The history of Audi is a fascinating and eventful story: the beginning of the production of cars and engines was laid in the 19th century. Here are the most important milestones in the history of the company:
- 1899: The first chapter in the history of Audi is associated with the name of August Horch, the founder of car company Horch & Cie. motorwagenwerke. Ten years later, he founded another automotive company in Zwickau, Audi Automobilwerke.
- In 1921, Audiwerke AG amazed the automotive world with the introduction of the new 50 hp Audi K 14/50, the first left-hand drive German car.
- 1932: The four rings symbolize the merger of four Saxon car manufacturers: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer, and the creation of Auto Union AG, which became the second largest car manufacturer in Germany.
- 1969: The parent company Volkswagenwerk AG merged Auto Union GmbH and NSU Motorenwerke AG from Neckarsulm. The new company was named Audi NSU Auto Union AG. In 1971, a new Audi slogan appears - "The excellence of high technology."
- In 1985, the company changed its name from Audi NSU Auto Union AG to AUDI AG. Since then, the company and the cars it produces bear the same name. The head office was again moved to Ingolstadt. Audi's subsequent success is closely linked to a range of technical innovation. Among them: a fully galvanized body, perfect aerodynamic design, extensive use of turbocharged gasoline engines, fuel-efficient diesel engines with technology direct injection, aluminum body, hybrid drive, gasoline engines with direct injection technology, heavy duty eight- and twelve-cylinder engines.
Guided tours of the plant in Ingolstadt
Guided tours of the Ingolstadt factory are an exciting opportunity to see everything from the inside. Explore the Audi brand in every possible way: at the Audi Museum, at the factory, on a sightseeing tour or on a tailor-made itinerary.
The choice of programs is as diverse as the requests of our visitors. We organize tailor-made tours or additional travel and children's programs, great for classy events and children's birthdays.
Sightseeing tour "Compact production"
Visit personally the entire production process of Audi. You will learn Interesting Facts about all the places where Audi is produced, as well as about the main plant in Ingolstadt. In the blacksmith shop you will see the process of metal formation; in the body shop, you can watch the amazing ballet performed by welding robots. Witness the "marriage" - when the transmission and the body are joined together in the final assembly process. Test stations - along the route.
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Individual visitors
Dates:
- Monday to Friday: 10.30, 12.30 and 14.30 in German;
- Monday to Friday: 11.30 am in English.
Prices:
- adults: 7 euros;
- seniors, students, schoolchildren: 3.50 euros;
Groups
Languages: German, English, other languages on request.
Duration: 2 hours.
Band size: maximum 30 people.
Group price: 80 euros.
For the elderly, students and people with physical disabilities: 40 euros.
Dates: on demand.
TT body shop: "Steel and aluminum"
Experience the perfect interplay of aluminum and steel on a tour of the Audi TT Bodyshop. Components are connected using the most modern technologies such as joining, riveting and laser welding. Watch the exciting bodybuilding process as it undergoes a complete restructuring. The highlight of the tour is the structural changes to the steel and aluminum body of the Audi TT hybrid.
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 2 hours.
Band size: maximum 20 people.
Group price:
Dates: on demand.
A3: "Journey into the future of bodybuilding"
You will be able to see how metal parts are delivered, move through the cutting and pressing department to the spare parts warehouse; and learn about the latest metal forming technologies. After that, you can visit one of the most modern productions bodies in the world, where the Audi TT body is produced with a 98 percent level of automation.
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 2 hours.
Band size: maximum 30 people.
Group price: 80 euros (not including the bus ride).
Dates: on demand.
Painting shop: "More than just paint"
Before putting on protective clothing for a tour of the painting section, you will receive basic information about surface protection and paint structure. You will also gain an understanding of the structure and organization of work in the paint shop, manual and automatic painting methods, and how custom painting is done. And of course oh important aspects environmental technologies. Finally, you will visit the final line, where the car's paintwork is finally checked.
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 1,5 hour.
Band size: maximum 10 people.
Group price: 150 euros (not including the bus ride).
Dates: on demand.
Audi Forum Ingolstadt: "Meet the brand personally"
A walk around the square will introduce you to the main architectural principles of the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt. You will see how the unique architectural philosophy continues in the mobile museum and in the Market and Buyer building. A visit to the sales center, where you will find out how and which cars are sold, completes this interesting tour.
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 30 minutes.
Band size: maximum 30 people.
Group price: 60 euros.
Dates: on demand.
Environment-compact: "Environmental side of production"
Protection environment- the main theme of this tour of the enterprise. You will visit the forging shop, body shop, information booth in the paint shop and the assembly shop. The main focus of the tour is to inform visitors about modern measures to protect the environment, especially with regard to limiting harmful emissions in atmosphere. An overview of the environmental principles of water and heat circulation at the plant in Ingolstadt will also be presented to your attention.
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 2 hours.
Band size: maximum 30 people.
Group price: 100 euro.
Dates: on demand.
Environment-intensive: "Key facts about environmental protection at the plant in Ingolstadt"
You will learn interesting details on the principles of combining heating systems, energy and water supply at the plant. The latest eco-saving methods of car painting will also be shown.
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 2 hours.
Band size: maximum 30 people.
Group price: 150 euros (not including the bus ride).
Dates: on demand.
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Excursion for children on production: "How are cars made?"
Let your child experience the exciting process of car manufacturing on their own. The 90-minute program includes a shorter tour of the forge shop, body shop and assembly shop. "Drivers of the Future" will receive full review all important stages of production.
Languages: German.
Duration: 2 hours with a break.
Band size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 40 euros.
Age: from 6 to 10 years old.
Dates: on demand.
Excursion for children to the mobile museum: "Under the Sign of the Four Rings"
Designed specifically for children, the tour introduces young visitors to the history of the automotive industry and the history of the brand in our mobile museum. Through interactive elements and group activities, children will learn about the history of the four brands since the beginning of the last century, as well as learn how the brand of the four rings came to be. They will find out who built the fastest, most expensive and smallest model. In the second part of the tour, children will learn about the history of the company's success in the post-war period and the new location in Ingolstadt.
Languages: German.
Duration: 1 hour.
Band size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 30 euros.
Age: from 6 to 10 years old.
Dates: on demand.
Design Studio: "What does my dream car look like?"
Starting in a mobile museum, this program gives children a glimpse into the automotive history of the last century. The focus is on automotive shapes and design, as well as interactive exhibitions. Then the task for the children: under the supervision of an expert, they can create the shape and design of their car themselves. And you'll never know which of these creations could be the future of the automotive industry.
Languages: German.
Duration: 2 hours.
Band size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 100 euro.
Age: from 6 to 10 years old.
Dates: on demand.
What are cars made of: “So what are they made of?”
The tour starts at the mobile museum with an overview of the history of the automotive industry and the basic materials used to make cars. After that, the fun begins: our new experts, under the supervision of specialists, can make their own models in wood, aluminum and steel, and then proudly bring them home as proof of their experience.
Languages: German.
Duration: 2 hours.
Band size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 100 euro.
Age: from 6 to 10 years old.
Dates: on demand.
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Motorsport: "From 0 to 100 in 3 seconds"
A fascinating journey through the history of motorsport: why do people race? How fast are they going? Motorsport legends such as the "Alpine Winner" or the "Silver Arrow" are explored in detail, showing children the differences between racing cars past and present. The victories of the Audi Quattro in the rally are discussed. Then the children will get acquainted with interactive expositions dedicated to motorsport, try themselves at various experimental stations, and take part in their own race.
Languages: German.
Duration: 2 hours.
Band size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 100 euro.
Age: from 6 to 10 years old.
Dates: on demand.
Children's week: Open excursions and educational programs
On the first full week of each month, the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt hosts a "children's week". Individuals can take part in open tours of the museum and production facilities.
Paint the World: "All About Paint"
In the mobile museum, you'll get an overview of the progress in car painting since the 1980s and learn about the different stages of painting techniques. Then, in one of the most modern paint shops in Europe, you will get to know the latest methods manual and automatic painting, as well as with the structure of the paint for Audi. The tour is popular - please book in advance.
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 2 hours.
Band size: maximum 10 people.
Group price: 200 euros (not including the bus ride).
Dates: on demand.
Logistics in perfect shape: "Economical, fast, efficient"
Logistics is part of the Audi production system. The tour is based on the complex challenges faced by efficient logistics management and modern solutions to these challenges at the plant in Ingolstadt. You will learn impressive examples of supplier-production interactions, as well as the concept of production optimization.
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 2 hours.
Band size: maximum 30 people.
Group price: 200 euros.
Dates: on demand.
Hi-tech and not only: "Production of Audi A3"
On this tour you will be able to see the production process of the Audi A3 from the delivery of metal panels to the sales center. This one-day program begins at the north end of the plant, where the forge and press and body shops are located. A visit to the paint shop completes the first part of the tour. After lunch at the Audi Forum, you will visit the further stages of production and final assembly, as well as get acquainted with the process of delivering a car from the sales center.
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 6 hours.
Band size: maximum 10 people.
Group price: 350 euros (not including bus ride and lunch).
Dates: on demand.
Mobile Museum - History and Development
The impressive history of the Audi brand, together with the history of human mobility in general, is presented with true realism - informative and entertaining. Presentations using images, reconstructed scenes and multimedia elements are arranged in multiple displays that showcase historical and contemporary contexts.
open mobile museum daily from 9.00 to 18.00.
You can book an excursion by phone: +49 841 89-37575
Working hours booking service:
- Monday through Friday: from 8.00 to 20.00;
- on Saturday: from 8.00 to 16.00.
THE MUSEUM PRESENTS THE FOLLOWING EXCURSIONS:
Sightseeing tour "Mobile Compact Museum"
Individual visitors
Dates:
- Monday through Saturday: from 9.00 to 17.00, every hour;
- on Sunday: at 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00.
Prices:
- adults: 4 euros;
- seniors, students, schoolchildren: 2 euros;
- children under 6 years old (with adults): free of charge.
Groups
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 1 hour.
Band size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 60 euros.
For the elderly, students and people with physical disabilities: 30 euros.
Mobile museum-intensive: "More than just car stories"
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 1,5 hour.
Band size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 120 euros (not including the bus ride).
Dates: on demand.
Color change: "Automotive colors and color history"
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 1,5 hour.
Band size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 120 euros.
Dates: on demand.
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Motorsport: "An incredible success story"
Languages: German, English.
Duration: 1,5 hour.
Band size: maximum 20 people.
Group price: 120 euros.
Dates: on demand.
The VW-Kaluga plant was built in November 2007 (Technopark Grabtsevo, Kaluga). In addition to Audi models, the production of VW and Skoda cars was launched at this enterprise.
German brand Audi was founded in 1909. But the history of this auto giant began in the 19th century, more precisely in November 1899, when August Horch founded the company A.Horch In 1909, Horch left A.Horch and founded another brand of his own - Audi. In 1958, Daimler-Benz AG acquired a controlling interest in Auto Union (which included Audi), but then sold it to Volkswagen. Currently, the Audi brand is widely known. Company profile - release expensive cars executive class. Although this company is subsidiary VW, Audi has long been on a par with such giants of the executive segment as Mercedes and BMW.
The whole history of Audi
After disagreements with the board of directors of A.Horch, August Horch in 1909 left the factory he had created and created another brand - Audi Automobil-Werke. The first Audi car appeared in 1910 and had a 2.6 liter 4-cylinder engine with 22 hp. August Horch's persistence in entering various competitions was rewarded in 1911 when his Audi B with a 2.6-liter engine went the whole distance without penalty points in the Alps Cup race in Austria. In 1932, 4 German firms DKW, Audi, Horch and Wanderer merged to form automobile concern Auto union. This is how the famous four rings appeared. The first collaboration for Audi was the front-wheel drive Front series with a 6-cylinder OHV Wanderer engine of 2257 cm3, followed by the rear-wheel drive Audi 920 with a 6-cylinder Horch engine of 3281 cm3. After the war, the territory of Germany, where the city of Zwickau was located, became part of the GDR. Former factory Audi was nationalized and produced at least famous cars Trabant. The Audi brand temporarily disappeared, as after the war Auto Union only produced DKW cars. It was not until 1957 that a single model appeared called the Auto Union 1000. The following year, Auto Union came under the control of Daimler Benz, and in 1964, when the transition to the production of front-wheel drive cars began to take shape, it became the property of Volkswagen group. In 1965, the Audi brand was revived. On Frankfurt Motor Show a front-wheel drive Audi 1700 was shown with a highly economical Daimler Benz engine with a compression ratio of 11.2 and a power of 72 hp. In 1969, Auto Union and NSU merged - the new company became known as NSU Auto Union. The last organizational change came in 1984 when NSU Auto Union was renamed simply Audi. After 1965, the Audi model family began to expand - by the beginning of the 70s, the 60, 75, 80 and 100 series appeared. Created in 1980, the quattro all-wheel drive modifications have repeatedly achieved success in international rallies, which has brought high prestige to the Audi brand. The initiator of the production of all-wheel drive cars Audi engineer Ferdinand Piech, who considered this process as natural as moving from installing brakes only to rear wheels to brakes on all wheels. The appearance of mass all-wheel drive Audi is considered a revolutionary stage in the development of the automotive industry. The basis for all-wheel drive modifications were standard cars with front wheel drive. In the block with a gearbox they put transfer case with a differential that distributes torque almost equally on both axles. At first, there was also a mechanism for turning on or off. rear wheel drive. The first all-wheel drive Audis were designed primarily for sports competitions, where the reliability of new designs could be tested. They were powerful 5-cylinder turbocharged engines. Under the influence of all-wheel drive Audi, a new direction was laid in the creation of mass-produced cars for both sports and normal use.
About thirty years ago, the famous American manager Lee Iacocca said that by the beginning of the 21st century, the world automotive market there are only a few players left. Ex-president of Chrysler and Ford saw through the trends further development auto industry, so it is not at all surprising that his predictions are confirmed.
The world's largest automakers and alliances
At first glance, it may seem that there are many independent automakers in the world, but in fact, most auto companies are part of various groups and alliances.
Thus, Lee Iacocca looked into the water, and today there are actually only a few automakers left in the world who have divided the entire global car market among themselves.
What brands are owned by Ford
Interestingly, the companies he headed - Chrysler and Ford - the leaders of the American auto industry, suffered the most serious losses during the economic crisis. And they had never been in such serious troubles before. Chrysler and General Motors went bankrupt, and only a miracle saved Ford. But for this miracle, the company had to pay too high a price, because as a result, Ford lost its premium division Premiere Automotive Group, which included Land Rover, Volvo and Jaguar. Moreover, Ford lost Aston Martin- a British supercar manufacturer, a controlling stake in Mazda and eliminated the Mercury brand. And today, only two brands remain from the huge empire - Lincoln and Ford itself.
What brands belong to the auto concern General Motors
General Motors suffered no less serious losses. The American company lost Saturn, Hummer, SAAB, but its bankruptcy did not prevent it from defending the Opel and Daewoo brands. Today General Motors includes such brands as Vauxhall, Holden, GMC, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Buick. In addition, the Americans own the Russian joint venture GM-AvtoVAZ, which produces the Chevrolet Niva.
Automaker Fiat and Chrysler
And the American concern Chrysler now acts as a strategic partner of Fiat, which has brought together such brands as Ram, Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Lancia, Maserati, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo under its wing.
In Europe, things are somewhat different than in the US. Here the crisis has also made its own adjustments, but the position of the monsters of the European automobile industry has not been shaken by this.
What brands belong to the Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen is still accumulating brands. After buying Porsche in 2009, as part of Volkswagen Group there are nine brands - Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Bentley, Porsche, Audi, truck manufacturer Scania and VW itself. There is evidence that soon this list will include Suzuki, 20 percent of whose shares are already owned by the Volkswagen Group.
Brands owned by Daimler AG and BMW Group
As for the other two "Germans" - BMW and Daimler AG, they cannot boast of such an abundance of brands. Under the wing of Daimler AG are the brands Smart, Maybach and Mercedes, and BMW history includes Mini and Rolls-Royce.
Renault and Nissan Automobile Alliance
Among the world's largest automakers, one cannot fail to mention the Renault-Nissan alliance, which owns such brands as Samsung, Infiniti, Nissan, Dacia and Renault. In addition, Renault owns 25 percent of AvtoVAZ shares, so Lada is also not an independent brand from the French-Japanese alliance.
Another major French automaker - PSA concern- owned by Peugeot and Citroen.
Japanese automaker Toyota
And among Japanese automakers, only Toyota, which owns Subaru, Daihatsu, Scion and Lexus, can boast of a “collection” of brands. also in part of Toyota Motor is listed as Hino truck manufacturer.
Who owns Honda
Honda's achievements are more modest. In addition to the motorcycle department and the premium Acura brand, the Japanese have nothing else.
Successful Auto Alliance Hyundai-Kia
During recent years The Hyundai-Kia alliance successfully breaks into the list of leaders in the global automotive industry. Today, it produces cars only under the brands Kia and Hyundai, but the Koreans are already seriously engaged in creating a premium brand that could be called Genesis.
Among the acquisitions and mergers of recent years, we should mention the transition under the wing Chinese Geely Volvo brands, as well as the acquisition of the British premium brands Land Rover and Jaguar by the Indian company Tata. And the most curious case is the purchase of the famous Swedish SAAB brand tiny Dutch supercar manufacturer Spyker.
The once powerful British auto industry is dead. All the famous British car manufacturers have long since lost their independence. Their example was followed by small English firms that passed to foreign owners. In particular, the legendary Lotus today belongs to Proton (Malaysia), and the Chinese SAIC bought MG. By the way, the same SAIC had previously sold the Korean SsangYong Motor to the Indian Mahindra&Mahindra.
All of these strategic partnerships, alliances, mergers and acquisitions have once again proven Lee Iacocca right. Single firms in modern world no longer able to survive. Yes, there are exceptions, like the Japanese Mitsuoka, the English Morgan or the Malaysian Proton. But these companies are independent only in the sense that absolutely nothing depends on them.
And in order to have annual sales amounting to hundreds of thousands of cars, not to mention millions, one cannot do without a strong “rear”. In the Renault-Nissan alliance, partners provide support to each other, while in the Volkswagen Group, mutual assistance is ensured by the number of brands.
As for such companies as Mitsubishi and Mazda, in the future they will face more and more difficulties. While Mitsubishi can get the help of partners from PSA, Mazda will have to survive alone, which in the modern world is becoming more and more difficult every day ...
Every motorist knows Audi. She received thanks to her consistent quality and original design, whose admirers are located all over the world. The history of Audi went through many difficult stages that made the company what we know it today.
How it all started
Audi is a German company that manufactures vehicles passenger class. The main office of the company is located in the village of Ingolstadt. The centenary history of the name and brand started in 1910, from the time when August Horch decided to register a company, the name of which he took from his last name. Horch means "to hear", which is translated from Latin. At that time, the entrepreneur was already in the position of an auctioneer in one big company but quickly left for personal reasons. This was the impetus to start his own business.
August's work did not always have . In 1909, he created a 6-cylinder engine, which immediately failed in sales. This greatly crippled the company, which is why it almost went bankrupt. For this reason, the engineer was quickly fired, but not far away he quickly founded a new company called Horch.
Learn at a glance
Any self-respecting car enthusiast will recognize the Audi logo without error. The history of the emblem was formed around four companies that were united into a single force. Among them were Audi Werke, DKW, August Horch Automobil Werke and Wanderer. The grand merger happened in 1934.
As the history of the badge says, at first it was installed only in cars of a racing format, and an individual design was created for production models. This was later changed, which only attracted potential buyers.
First ideas and steps
The object of the company's enterprises was the construction of machines. Well-known engineers were hired to create original models. Already in the first year of its activity, the Audi-A car was designed. How this model was invented is still unknown to anyone.
Work recognition
Soon, several more models were released, which immediately received recognition from motorists. Germany appreciated the merits of the new brand. So, in 1911 there were big competitions in Austria. The history of the brand remembered this year as the victory of its Audi-B models. Since then, special attention has been focused on subsequent flagships, which have gotten better each time.
1912 became famous for the release Audi-C models. A test drive for her came at the Alpine races, where she showed quite good results, for which she was given the name "Alpenziger".
The main success of the brand occurred in the 20s, when the company acquired Audi-M and no less famous Audi-K. The first stood out with a capacious engine of 4.7 liters for 6 cylinders, and the second had 2.1 liters for the engine. This made it popular among ordinary car users. But Audi-M also managed to become one of the most fast cars of that time, because he overcame 120 kilometers in 1 hour. This was consistent with the price, which was at the level of branded models.
Problem solving
Success ended in the same 20s, when Audi was threatened with bankruptcy. To solve this problem, management decided to merge with another firm. Thus, in 1928, the DKW company acquired the company's capacities, replacing the main owner with Jörgen Skafte Rasmussen.
When the big economic crisis happened in 1932, it was decided by Auto Union. His task was to combine the well-known and powerful brands Wanderer and DKW, as well as former competitors Audi and Horch. The result of their work was the release of two models, whose work was based on the engine from Wanderer. As the history of Audi testifies, sales seemed quite good.
New format
With the onset of World War II, all partner companies were nationalized. They became one division that was engaged in the production of cars. So in 1949, the company increased its scale thanks to the capacities of Mercedes-Benz. Daimler-Benz AG doubled its efficiency when it acquired shares in Auto Union in 1958 by selling them to Volkswagen. But they decided to keep the name, so the company continued to bear the name Audi.
After a short break in 1968, the company released a machine with a drive front type which gave good results. With the advent of the Audi Quattro, the company received good chances apply for the sport class. This car took a big leap forward, making it one of the best alternatives yet again. The car was light enough and had excellent protection. Transport fully met the requirements for high-speed rallies, so it was able to compete with other manufacturers.
Change of leadership
In 1969 Neckarsulmer Automobilwerke bought the major shares of Volkswagen, which included Audi. The history of the company's creation indicates that at one time the company had the name Audi NSU Auto Union, but in 1985 it returned to the classic Audi AG.
The strategy of the renewed firm was to organize sales to the United States. It happened in 1970, and the first car that went to another continent was the Audi Super 90. This station wagon immediately got support from users. Later, their ranks were replenished with the Audi 80 model, which had slightly improved characteristics for buyers in the USA. After that, the real models received their designation in this market - Audi 80 and Audi 4000, respectively.
Back to start
In the 80s, some irregularities in the company's work were discovered, so its sales level fell sharply in the US regions. The year 1980 was remembered for the introduction to the market of a big novelty in the form of an all-wheel drive sports class coupe. Previously, a similar model was the Audi quattro, which used drive system trucks.
The creation of this model was indicated in 1977, when, during tests by the Bundeswehr, the flagship VW Iltis attracted everyone's attention. He had excellent qualities driving on ice and snow, so it was decided to implement such a system in Audi cars 80. This model received a reinforced version with a 5-cylinder and 2.2-liter turbo engine, the power of which was 147 kW, or 200 horsepower.
More news
The history of the company remembers the introduction in mass production vehicles with all-wheel drive. Later, the quattro concept was also offered with other Audi flagships. On the basis of this car, a sports coupe was launched Audi class Coupe, which appeared in 1993. Later it was decided to use the original body, which would complement the lineup. This vehicle remained one of the best of its kind for a long time until it was withdrawn from sale in 2000. In general, the total number of manufactured units amounted to 72 thousand.
One of the models that the history of the brand remembered was the Audi 100. Its feature was the use six-cylinder engine V-type. This unit is considered the lightest among model line. But the Audi A4 saw its buyer in 1994. In the same year, the company created the RS2 Avant, a five-seat car with a 315-horsepower fuel-injected turbo engine.
A little later, the famous Golf IV platform laid the foundation for the flagship Audi A3. It was shown in 1996, receiving a lot of positive reviews. A year later, its mass production began. A year later, the presentation of the new flagships took place in Frankfurt am Main. The flagship Audi S4/S4 Avante/RS4 was a striking modification for the "sport" segment at that time. He used a 2.7 V6 biturbo engine for his work, which was able to produce 380 hp. With.
New Generation
The history of the concern saw a universal body for the new flagships in 1998. In order to focus on the development and production of such vehicles, it was decided to discontinue the production of the C4 series. Since the company began the production of fundamentally new machines in a short period of time, this was the beginning of the release of a new class B family.
But 1998 was also remembered for the premiere of the Audi TT, which had a coupe-type body. He was seen in Geneva, positively accepting the novelty. A year later, the same fate befell the roadster, which was shown in Frankfurt am Main. In 1999 it was modified sports model Audi A3, which received a turbocharged engine and transmission all-wheel drive type. The Audi S8 is an analogue of the famous racing car, but it has a 4.2 V8 engine using all-wheel drive.
Views are changing
The year 2000 began for Audi with the premiere of the flagship Audi Allroad, which was based on the A6 Avant. In 2001, a transport with a folding roof was produced, which later began to be assembled at the facilities of Karmann.
Today, the company's facilities are located in different countries and not just in Germany. The company annually tries to increase its scale and capacity. The model range made it possible to satisfy the wishes of every customer, and even lovers powerful cars were able to choose an SUV Audi Q7.
Among the unusual novelties, one can single out the models of the 2000s, which attracted buyers from Asian countries. Production is trying each time to create an increasingly simple and powerful development, which attracts new markets. Such modern views make it possible to obtain big profit and strengthen your sales position.
A special look at the Audi-M
This model received special attention from the company, because for the first time it was equipped with the emblem "Audi - one against the background of the globe." Already used for work classic engine in six cylinders and up to 4700 cubic meters. see Power of 70 liters. With. created comfort during the trip. Among the changes was noticed camshaft, which it was decided to move to the top.
The technical side involved the use of aluminum for the cylinder block. Also, the designers took care of the safety of the driver, due to which brake system distributed immediately to four wheels. The most high speed that the flagship was able to reach was 120 km / h.
How did the Audi 100
This model was widely shown to customers in 1990. She was also known as C4. It was for her that the six-cylinder V-shaped engine was first released. It has a small size, but a power of 174 horsepower was one of the best in its price range.
History of the Audi A4
Among the cars of the Audi brand in the middle class special attention deserves the A4 model. Through the use of rear and front wheel drive management control is improving, so in 1994 active mass production began. The company has implemented new design case, which qualitatively singled out the flagship among analogues.
Today Audi brand is an integral part of the Volkswagen Group. It is at the stage of rise and growth, as the company has long had high rates quality. This creates successful sales for her, thanks to which there is a constant development.
If you want to buy a quality and affordable car, the Audi brand will become excellent choice. Throughout the history of the company, it has been actively working to improve its models and introduce new technologies. This made it possible to obtain a decent quality.
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Audi was founded in 1910 by a young engineer, August Horch. This was his second attempt to start his own business: the first company, Horch & Co, was created back in 1899. However, in 1909 he was forced to leave Horch & Co by court order. The reason was disagreements with partner creditors.
Horch's new company, founded in the town of Chemnitz, at first, like the previous one, bore his name. When the city authorities found out about this, the court assigned a different name to the new company, "Audi". Some sources claim that one of Horch's business partners came up with it. He simply suggested using the same word, "Horch" (which means "listen" in German), but in the Latin version - "Audi".
The Audi logo is four silver rings. They symbolize the 1932 merger of four companies - DKW, Audi, Horch and Wanderer - into the Auto Union automobile concern. At first, the Audi emblem was installed only on cars designed for racing, and on production models there were nameplates - specially made plates. 
Pre-war history of "Audi"
Audi-A was the firstborn new company. It came out in 1910. The next one was the Audi-B. This model was raced in Austria. The 2.5 thousand km long route passed through the Alps. In 1912, in Auto Alpenfart (as the Austrian races were called), the Audi-S proved to be excellent. This model was later called "Alpenziger", which means "Conqueror of the Alps".
Financial problems began with the firm in the twenties. First, she merged with another, then both became the property of Jörgen Skafte Rasmussen. The same problems forced small manufacturers to create the Auto Union concern in 1932. It included, among others, both companies created by Horch. True, by this time he himself had not been engaged in production for a long time (since 1916).
The concern produced two front-wheel drive models equipped with Wanderer engines. They were in demand and sold well until the war began.
Audi after the war
The Auto Union concern was nationalized at the end of the war. A major reform took place in 1949, when Mercedes-Benz passed the basic rights of Auto Union. Then the controlling stake passed several times from one company to another. The Audi brand disappeared for several years.
The name Audi reappeared only in 1965, when Volkswagen took ownership of the shares. The four circles assigned by Audi since the merger of the four firms (1932) are emblazoned on the hoods of all models of this car.
By 1968 year Audi was introduced to the markets in a wide range. Its sales have grown steadily.
Being the "daughter" of the famous Volkswagen, Audi gained worldwide fame largely thanks to the "Audi Quattro" model. This car had a "sporty appearance" and all-wheel drive. It was light, fast and amazingly stable. Few people could compete with the Quattro, which was confirmed by the results of several auto races.
Since 1958, the company has been called Audi AG. The German automotive company is part of Volkswagen composition Group is one of the most powerful world concerns.
The production of cars is increasing year by year. Since the 10th year of our century, it has exceeded 1 million pieces.
The Audi lineup is very extensive. It is represented by luxury cars, racing cars, supercars, and crossovers.
Thanks to excellent technical specifications Audi is very popular, including in Russia. It should be noted that not only new cars are in demand here. The sale of the model is also excellent in the secondary car markets. And for especially ardent fans of German cars, you can advise special gadgets for your computer, such as a Mercedes flash drive. 
CHANGE OF MANAGEMENT
In 1969 Neckarsulmer Automobilwerke bought the major shares of Volkswagen, which included Audi. The history of the company's creation indicates that at one time the company had the name Audi NSU Auto Union, but in 1985 it returned to the classic Audi AG.
The strategy of the renewed firm was to organize sales to the United States. It happened in 1970, and the first car that went to another continent was the Audi Super 90. This station wagon immediately got support from users. Later, their ranks were replenished with the Audi 80 model, which had slightly improved characteristics for buyers in the USA. After that, the real models received their designation in this market - Audi 80 and Audi 4000, respectively.
BACK TO START
In the 80s, some irregularities in the company's work were discovered, so its sales level fell sharply in the US regions. The year 1980 was remembered for the introduction to the market of a big novelty in the form of an all-wheel drive sports class coupe. Previously, a similar model was the Audi quattro, which used a truck drive system.
The creation of this model was indicated in 1977, when, during tests by the Bundeswehr, the flagship VW Iltis attracted everyone's attention. It had excellent driving qualities on ice and snow, so it was decided to implement such a system in Audi 80 cars. This model received a reinforced version with a 5-cylinder and 2.2-liter turbo engine, which produced 147 kW, or 200 horsepower.
MORE NEWS
The history of the company remembers the introduction of machines with all-wheel drive into mass production. Later, the quattro concept was also offered with other Audi flagships. On the basis of this car, the Audi Coupe sports class coupe was launched, which appeared in 1993. Later it was decided to use the original body, which would complement the lineup. This vehicle remained one of the best of its kind for a long time until it was withdrawn from sale in 2000. In general, the total number of manufactured units amounted to 72 thousand.
One of the models that the history of the brand remembered was the Audi 100. Its feature was the use of a six-cylinder V-type engine. This unit is considered the lightest among the model line. But the Audi A4 saw its buyer in 1994. In the same year, the company created the RS2 Avant, a five-seat car with a 315-horsepower fuel-injected turbo engine.
A little later, the famous Golf IV platform laid the foundation for the flagship Audi A3. It was shown in 1996, receiving a lot of positive reviews. A year later, its mass production began. A year later, the presentation of the new flagships took place in Frankfurt am Main. The flagship Audi S4/S4 Avante/RS4 was a striking modification for the "sport" segment at that time. He used a 2.7 V6 biturbo engine for his work, which was able to produce 380 hp. With. 
NEW GENERATION
The history of the concern saw a universal body for the new flagships in 1998. In order to focus on the development and production of such vehicles, it was decided to discontinue the production of the C4 series. Since the company began the production of fundamentally new machines in a short period of time, this was the beginning of the release of a new class B family.
But 1998 was also remembered for the premiere of the Audi TT, which had a coupe-type body. He was seen in Geneva, positively accepting the novelty. A year later, the same fate befell the roadster, which was shown in Frankfurt am Main. In 1999, the Audi A3 sports model was modified, which received a turbocharged engine and an all-wheel drive transmission. The Audi S8 is an analogue of the famous racing car, but it has a 4.2 V8 engine using all-wheel drive.
Interesting facts, technology and motorsport
Audi was the first company to conduct crash tests (since 1938).
Audi 80's model North America first sold under the name Audi Fox, and later - as the Audi 4000.
Audi has become the first automaker to create its own virtual world on the PlayStation Home resource. At the service of visitors are tours of the virtual space Audi Space and the opportunity to participate in the Vertical Run racing race.
Audi cars have won the prestigious Le Mans 24 race three times in a row - in 2000, 2001 and 2002. In honor of such a grand success in 2003 in Frankfurt was presented sports concept car Audi Le Mans quattro. 
Key models in the history of the brand
Audi 80 is one of the most mass car XX century. The total volume of produced machines has more than 4 million copies. The model was produced for 30 years - from 1966 to 1996. Initially, the car was made on the same platform with Volkswagen Passat. In 1987, a new generation of the Audi 80 appeared on the B3 platform, which no longer had anything in common with Volkswagen. The body of the B3 was fully galvanized, providing such high corrosion protection that Audi increased guarantee period from 8 to 12 years old. Galvanized bodies are also used to build current Audi models.
Audi Quattro - the first rally car companies. Thanks to innovations in the rules that allowed the use of four-wheel drive vehicles in competition, the Quattro was able to race. The car won two competitions in a row.
The development of the famous Audi TT began in September 1994 in California. The first concept car was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1995. The next modification of the model, the Audi TT Coupe, was demonstrated by the developers to the visitors of the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005. The new TT was much lighter than the previous one thanks to the use of a combination of aluminum and steel materials.
The company began producing the Audi Q7 crossover in 2005. The first instance of criticism was seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The "E" platform model is based on the 2003 Audi Pikes Peak quattro concept.
Audi A3 –
family hatchback. In 1996 - 2003, the first generation was produced, from 2003 to 2012 - the second. More recently, the third generation of a compact car has appeared, which quickly became popular in European countries. Audi A3 has many different awards. 
Audiin Russia
One of the first Audis to appear in Russia was the Audi 80 B3. The famous "barrel" with the 89th body quickly became popular due to its simple design: motorists who were well versed in front-wheel drive VAZs could easily change parts for Audi. Some even modernized their foreign cars, replacing parts with domestic counterparts. The Audi 80 was also loved in Russia for its high suspension strength - the car conquered domestic roads with unprecedented agility for a foreign car.
Today, Audi does not lose its position as the leader in sales among premium cars for domestic market. From January to August 2012, 22,292 copies were sold, up 41% from 2011 figures. But these cars are not stolen so often: according to statistics for Russia for 2010-2011, the Audi brand did not even make it into the top twenty. Our most popular models today are the Audi A3 Sportback, Audi A4, Audi A6, Audi Q3, Audi Q5 and Audi Q7. 
In 2001, Audi opened the Quattro Driving School in Russia. This is the first school established by a foreign car manufacturer in Russia. Throughout its existence, the Quattro School has been very popular among our compatriots: in 11 years, more than 16 thousand private and corporate clients have been trained.
Audi was the official sponsor of the Russian team at the XXX Summer Olympics 2012 in London. The concern provided 129 cars as prizes for Russian athletes. The executive A8 models received gold medalists, the silver medalists were given the keys to the A7 Sportback, and the bronze medalists became the owners of the elegant A6. Also, Audi was chosen as the official partner of the Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014.
