-wheel drive system which is standard in most markets. Nonetheless, the A8 is usually the lightest all-wheel drive car in the full-size luxury segment, also having best-in-class fuel economy.[61] TheAudi A2,Audi TT andAudi R8 also use Audi Space Frame designs.
Drivetrains
Layout
For most of its lineup (excluding the A3, A1, and TT models), Audi has not adopted the transverse engine layout which is typically found in economy cars (such as Peugeot and Citroën), since that would limit the type and power of engines that can be installed. To be able to mount powerful engines (such as a V8 engine in theAudi S4 andAudi RS4, as well as theW12 engine in theAudi A8L W12), Audi has usually engineered its more expensive cars with alongitudinallyfront-mounted engine, in an "overhung" position, over the front wheels in front of the axle line—this layout dates back to the DKW and Auto Union saloons from the 1950s. But while this allows for the easy adoption of all-wheel drive, it goes against the ideal 50:50 weight distribution.
In all its postVolkswagen era models, Audi has firmly refused to adopt the traditionalrear-wheel drive layout favored by its two archrivalsMercedes-Benz andBMW, favoring eitherfront-wheel drive orall-wheel drive. The majority of Audi's lineup in the United States features all-wheel drive standard on most of its expensive vehicles (only the entry-level trims of the A4 and A6 are available with front-wheel drive), in contrast toMercedes-Benz andBMW whose lineup treats all-wheel drive as an option. BMW did not offer all-wheel drive on its V8-powered cars (as opposed to crossover SUVs) until the 2010 BMW 7 Series and 2011 BMW 5 Series, while the Audi A8 has had all-wheel drive available/standard since the 1990s. Regarding high-performance variants,Audi S and RS models have always had all-wheel drive, unlike their direct rivals fromBMW M andMercedes-AMG whose cars are rear-wheel drive only (although their performance crossover SUVs are all-wheel drive).
Audi has recently applied thequattro badge to models such as the A3 and TT which do not use theTorsen-based system as in prior years with a mechanical center differential, but with theHaldex Traction electro-mechanical clutch AWD system.
Prior to the introduction of the Audi 80 and Audi 50 in 1972 and 1974, respectively, Audi had led the development of theEA111 andEA827inline-four engine families. These new power units underpinned the water-cooled revival of parent company Volkswagen (in the Polo, Golf, Passat and Scirocco), whilst the many derivatives and descendants of these two basic engine designs have appeared in every generation of VW Group vehicles right up to the present day.
In the 1980s, Audi, along with Volvo, was the champion of theinline-five cylinder,2.1/2.2 L engine as a longer-lasting alternative to more traditional six-cylinder engines. This engine was used not only in production cars but also in their race cars. The 2.1 L inline five-cylinder engine was used as a base for therally cars in the 1980s, providing well over 400 horsepower (300 kilowatts) after modification. Before 1990, there were engines produced with a displacement between 2.0 L and 2.3 L. This range of engine capacity allowed for both fuel economy and power.
For the ultra-luxury version of itsAudi A8 fullsize luxury flagship sedan, the Audi A8L W12, Audi uses theVolkswagen GroupW12 engine instead of the conventionalV12 engine favored by rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The W12 engine configuration (also known as a "WR12") is created by forming two imaginary narrow-angle 15°VR6 engines at an angle of 72°, and the narrow angle of each set of cylinders allows just twooverhead camshafts to drive each pair of banks, so just four are needed in total. The advantage of the W12 engine is its compact packaging, allowing Audi to build a 12-cylinder sedan with all-wheel drive, whereas a conventionalV12 engine could have only a rear-wheel drive configuration as it would have no space in the engine bay for a differential and other components required to power the front wheels. In fact, the 6.0 L W12 in the Audi A8L W12 is smaller in overall dimensions than the 4.2 L V8 that powers the Audi A8 4.2 variants.[62] The 2011 Audi A8 debuted a revised 6.3-litre version of the W12 (WR12) engine with 500 PS (370 kW; 490 hp).
Fuel Stratified Injection
New models of the A3, A4, A6 and A8 have been introduced, with the ageing 1.8-litre engine now having been replaced by newFuel Stratified Injection (FSI) engines. Nearly every petroleum burning model in the range now incorporates this fuel-saving technology.
Beginning in 2005, Audi has implemented whiteLED technology asdaytime running lights (DRL) in their products. The distinctive shape of the DRLs has become a trademark of sorts. LEDs were first introduced on theAudi A8 W12, the world's first production car to have LED DRLs,[63][64][65] and have since spread throughout the entire model range. The LEDs are present on some Audibillboards.
Starting with the 2003Audi A8, Audi has used a centralised control interface for its on-boardinfotainment systems, calledMulti Media Interface (MMI). It is essentially a rotating control knob and 'segment' buttons—designed to control all in-car entertainment devices (radio, CD changer, iPod, TV tuner), satellite navigation, heating and ventilation, and other car controls with a screen.
The availability of MMI has gradually filtered down the Audi lineup, and following its introduction on the third generation A3 in 2011, MMI is now available across the entire range. It has been generally well received, as it requires less menu-surfing with its segment buttons around a central knob, along with 'main function' direct access buttons—with shortcuts to the radio or phone functions. The colour screen is mounted on the upright dashboard, and on the A4 (new), A5, A6, A8, and Q7, the controls are mounted horizontally.
Audi has assisted with technology to producesynthetic diesel from water andcarbon dioxide.[67][68][69] Audi calls the synthetic dieselE-diesel. It is also working on synthetic gasoline (which it calls E-gasoline).[70]
Logistics
Audi uses scanning gloves for parts registration during assembly, and automatic robots to transfer cars from factory to rail cars.[71]
Audi is planning an alliance with the Japanese electronics giantSanyo to develop a pilot hybrid electric project for theVolkswagen Group. The alliance could result in Sanyo batteries and other electronic components being used in future models of the Volkswagen Group.[72] Concept electric vehicles unveiled to date include theAudi A1 Sportback Concept,[73]Audi A4 TDI Concept E,[74] and the fully electric Audi e-tron Concept Supercar.[75]
Self-driving cars
In December 2018, Audi announced to invest 14 billion Euro ($15.9 billion) in e-mobility, self-driving cars.[76]
Data from 1998 to 2010. Figures for different body types/versions of models have been merged to create overall figures for each model.
Motorsport
Audi has competed in various forms ofmotorsports. Audi's tradition in motorsport began with their former companyAuto Union in the 1930s. In the 1990s, Audi found success in the Touring and Super Touring categories of motor racing after success in circuit racing in North America.
In 1980, Audi released theQuattro, afour-wheel drive (4WD)turbocharged car that went on to winrallies and races worldwide. It is considered one of the most significant rally cars of all time, because it was one of the first to take advantage of the then-recently changed rules which allowed the use of four-wheel drive in competition racing. Many critics doubted the viability of four-wheel drive racers, thinking them to be too heavy and complex, yet the Quattro was to become a successful car. It led its first rally before going off the road, however, the rally world had been served notice 4WD was the future. The Quattro went on to achieve much success in theWorld Rally Championship. It won the1983 (Hannu Mikkola) and the1984 (Stig Blomqvist)drivers' titles,[91] and brought Audi themanufacturers' title in1982 and 1984.[92]
In 1984, Audi launched the short-wheelbaseSport Quattro which dominated rally races inMonte Carlo andSweden, with Audi taking all podium places, but succumbed to problems further into WRC contention. In1985, after another season mired in mediocre finishes,Walter Röhrl finished the season in hisSport Quattro S1, and helped place Audi second in the manufacturers' points. Audi also received rally honours in the Hong Kong to Beijing rally in that same year.Michèle Mouton, the only female driver to win a round of the World Rally Championship and a driver for Audi, took the Sport Quattro S1, now simply called the "S1", and raced in thePikes Peak International Hill Climb. The 1,439-metre (4,721 ft) climb race pits a driver and car to drive to the summit of the 4,302-metre (14,114 ft)Pikes Peak mountain inColorado, and in 1985, Michèle Mouton set a new record of 11:25.39, and being the first woman to set a Pikes Peak record. In1986, Audi formally left international rallying following an accident inPortugal involving driverJoaquim Santos in hisFord RS200. Santos swerved to avoid hitting spectators in the road, and left the track into the crowd of spectators on the side, killing three and injuring 30.Bobby Unser used an Audi in that same year to claim a new record for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb at 11:09.22.
In 1987, Walter Röhrl claimed the title for Audi setting a new Pikes Peak International Hill Climb record of 10:47.85 in his Audi S1, which he had retired from the WRC two years earlier. The Audi S1 employed Audi's time-testedinline-five-cylinder turbocharged engine, with the final version generating 441 kW (600 PS; 591 bhp).[93] The engine was mated to a six-speed gearbox and ran on Audi's famous four-wheel drive system. All of Audi's top drivers drove this car; Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist, Walter Röhrl and Michèle Mouton. This Audi S1 started the range of Audi'S' cars, which now represents an increased level of sports-performance equipment within the mainstream Audi model range.
In the United States
As Audi moved away from rallying and into circuit racing, they chose to move first into America with theTrans-Am in 1988.
In 1989, Audi moved toInternational Motor Sports Association (IMSA)GTO with theAudi 90, however as they avoided the two major endurance events (Daytona and Sebring) despite winning on a regular basis, they would lose out on the title.
Touring cars
In 1990, having completed their objective to market cars in North America, Audi returned to Europe, turning first to theDeutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) series with theAudi V8, and then in 1993, being unwilling to build cars for the new formula, they turned their attention to the fast-growingSuper Touring series, which are a series of national championships. Audi first entered in theFrench Supertourisme andItalian Superturismo. In the following year, Audi would switch to the GermanSuper Tourenwagen Cup (known as STW), and then toBritish Touring Car Championship (BTCC) the year after that.
TheFédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), having difficulty regulating the quattro four-wheel drive system, and the impact it had on the competitors, would eventually ban all four-wheel drive cars from competing in the series in 1998,[94] but by then, Audi switched all their works efforts tosports car racing.
By 2000, Audi would still compete in the US with theirRS4 for theSCCA Speed World GT Challenge, through dealer/teamChampion Racing competing against Corvettes, Vipers, and smaller BMWs (where it is one of the few series to permit 4WD cars). In 2003, Champion Racing entered anRS6. Once again, the quattro four-wheel drive was superior, and Champion Audi won the championship. They returned in 2004 to defend their title, but a newcomer, Cadillac with the new Omega Chassis CTS-V, gave them a run for their money. After four victories in a row, the Audis were sanctioned with several negative changes that deeply affected the car's performance. Namely, added ballast weights, and Champion Audi deciding to go with different tyres, and reducing the boost pressure of the turbocharger.
In 2004, after years of competing with theTT-R in the revitalised DTM series, with privateer team Abt Racing/Christian Abt taking the 2002 title withLaurent Aïello, Audi returned as a full factory effort to touring car racing by entering two factory-supportedJoest RacingA4 DTM cars.
Audi began racing prototype sportscars in 1999, debuting at the Le Mans 24 hour. Two car concepts were developed and raced in their first season - theAudi R8R (open-cockpit 'roadster' prototype) and theAudi R8C (closed-cockpit 'coupé' GT-prototype). The R8R scored a credible podium on its racing debut at Le Mans and was the concept which Audi continued to develop into the 2000 season due to favourable rules for open-cockpit prototypes.
However, most of the competitors (such as BMW, Toyota, Mercedes and Nissan) retired at the end of 1999.The factory-supportedJoest Racing team won at Le Mans three times in a row with the Audi R8 (2000–2002), as well as winning every race in theAmerican Le Mans Series in its first year. Audi also sold the car to customer teams such asChampion Racing.
In 2003, twoBentley Speed 8s, with engines designed by Audi, and driven by Joest driversloaned to the fellowVolkswagen Group company, competed in the GTP class, and finished the race in the top two positions, while the Champion Racing R8 finished third overall, and first in the LMP900 class. Audi returned to the winner's podium at the 2004 race, with the top three finishers all driving R8s: Audi Sport Japan Team Goh finished first, Audi Sport UK Veloqx second, and Champion Racing third.
At the2005 24 Hours of Le Mans, Champion Racing entered two R8s, along with an R8 from the Audi PlayStation TeamOreca. The R8s (which were built to old LMP900 regulations) received a narrower air inlet restrictor, reducing power, and an additional 50 kg (110 lb) of weight compared to the newer LMP1 chassis. On average, the R8s were about 2–3 seconds off pace compared to thePescarolo–Judd. But with a team of excellent drivers and experience, both Champion R8s were able to take first and third, while the Oreca team took fourth. The Champion team was also the first American team to win Le Mans since the Gulf Ford GTs in 1967. This also ends the long era of the R8; however, its replacement for 2006, called theAudi R10 TDI, was unveiled on 13 December 2005.
Audi entered a factory racing team run byJoest Racing into the American Le Mans Series under the Audi Sport North America name in 2000. This was a successful operation with the team winning on its debut in the series at the 2000 12 Hours of Sebring. Factory-backed Audi R8s were the dominant car in ALMS taking 25 victories between 2000 and the end of the 2002 season. In 2003, Audi sold customer cars toChampion Racing as well as continuing to race the factory Audi Sport North America team. Champion Racing won many races as a private team running Audi R8s and eventually replaced Team Joest as the Audi Sport North America between 2006 and 2008. Since 2009 Audi has not taken part in full American Le Mans Series Championships, but has competed in the series opening races at Sebring, using the 12-hour race as a test for Le Mans, and also as part of the2012 FIA World Endurance Championship season calendar.
Audi participated in the2003 1000km of Le Mans which was a one-off sports car race in preparation for the 2004 European Le Mans Series. The factory team Audi Sport UK won races and the championship in the 2004 season but Audi was unable to match their sweeping success of Audi Sport North America in the American Le Mans Series, partly due to the arrival of a factory competitor in LMP1, Peugeot. The French manufacturer's908 HDi FAP became the car to beat in the series from 2008 onwards with 20 LMP wins. However, Audi were able to secure the championship in 2008 even though Peugeot scored more race victories in the season.[97]
In 2012, the FIA sanctioned aWorld Endurance Championship which would be organised by the ACO as a continuation of the ILMC. Audi competed won the first WEC race at Sebring and followed this up with a further three successive wins, including the2012 24 Hours of Le Mans. Audi scored a final 5th victory in the 2012 WEC in Bahrain and were able to win the inaugural WEC Manufacturers' Championship.
2013
As defending champions, Audi once again entered theAudi R18 e-tron quattro chassis into the2013 WEC and the team won the first five consecutive races, including the2013 24 Hours of Le Mans. The victory at Round 5,Circuit of the Americas, was of particular significance as it marked the 100th win for Audi in Le Mans prototypes.[98] Audi secured their second consecutive WEC Manufacturers' Championship at Round 6 after taking second place and half points in the red-flagged Fuji race.[99]
2014
For the 2014 season, Audi entered a redesigned and upgraded R18 e-tron quattro which featured a 2MJ energy recovery system. As defending champions, Audi would once again face a challenge inLMP1 fromToyota, and additionally fromPorsche who returned to endurance racing after a 16-year absence. The season-opening6hrs of Silverstone was a disaster for Audi who saw both cars retire from the race, marking the first time that an Audi car has failed to score a podium in aWorld Endurance Championship race. The team won two races and finished second in the manufacturers' championship.
2015
Audi won the first two races of the season, but thereafter failed to win again, finishing second in the manufacturers' championship.
2016
For the third year in a row, Audi won two races and finished second in the manufacturers' championship. Audi had left WEC after the2016 season.[100]
Audi had left Formula E after the2020-21 Formula E season. Audi continued to provide their powertrain toEnvision Racing for the2021-22 Formula E season. Through the seven seasons in Formula E, Audi secured 14 victories, one Drivers' Champion with Lucas di Grassi and one Teams' Champion.
Audi has been linked toFormula One in recent years but has always resisted due to the company's opinion that it is not relevant to road cars, but hybrid power unit technology has been adopted into the sport, swaying the company's view and encouraging research into the program by formerFerrari team principalStefano Domenicali.
Audi announced in August 2022 that it would enter the Championship as an engine manufacturer in2026.[103] In October, Audi confirmed its partnership withSauber Motorsport for the year 2026, acquiring a stake in the company for the German brand to enter the competition by renaming the team and supplying engines.[104][105]
On 26 April 2024, Sauber announced they had signedNico Hülkenberg for2025 onwards on a multi-year contract, confirming him as their first driver in Formula One.[106] Six months later, they confirmed that his teammate would be rookieGabriel Bortoleto, the two replacing outgoing driversValtteri Bottas andZhou Guanyu.[107]
The logo used by Audi, 1995–2009The logo used by Audi, 2009–2016The typeface Audi Sans (used 1997–2009)The typeface Audi Type (used since 2009)
The Audi emblem is four overlapping rings that represent the fourmarques of Auto Union. The Audi emblem symbolises the amalgamation of Audi with DKW, Horch and Wanderer: the first ring from the left represents Audi, the second represents DKW, third is Horch, and the fourth and last ring Wanderer.[109][110] The design is popularly believed to have been the idea ofKlaus von Oertzen, the director of sales atWanderer—whenBerlin was chosen as the host city for the1936 Summer Olympics and that a form of the Olympic logo symbolized the newly established Auto Union's desire to succeed.[111] Somewhat ironically, theInternational Olympic Committee later sued Audi in the International Trademark Court in 1995, where they lost.[112]
The original "Audi" script, with the distinctive slanted tails on the "A" and "d" was created for the historic Audi company in 1920 by the famous graphic designerLucian Bernhard, and was resurrected when Volkswagen revived the brand in 1965. Following the demise of NSU in 1977, less prominence was given to the four rings, in preference to the "Audi" script encased within a black (later red) ellipse, and was commonly displayed next to the Volkswagen roundel when the two brands shared a dealer network under theV.A.G banner. The ellipse (known as the Audi Oval) was phased out after 1994, when Audi formed its own independent dealer network, and prominence was given back to the four rings—at the same time Audi Sans (a derivative ofUnivers) was adopted as the font for all marketing materials, corporate communications and was also used in the vehicles themselves.
As part of Audi's centennial celebration in 2009, the company updated the logo, changing thefont to left-aligned Audi Type, and altering the shading for the overlapping rings.[113] The revised logo was designed by Rayan Abdullah.[114]
Audi developed a Corporate Sound concept, with Audi Sound Studio designed for producing the Corporate Sound.[115] The Corporate Sound project began with sound agency Klangerfinder GmbH & Co KG and s12 GmbH. Audio samples were created in Klangerfinder's sound studio in Stuttgart, becoming part of Audi Sound Studio collection. Other Audi Sound Studio components include The Brand Music Pool, The Brand Voice.[116] Audi also developed Sound Branding Toolkit including certain instruments, sound themes, rhythm and car sounds which all are supposed to reflect the AUDI sound character.[117]
Audi started using a beating heart sound trademark beginning in 1996. An updated heartbeat sound logo, developed by agencies KLANGERFINDER GmbH & Co KG of Stuttgart and S12 GmbH of Munich, was first used in 2010 in anAudi A8 commercial with the sloganThe Art of Progress.[118][119]
Slogans
Audi's corporatetagline isVorsprung durch Technik[ˈfoːɐ̯ˌʃpʁʊŋdʊʁçˈtɛçnɪk], meaning 'Progress through Technology'.[120] The German-language tagline is used in many European countries, including the United Kingdom (but not in Italy, whereAll'avanguardia della tecnica is used), and in other markets, such as Latin America, Oceania, Africa and parts of Asia including Japan. Originally, the American tagline wasInnovation through technology, but in CanadaVorsprung durch Technik was used. Since 2007, Audi has used the sloganTruth in Engineering in the U.S.[121] However, since theAudi emissions testing scandal came to light in September 2015, this slogan was lambasted for being discordant with reality.[122] In fact, just hours after disgraced Volkswagen CEOMartin Winterkorn admitted to cheating on emissions data, an advertisement during the 2015 Primetime Emmy Awards promoted Audi's latest advances in low emissions technology with Kermit the Frog stating, "It's not that easy being green."[123]
Vorsprung durch Technik was first used in English-language advertising after Sir John Hegarty of theBartle Bogle Hegarty advertising agency visited the Audi factory in 1982.[124] In the original British television commercials, the phrase was voiced byGeoffrey Palmer.[124] After its repeated use in advertising campaigns, the phrase found its way into popular culture, including the British comedyOnly Fools and Horses, theU2 song "Zooropa"[125] and theBlur song "Parklife". Similar-sounding phrases have also been used, including as the punchline for a joke in the movieLock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and in the British TV seriesPeep Show.
Typography
Audi Sans (based onUnivers Extended) was originally created in 1997 by Ole Schäfer forMetaDesign. MetaDesign was later commissioned for a new corporate typeface called Audi Type, designed by Paul van der Laan and Pieter van Rosmalen ofBold Monday. The font began to appear in Audi's 2009 products and marketing materials.[126]
Audi is a strong partner of different kinds of sports. Infootball, long partnerships exist between Audi and domestic clubs includingBayern Munich,Hamburger SV,1. FC Nürnberg,Hertha BSC, andBorussia Mönchengladbach and international clubs includingChelsea,Real Madrid,FC Barcelona,A.C. Milan,AFC Ajax andPerspolis. Audi also sponsors winter sports: The Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is named after the company. Additionally, Audi supports theGerman Ski Association (DSV) as well as the alpine skiing national teams of Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, France, Liechtenstein, Italy, Austria and the U.S. For almost two decades, Audi fosters golf sport: for example with the Audi quattro Cup and the HypoVereinsbank Ladies German Open presented by Audi. In sailing, Audi is engaged in the Medcup regatta and supports the teamLuna Rossa during the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and also is the primary sponsor of the Melges 20 sailboat. Further, Audi sponsors the regional teamsERC Ingolstadt (hockey) andFC Ingolstadt 04 (soccer).[127] In 2009, the year of Audi's 100th anniversary, the company organized theAudi Cup for the first time.[128] Audi also sponsor theNew York Yankees as well. In October 2010 they agreed to a three sponsorship year-deal withEverton.[129] Audi also sponsors the EnglandPolo Team and holds theAudi Polo Awards.[130][131]
In 2001, Audi promoted the newmultitroniccontinuously variable transmission with television commercials throughout Europe, featuring an impersonator of musician and actorElvis Presley.[137][138] Aprototypical dashboard figure—later named "Wackel-Elvis" ("Wobble Elvis" or "Wobbly Elvis")—appeared in the commercials to demonstrate the smooth ride in an Audi equipped with the multitronic transmission. The dashboard figure was originally intended for use in the commercials only, but after they aired the demand for Wackel-Elvis fans grew among fans and the figure was mass-produced in China and marketed by Audi in their factory outlet store.[139]
Audi TDI
As part of Audi's attempt to promote its Diesel technology in 2009, the company began Audi Mileage Marathon. The driving tour featured a fleet of 23 Audi TDI vehicles from 4 models (Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,Audi Q5 3.0 TDI,Audi A4 3.0 TDI,Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI with S tronic transmission) travelling across the American continent from New York to Los Angeles, passing major cities like Chicago, Dallas and Las Vegas during the 13 daily stages, as well as natural wonders including the Rocky Mountains, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon.[140]
Audi e-tron
The next phase of technology Audi is developing is thee-tron electric drive powertrain system. They have shown several concept cars as of March 2010[update], each with different levels of size and performance. The original e-tron concept shown at the 2009Frankfurt motor show is based on the platform of the R8 and has been scheduled for limited production. Power is provided by electric motors at all four wheels. The second concept was shown at the 2010Detroit Motor Show. Power is provided by two electric motors at the rear axle. This concept is also considered to be the direction for a future mid-engined gas-powered 2-seat performance coupe. TheAudi A1 e-tron concept, based on the Audi A1 production model, is ahybrid vehicle with a range extendingWankel rotary engine to provide power after the initial charge of the battery is depleted. It is the only concept of the three to have range-extending capability. The car is powered through the front wheels, always using electric power.
It is all set to be displayed at the Auto Expo 2012 inNew Delhi, India, from 5 January. It is powered by a 1.4 litre engine, and can cover a distance up to 54 km on a single charge. The e-tron was also shown in the 2013 blockbuster film Iron Man 3 and was driven by Tony Stark (Iron Man).
Lawsuit on the use of the letter Q
In early 2005,Nissan North America Inc. filed a lawsuit against Audi over the use of the letter "Q" as a model name.[141]
Audi is using the "Q" for the designation of their quattrofour-wheel drive system, used in production cars for over twenty-five years (Audi'sQuattro trademark is actually an umbrella term for several types of four-wheel-drive systems developed byTorsen,Haldex Traction AB, andBorg-Warner, the latter being used in the Q7). Nissan'sInfiniti marque first used Q for their 1989Infiniti Q45 flagship, but later expanded to its entire lineup, with Q for passenger cars (theQ30,Q40,Q50, andQ60) and QX forSUVs (theQX30,QX50,QX60, andQX70).
A settlement between Audi AG and Nissan was reached in late 2006. The agreement stipulates that Audi will only use the Q-prefix for three models, theQ3,Q5 and the Q7. Audi has since released other Q series cars as well, such as theQ2,Q6, andQ8.
In video games
Audi has supported the European version ofPlayStation Home, thePlayStation 3's online community-based service, by releasing a dedicatedHome space. Audi is the first carmaker to develop such a space for Home. On 17 December 2009, Audi released two spaces; the Audi Home Terminal and the Audi Vertical Run.[142] The Audi Home Terminal features an Audi TV channel delivering video content, an Internet Browser feature, and a view of a city. The Audi Vertical Run is where users can access the mini-game Vertical Run, a futuristic mini-game featuring Audi's e-tron concept. Players collect energy and race for the highest possible speeds and the fastest players earn a place in the Audi apartments located in a large tower in the centre of the Audi Space. In both the Home Terminal and Vertical Run spaces, there are teleports where users can teleport back and forth between the two spaces. Audi had stated that additional content would be added in 2010.[needs update][143] On 31 March 2015 Sony shutdown the PlayStation Home service rendering all content for it inaccessible.[144]
^Peterson, Thane (5 October 2010)."Review: 2011 Audi A8".Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Archived fromthe original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved2 February 2011.
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(10629216834).jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_DSC_7492.jpg)
_%25E2%2580%2593_f_01012025.jpg)
.jpg)
_IMG_1971.jpg)
.jpg)
_02.jpg)
