Audi, a German car manufacturer, was established in 1909 by by August Horch and his business partners. In 1910, the company released their first car - the Audi Type A, which established their presence in the German car market. Until the late 1920s, they produced upgraded versions of their original Type A vehicles with notable design changes.
From the late 1920s, Audi went through different types of mergers and acquisitions. Their iconic four-ring logo was created in 1932 when it became part of Auto Union through a merger of four companies: Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer. The modern Audi was established after Volkswagen purchased Auto Union in 1964 and merged it with NSU Motorenwerke AG in 1969.
Who Owns Audi Now?
Audi is currently owned by the Volkswagen Group, a multinational automotive manufacturing company based in Germany. Volkswagen acquired Audi in 1964, when it purchased a 50% stake in the company, and later gained complete control in 1966.
Audi Type A - The First Audi
The Audi Type A was introduced in 1910. Powered by a 4-Cylinder, 4-Stroke engine with a top speed of 46 mph, it was a relatively fast vehicle for its time. As the first Audi vehicle, only a handful of Type A cars were produced (just 140).
Audi gave their first vehicle model numerous upgrades with key and notable changes. The Audi Type K is the first German vehicle that came with left hand drive which improved road visibility for the driver. The Audi Type M, introduced in 1924 is a sporting type vehicle featuring a six-cylinder engine.
Audi 100 - US Debut Vehicle
While their initial vehicles provided Audi relative success, it was only in 1969 that the German manufacturer finally introduced it to US car buyers. The first car was the Audi 100 that came in Sedan and Coupe body configuration. The Sedan measured 182.6 inches in length while the Coupe, 173.2 inches in length. Both measured 68 inches wide.
Under the hood, the Audi 100 was powered by a 1.8L to 1.9L I4 engine with up to 99 horsepower. It featured a top speed of up to 112 mph depending on the engine and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 11 seconds.
1980 Audi Quattro - Next Level Control
By the early 80s, Audi was already an established brand because of their impressive line of vehicles. The introduction of the Audi Quattro in 1980 further reinforced Audi's reputation. The vehicle was known as the first to integrate the Quattro system into their performance focused vehicle. Quattro provided drivers better control with the All-Wheel-Drive system.
The Audi Quattro's performance-enhanced Quattro system, combined with its 2.1L turbocharged I5 engine, delivers impressive speed. With a top speed of up to 137 mph and acceleration from 0-60 mph in just 7.1 seconds, the Quattro is a formidable performer. In terms of size, the Audi Quattro measures 175.2 inches long and 67.7 inches wide.
1994 Audi RS2 Avant - All About Speed
Audi's introduction of the RS2 Avant was a gamechanger. Audi is renowned for its efficient and powerful vehicles, but the RS2 Avant was a departure from this norm - it was all about speed. Collaborating with Porsche, Audi created its first RS-type vehicle, powered by a 2.2L turbocharged I5 engine. With a top speed of up to 163 mph and acceleration from 0-60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, the RS2 Avant stood out.
The vehicle is relatively small, measuring just176.2 inches long and 67.7 inches wide, but its handling is impressive. This is thanks to the Quattro AWD and chassis built for speed.
2019 Audi E-Tron - For The Future
Audi is also pushing for EV as part of their future line of vehicles. The Audi e-tron was their first foray into the EV market. Using Dual Electric Motors with 402 horsepower, their first EV was relatively fast with 124 mph top speed and 5.5 seconds in 0-60 mph acceleration.
The e-tron measured 193.0 inches long and 76.3 inches wide. It also boasts impressive security and control features such as the Quattro AWD and regenerative braking, for an even better mileage.
Audi A4 - The Most Popular Audi Model
After more than 50 years in the US market, Audi has introduced a variety of models with varying success. However, Audi has found continued success with their A4 series. Taking full advantage of technological advancements, they have been able to introduce top of the line, reliable vehicles since the 1990s.
The following are the most noteworthy A4s to date:
Audi A4 1.8T Quattro (1999): The journey began with the 1999 Audi A4. Powered by a 1.8L Turbo I4 engine with Quattro AWD, the first A4 is small (176.7 inches in length and 68.2 inches in width). The combination of small-sized frame with powerful engine results in 137 mph top speed and 7.1 seconds 0-60 mph acceleration.
Audi RS4 (2006): The Audi RS4 was introduced in 2006. This powerful vehicle features a 4.2L Naturally Aspirated V8 engine with Quattro AWD. It's also relatively larger with 180.7 inches in length and 71.5 inches in width. The upgrade in engine also meant faster speed with 174 mph top speed and accelerating from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds.
Audi S4 (2024): The 2024 Audi S4 represents the latest evolution of the A4 series. Measuring 187.5 inches in length and 72.7 inches in width, this performance variant is powered by a 3.0L turbo V6 engine, producing 349 horsepower. Although its top speed of 155 mph is eclipsed by the RS4, the S4 boasts an impressive array of features, including a virtual cockpit, sport suspension, automatic temperature control, and active lane assist.
Audi A4 45 TFSI (2025): The 2025 Audi A4 marks the final year of the current generation. With a 2.0L turbocharged I4 engine that produces 261 horsepower, those amazing vehicle features Quattro AWD and a sport suspension for enhanced handling. It is 187.5 inches long and 72.7 inches wide. It also has some offers advanced technology features like a virtual cockpit plus, MMI touch display, and wireless smartphone integration.
Audi's Evolution In Size
Generally, Audi cars have grown larger over time, transitioning from compact models like the early Type A to modern vehicles with more spacious interiors. This size evolution is actually a reflection of Audi's commitment to balancing practicality and performance.
Audi's Plan For The Future - A Departure From Combustion Engine
Like most car manufacturers, Audi is aggressive in its future plans for EVs. In 2026, the company will start offering all-electric vehicles with plans to completely move away from combustion engines in 2033. In addition to advancing its EV lineup, Audi plans to retire some of its car models, particularly the A1 and Q2, to focus on developing new models.
