One of the largest and most successful German automotive concerns has seen a chic development in recent years. Audi brand cars have always been considered a premium class, under the wing of the huge Audi-Volkswagen corporation, this brand has received great opportunities to use the best technologies, the most successful solutions in the technical and design part. It is these features of the car that attract their customers, despite the ever-increasing price tags and incredible equipment, in which you can find a lot of unnecessary parts. Audi today competes with BMW and is also one of the main rivals of Japanese and American luxury brands. It is this fate that the current features of the growth of the corporation envisage.
Among the first questions that potential car buyers ask is the question of assembling cars. Many people believe that all Audi models, as premium cars, are assembled exclusively in Germany. In fact, the brand has a mass of assembly plants around the world, which explains its prevalence both on the distant shores of the Atlantic and in the difficult Australian market. It is also an interesting fact that Audi cars are today officially recognized as the best purchase in the secondary market, which increases their popularity due to the proven quality and huge service life. Let's look at the main features of the assembly of cars of this German brand.
Geographic distribution of Audi cars
The automotive companies that make up the Volkswagen AG group are incredibly widespread all over the world. Today it is one of the largest geographic concerns, which successfully operates on almost all continents. In most cases, outside of Germany, only SKD machines take place, the main production assets are located within the European country. As for Audi cars, the company offers a wide assembly geography. The largest enterprises outside of Germany are located in North America, one of the first markets for the purchase of these vehicles. In general, in the world you can find companies related to Audi in the following countries:
- Germany - more than ten factories of different directions and large research and engineering centers;
- USA - the largest assembly and production unit with its own model range and technical features;
- Brazil - five enterprises that produce SKD for all Latin American countries;
- Argentina and Mexico are two other Latin countries where some models are assembled;
- South Africa - almost the entire model range for Africa is assembled at a large plant in this country;
- India and Malaysia are Asian concerns created to reduce the cost of some production processes;
- China is a huge division of Audi that designs and manufactures engines, bodies and all other parts for cars in Asia;
- Slovakia and Belgium - some engineering developments for the concern are carried out in these countries.
There are also assembly facilities for Audi cars in Russia, but they are not very common. The Volkswagen AG plant in Kaluga today assembles the Audi A6 and the Audi A8, two of the most popular sedans in their class for the Russian market. In most cases, these machines are sold to businesses or politicians, so the corporation left mass assembly in our country. The remaining models, which were previously assembled in Russia, left our conveyors and are exported to the country from Europe. This caused a slight increase in the price of cars, but the quality has increased significantly. Let's face it, the Kaluga assembly needs certain changes in the technological process. This is evidenced by the deteriorating reviews of the new popular A6 sedans.
The main assembly features of the Audi concern
The company has time to monitor all its divisions. The concern conducts strict quality control of the assembly, which is what caused the removal of some Audi models from Russian production, in particular the Q5 and Q7 crossovers. Customers expect more from a company than just good quality. In Europe, the assembly of Audi takes place in full, every detail of the future vehicle is subject to strict certification. It is worth noting that the corporation is actively developing technologies that will later be successfully inherited by other brands of the concern. Today, the main tasks and principles of the company are as follows:
- the highest quality of cars, the absence of any childhood diseases in new developments;
- extended testing of each technology that is introduced into the technical or functional part of the machines;
- certification of each individual piece of equipment, testing and grinding of parts at the factory;
- maximum automation of production even in those countries where it is more profitable to use manual labor;
- assembly control, which is carried out by German experts at each plant where Audi is assembled;
- multi-stage system for selecting materials for the interior, high-quality plastic and excellent layout;
- the most modern design features, a constant competition among the best designers of the company.
Audi is one of the few brands that does not have one permanent design office. The corporation collects a competitive submission from different departments of its designers, and then selects the best practices. However, other projects do not remain idle, because the company has brands such as Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat, which are less picky about the appearance of their equipment. That is why Audi always has the best design features among those presented to the management to choose from. However, this is a rather subjective field of activity, because someone likes the Spanish Seat much more than the classic stylish image of Audi.
New models - smart development of technology from Audi
Not a single model lingers today on the conveyor of a corporation for more than five years. Yes, and five years for such cars can be quite a long time. Therefore, in most cases, the corporation offers an updated style of its cars even before the old design becomes irrelevant. Many potential buyers are surprised at how quickly the design range of cars is being updated, but this is not too much of a concern for the company's picky management. In 2015, the corporation introduced a fairly large number of new products and restyling, the main attention among which is attracted by the following updates:
- Audi RS4 Avant - a large station wagon with sporty performance and futuristic design, stiff suspension and powerful engines, costs from 4,700,000 rubles;
- Audi RS5 Coupe - a chic sports car with incredible style and very advanced technology, the car is able to surprise with sporty dynamics and a price of 4,800,000 rubles;
- Audi S6 Avant - a new model with sporty inclinations, low ground clearance and amazing dynamics, chic engines make the trip unforgettable, and the price is raised to 4,480,000 rubles;
- Audi Q3 and RS Q3 are amazing compact crossovers with a real zeal for the future, not only in design but also in the technical part, the cars start at a price of 1,615,000 and 2,990,000 rubles, respectively;
- Audi Q7 - a generation-changing large crossover has become the focus of the company's lineup, the optimal appearance and advanced technology began to cost from 3,630,000 rubles.
Do not forget about such designer models as the Audi TTS Coupe and Audi R8 Coupe. These are the most expensive and unique representatives of passenger cars from the German concern, which have proven their right to exist with unexpectedly high sales around the world. New developments in the design of the automobile concern are becoming even more aggressive, the company offers more and more interesting features and presents unforgettable features of the technical part of its cars. Development does not stop even for a second, so next year we will look at the Audi lineup with completely different eyes. Let's be amazed by Audi's new technologies as we test drive the 2015 Q7:
Summing up
A different look at Audi cars can provide both unexpected surprise and disappointment. Some people liked the soft, flowing lines of the premium sedans of the early 2000s, while others prefer the unique sharp and aggressive design of the current generation of cars. But we can safely say that the company is growing faster than its competitors, offering more affordable models with no less exciting technology under the hood. Also, it will not be superfluous to notice the unique developments of the corporation, which amaze the imagination with their capabilities.
It is still difficult to predict what will be the further development of the geography of Volkswagen AG and Audi. But it can be unmistakably said that the growth and expansion of the corporation is inevitable. Today we see the future in the machines of this company. All European concerns are trying to imitate the technical and visual developments that the German luxury brand offers. And how do you feel about the modern style and features of the development of the technical part of the Audi automobile company?
Audi realizes its "High Tech Excellence" in six factories with legendary automotive manufacturing traditions. Advanced logistics processes, the synchronized Audi Production System and more than 60,000 highly qualified employees guarantee Audi's consistently high standards worldwide. Whether in Germany, Belgium, Hungary, India or China, all Audi manufacturing plants demonstrate the highest quality, efficiency and environmental compatibility.
In Germany, Audi manufactures at two sites with a rich tradition in the automotive industry - in the cities of Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. It is here that technical developments are mainly carried out, and many discoveries have been made here. Visitors have a great opportunity to get into the history and philosophy of the four rings brand. Since 2010, the Brussels plant has been producing the Audi A1. About 1.9 million high-tech engines are produced annually at the Hungarian plant in the city of Gyor. In addition, at Aurangabad and Changchun factories, Audi manufactures premium vehicles for the growing markets of China and India.
Factory in Ingolstadt (Germany)
Over 500,000 vehicles roll off the production line of AUDI AG's largest plant every year. It is here that the production lines for the Audi A3, Audi A4, Audi A5 and Audi Q5 are installed. The Audi TT Coupé and Audi TT Roadster models produced in partnership with Audi Hungaria also pass through the body shop and paint shop.
Factory in Neckarsulm (Germany)
As a traditional center for automotive production, the Neckarsulm city is home to premium models: the Audi A8, Audi A6 and Audi A4. Many typical Audi innovations see the light of day for the first time at this second largest Audi plant in Germany. quattro GmbH builds the Audi A6 and Audi R8 in Neckarsulm. A visit to the Forum Audi in Neckarsulm is an unforgettable experience of immersing yourself in the fascinating world of automotive engineering.
Plant in Gyor (Hungary)
Győr, a Hungarian city on the Danube, is an ideal place for the production of high-tech engines and cars. Its advantages are not limited to a developed labor market with a large number of skilled workers and highly educated graduates.
Factory in Changchun (China)
Audi's activities in China began 20 years ago. In 2007, the company's annual vehicle sales to Chinese customers surpassed the 100,000 mark for the first time. In the same year, more than 93,000 vehicles rolled off the lines of the traditional model factory in Changchun. Today, Audi is the fastest growing premium brand in China and Hong Kong. The company's market share in the premium car segment is about 42%.
Factory in Brussels (Belgium)
The creation of the fourth production site in Europe was the basis for sustaining the sustainable growth achieved by Audi and ensuring it in the long term. The Audi A1 has been produced in Brussels since 2010.
Factory in Aurangabad (India)
At its plant in Maharashtra, Audi manufactures vehicles for sale in the growing Indian market. The plant is located in the university city of Aurangabad. The Audi A6 has been produced here since 2006 and the Audi A4 since 2008. By 2015, the annual production of the Audi A6 should exceed 2,000 vehicles, and the Audi A4 - 11,000.
Factory in Bratislava (Slovakia)
AUDI AG manufactures the Audi Q7 in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Approximately 1,300 people at the modern Volkswagen Slovakia plant assemble this powerful vehicle from car kits - a representative of the SUV segment.
Factory in Martorell (Spain)
The production of the Audi Q3 model began in the first half of 2011. This compact car is assembled using state-of-the-art equipment at the SEAT plant in the Spanish city of Martorell. The annual production volume is over 100,000 vehicles. In 2009 and 2010. for the release of the Audi Q3, a new body shop and assembly line were built. The total capital investment in the production of this model in Martorel exceeded 300 million euros.
Audi AG is a German automotive company within the Volkswagen Group, specializing in the production of cars under the Audi brand. The headquarters is located in Ingolstadt (Germany).
The history of Audi AG is closely connected with the name of August Horch.
August Horch was born on October 12, 1868 in the village of Winningen, located in the Moselle Valley, into a blacksmith's family. At first he was trained in his father's profession. However, he did not show the abilities necessary for blacksmithing. And then, after several years of wandering, he began his studies at the then-famous technical school in the city of Mitweida. After graduating from a technical school, he qualified as an engineer and worked in various design offices in the cities of Rostock and Leipzig. Of particular interest to him was the use of an internal combustion engine, which at that time was still only a formless mechanism.
In 1896, Horch was invited to head the production of motorcycles at Benz & Cie in Mannheim. However, Karl Benz, being a conservative innovator, did not support most of the ideas and proposals for changes in his designs. Dissatisfied with this situation, August Horch decides to organize his own business.
Together with one of the shareholders, he created Horch & Cie in 1899 in Cologne. Along with the provision of services for the repair and equipping of vehicles, since 1901 the company began to establish its own production of cars. However, when the available capital began to dwindle, Horch, with drawings in his suitcase and ideas in his head, set off on a journey through Germany in search of money for his projects.
In Saxony, Horch found an industrialist who was interested in his ideas and was ready to finance them. Then in 1902, Horch moved with all his machines and equipment to Reichenbach, and then in 1904 to Zwickau. In 1909, disagreements arose between the shareholders, and August Horch left the company. But still, his thirst for activity was not broken. With the help of his friend Franz Fikentscher, a respected businessman from Zwickau, he soon founded a new automobile company. The second firm was also named after Horch. But this led to a lawsuit over the rights to the name of the firm. August Horch lost this process. For a young company, a new name had to be found. How to name the company?
Horst Fikentscher (grandson of Horst Fikentscher Franz) says that in his grandfather's living room there were endless debates on this issue: “All possible and impossible proposals arose. In the adjoining room, my grandfather's three high school sons also took part in the search for a name for the company. My father Heinrich, who was then 10 years old, stunned all adults with a simple solution to a difficult problem: Horen, Horchen (listen, listen) are translated from German into Latin as "audire", and the imperative form "horch!" (listen!) - “audi!” From that day on, everyone called my father only Audi.
It took only a few years for the new Horch cars to gain recognition. For three consecutive years since 1913, the Audi team had won the international route through the Austrian Alps, which was considered at the time the most difficult test test for cars. With the founding of the second company, the innovative phase of Horch's life ended. During the First World War, he took over the organizational functions, and after the war he was invited as an expert on technical issues by many representatives of the German automotive industry.
History of the Four Rings
The Audi symbol - "Four Rings" - is a trademark of one of the oldest car manufacturers in Germany. It symbolizes the union of four previously independent car manufacturers: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. They are the roots of the modern AUDI AG.
1910—1920
In early 1909, after a legal dispute with the first Horch-Werke factories, August Horch renamed his second car factory Audi Automobil-Werke. When choosing a new name, Horch, who did not want to completely “concede” his own surname to his rivals, decided to use a pun. The word horch in German means "listen", just like audi in Latin.
In the middle of 1910, the plant launched the first Audi car on the market. This car had a 2.6 liter four-cylinder engine with 22 hp.
1920—1930
In 1920, Audi Automobil-Werke AG introduced a new trademark - Audi. In keeping with the fashionable business style of the time, Lucian Bernhard's flourish replaced the vignetted Audi emblem. Now a new emblem (gold letters on a blue background in an oval) adorned the radiators of Audi cars. When in 1965 the Volkswagen concern acquired 100% of the shares of the Auto Union concern (before that, part of them belonged to the Daimler-Benz concern), which included Audi, the first post-war car bearing the Audi brand was produced. It entered the market with the Auto Union emblem, representing the plexus of four rings, which was caused by the fact that Audi cars from 1949 to 1965 were produced under the Auto Union brand. Also on the right front fender and on the rear of the body there were emblems reminiscent of the first Audi emblem (the font was changed compared to the original version). This emblem was changed with the launch of the NSU production line in 1977. She received a red - brown oval, instead of blue. Since 1982, the branded oval has also adorned the side surfaces of the fenders of cars.
At the end of World War II, all the Saxon factories of Auto Union were destroyed as a result of Allied air strikes, and many employees and management of the concern left the Soviet zone of occupation. All equipment that survived was dismantled and removed. The management of the company, shortly before the end of the war, managed to move to Bavaria. At the end of 1945, an Auto Union spare parts warehouse even appeared in the city of Ingolstadt. But it was still far from full-fledged production. Only on September 3, 1949, the production of motorcycles and delivery trucks resumed. The company was registered in a new way and the company Auto Union GmbH appeared.
1950—1960
The first DKW passenger car after the war. After the founding of Auto Union GmbH in Ingolstadt in September 1949 and the start of the production of motorcycles and small-consignment vehicles in the same year, production of the DKW, Auto Union's first post-war passenger car, began in August 1950. Until the end of 1961, DKW passenger cars were manufactured at the production facilities of Rheinmetall-Boersing AG in Düsseldorf.
In April 1958, the stock company Daimler-Benz AG bought 88% of the shares of Auto Union, and a year later bought the company completely. The Ingolstadt firm became its branch. But the popularity of the Volkswagen Käfer model had a negative impact on sales of other small cars and the financial position of the Auto Union concern, and in 1964 the company became part of Volkswagen. In 1965, it was decided to release all new models of the concern that had lost its independence under the Audi brand. The first time after the takeover of Volkswagen did not want Audi to develop its own cars. They were going to produce the Volkswagen Beetle model at the plant's facilities. But Ludwig Kraus, who was then the head of the design department, decided to develop the model secretly from everyone. In the end, they found out about this in Wolfsburg, but they did not interfere. The fruit of this activity was the Audi 100 middle class car, which appeared in 1968.
In 1969, Volkswagenwerk AG merged Auto Union GmbH and NSU Motorenwerke AG from Neckarsulm. The company was named Audi NSU Auto Union AG with headquarters in Neckarsulm. In 1974 a significant event took place. Ferdinand Piëch became the head of the design department.
1970—1980
At the beginning of 1970, a wide export of Audi to the United States of America began. At first, exports to the United States were limited to the Audi Super 90 (sedan and station wagon), as well as the new Audi 100. Since 1973, they were joined by the Audi 80, which, unlike the European version, was also produced in a station wagon. Later, Audi models received their own designations in the US market: Audi 4000 for the Audi 80, Audi 5000 for the Audi 100.
1980—1991
In March 1980, the Audi booth at the Geneva Motor Show became a real sensation with the introduction of a new all-wheel drive sports coupe. For the first time, a passenger car was offered with a drive concept that had hitherto only been used in trucks and SUVs. The idea for such a passenger car arose in the winter of 1976/77. during test runs on the VW Iltis military off-road vehicle being developed. The excellent behavior of this car when driving on ice and snow led to the idea to introduce the all-wheel drive VW Iltis in the production Audi 80. In the same year, development work was carried out, which resulted in the creation of the Audi quattro sports coupe.
The sporty debut of the Audi quattro took place at the beginning of 1981 at the January rally in Austria. The new Audis were out of competition. Until 1985, no one could compete with them. And in 1986, group "b" was closed in which Quattro performed, as the FIA leadership considered these competitions too dangerous. This ended the racing career of this car.
In December 1982, mass production of the Audi quattro was launched - a serial sports coupe that had all-wheel drive and outstanding driving characteristics: With a weight of about 1.5 tons, the car had an engine with a power of 200 hp, which allowed it to accelerate to 100 km / h in 7.1 seconds. In 1984, the Audi Sport Quattro became available to customers. It had a body shortened by 300 mm with Kevlar inserts and two engine options - 220 and 306 hp. The latter accelerated the Audi to 100 km / h in 4.9 seconds. The top speed of this car reached 250 km/h. Gradually, the quattro® drive was also offered for other Audi models.
1990—1991
In 1990, Audi AG entered the German Stock Car Championship (DTM) for the first time. This season's winner was Hans-Joachim Stuck, driving an Audi V8. The following year, Frank Biela, driving an Audi of the same model, was able to successfully defend the championship title.
Audi with V6 engine
In December 1990, the new Audi 100 (internal designation C4) was introduced, which for the first time in the history of the concern was also offered with a six-cylinder V-engine. The powerful (174 hp) power unit with a displacement of 2.8 liters was the most compact and lightest in its class. It had a new fuel injection system that provided the required high tractive effort at low revs and high power in the upper rev range.
1990—2000
At the Geneva Motor Show in March 1990, Audi AG presented the Audi duo, the production Audi 100 Avant quattro, in which, in addition to the conventional gasoline engine, an electric motor was also installed with a rear axle drive. If necessary, the drive could be switched from a gasoline engine to an electric one. This hybrid vehicle has been developed, among other things, for use in public utilities.
In 1993, the Audi Group was formed, which eventually included the Hungarian and Brazilian divisions, the British Cosworth Technology and the Italian Automobili Lamborghini and the Spanish SEAT were absorbed. The company is developing dynamically in most of the auto directions that exist today. These are the business segment (A6), executive (A8), sports and racing cars (Audi TT, sports versions of A4, R8 supercar), as well as Q7, Q5 and Q3 crossovers.
2005 Audi hybrid
On September 12, 2005, at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (Germany), Audi AG presented its new brainchild - the Audi Q7 hybrid SUV. The uniqueness of this car lies in the fact that it is equipped with two high-tech engines. Simultaneously with the 4.2-litre FSI V8 petrol engine, the Audi Q7 hybrid is equipped with the latest electric motor, which increases the torque specifications by 200 Newton-nA-meter and power output by 32 kW (44 hp).
It is hard to believe that with all this, the technical data of the car can reduce fuel consumption by an average of 13%. Optimization of energy efficiency is achieved through Audi's innovative intelligent energy management. In addition, the integrated quattro technology provides the SUV with impeccable performance in various road conditions.
2008 - Double victory for Audi all-wheel drive models
Two Audi all-wheel drive models won the 4-4 of the Year 2008 competition organized by the German magazine AUTO BILD ALLRAD. The new Audi A4 quattro won the 25,000 to 40,000 euro car category, while the Audi R8 won the all-wheel drive coupe and sports car category. Following the G8, the second place was taken by the Audi A5 quattro.
Among other models from the German automaker, the Audi A6 quattro and Audi A8 quattro took second and third place in the "over 40,000 euros" category. The prizes were awarded to the winners at the international exhibition Auto Mobil International (AMI) in Leipzig.
Audi A4 is a class "D" sedan, which is liked by both ordinary consumers and officials. The latest generation of the model was introduced this year and has not yet reached our market.
In fact, the car became an updated version of the Audi 80 and was released in 1994. Some features of its predecessor are still recognizable in it. The car has the highest production volume in the line of the German company. In terms of the number of cars, it is in fourth place after the models of the world's main manufacturers.
In March 2011, the five millionth copy of the car rolled off the assembly line. But where the Audi A4 is assembled, we will consider in this article.
Where is the Audi A4 assembled for the world market:
— Germany, plant in Ingolstadt and Wolfsburg;
— China, factory in Changchun;
— Japan, factory in Tokyo;
— Ukraine, plant in Solomonovo;
— Indonesia, plant in Jakarta;
— India, plant in Aurangabad.
The car is delivered to Russia directly from Germany. We will talk about the characteristics of the model later.
In 2013, the Audi A4 was supposed to be assembled in Russia. SKD in Kaluga was sanctioned with German manufacturers.
The matter is that in our country since next year it is forbidden to officials to buy the cars made not at us. And the fourth Audi is quite popular among politicians.
The new production was announced back in August 2012. The chairman of the corporation spoke about the fact that Audi A4, A5 and A6 will be assembled in Russia.
But, this year we not only decided not to introduce new production facilities, but also to close the old ones. The model range, assembled in Kaluga, has been reduced by three times. Now only Audi A6 and A8 are produced here. The capacity of the plant allows to produce 10 thousand cars per year. But, how much has been released over the past 11 months of 2015 is not reported. The economic situation does not allow the plant to operate at full capacity.
The conveyor was resumed in 2013, when the company's management had an idea to increase production. All parts were delivered to us from Germany, and we only fastened together.
Then 570 million euros were invested in the plant. Due to inflation, they actually disappeared.
In the first two months of this year, sales of the Audi A4 in Russia fell by 23%. The rest of the dynamics is still kept secret.
Characteristics of the Audi A4 for our market
Audi A4 for the Russian market is being upgraded for the eighth time. But, this model is completely redone. Some motorists were worried that it turned out worse than its predecessor. Let's see if this is the case.
The axle weighting has been much improved. To be honest, it's almost perfect. The motor is located in the front axle. Therefore, the hood turned out to be a little loaded. Engineers slightly increased the wheelbase. Compared with the seventh generation, it has become 160 millimeters larger. The battery, oddly enough, was moved to the trunk.
The car has become much more manageable and stable. Now you can ride it quickly and actively. The body came out branded. He received a predatory front end and an aggressive bumper. Narrowed front optics goes well with the trapezoidal grille.
For our market, the Germans made two modifications. We are talking about a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon. The latter is not very popular among our consumers. But everything sells well. Even on the basis of the sedan, they made a model similar to an SUV.
The classic car is extremely resistant to corrosion. Even if you peel off the paint a little, the metal will not rust. Passive safety for both passenger and driver received five stars in 2009. Here you can see excellent LED lights that are everywhere. It looks technologically advanced, but in practice it is completely unsightly, or rather, expensive.
In the salon you can feel all the high cost and premium of the brand. Solid and high-quality materials will not leave anyone indifferent. The details fit very precisely, and the wear resistance of the skin has been proven for generations. Even in the basic version, the machine is equipped with quite expensive.
The central part of the front panel is turned towards the driver. The seats have developed support and the zero position of the speedometer needles with a tachometer. The wheelbase of 2810 millimeters is suitable for any road. There is plenty of room in the back seat for everyone. If you sit in the middle, then the massive floor will interfere with you. The shelf at the rear window begins to creak over time, and the power windows work with a squeak. But, these are all the shortcomings that were found.
Gasoline and diesel engines are presented on our market in different proportions. In gasoline units, an individual ignition coil may fail. The most popular engine is the 1.8 liter engine. But the most unclaimed 3.2-liter.
For gasoline units, the chain can stretch and the hydraulic tensioner break. This happens with runs from 70 to 100 thousand kilometers. Therefore, do not forget to control the motor. The pump of a 1.8-liter engine may leak.
Audi A4 can be front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. They are quite stable and passable. The transmission has no weaknesses. It's a six-speed manual here. On the market, you can also find a variator or a robot. The latest dual-clutch gearbox is a little weak.
The suspension of the car is similar to the predecessor unit. And front and rear there is a multi-link. The chassis is energy intensive. Stiffness settings vary, as do dampers. The four operating modes of the machine are changed by a button near the gear selector. Over time, it may become difficult to replace parts. The bolts may stop turning. You have to heat them up and drill them out.
Trunk volume is 480 liters. This is quite a lot for such a model. The parking brake is electric. It is activated by a button near the gear selector.
The weak points of the car is the gasoline engine. It has chain stretch. Optics can also fail. Especially the front. The LEDs are on in the back.
In general, the advantages of the car include high safety, rich finishing materials and high-quality seats. Also, it is worth noting the problem-free motor and a good transmission. Stability and handling all all sorts of praise.
The price of the car is quite high. But, for the German assembly, it is acceptable. Unfortunately, the optics often burn out, and the seats fold only as an option. But, this is all insignificant, because the Audi A4 is very high quality and reliable. Therefore, if you value prestige and rich design, you can afford it.
About thirty years ago, the famous American manager Lee Iacocca said that by the beginning of the 21st century, only a few players would remain in the global automotive market. The ex-president of Chrysler and Ford saw through the trends in the further development of the automotive 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 dear 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, the British supercar manufacturer, a controlling stake in Mazda, and liquidated 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, the Volkswagen Group has 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 the history of BMW 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, owns 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 part of Toyota Motor is the truck manufacturer Hino.
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
In recent years, the Hyundai-Kia alliance has been successfully breaking 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.
Acquisitions and mergers in recent years include the takeover of the Chinese brand Volvo by Geely, as well as the acquisition of the British premium brands Land Rover and Jaguar by the Indian company Tata. And even the most curious case is the purchase of the famous Swedish brand SAAB by the 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 the modern world are 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 ...
