History of Audi

Audi, the German company specialising on car manufacturing. Enters into concern "Volkswagen". The Headquarters is in Ingolstadt.

Company "Audi" has been based in 1909 August Horch. Its roots leave to nonexistent nowadays, but firm Horch not less well-known in the past shining in a German sky at the time of the third Reich. In 1899 talented inventor August Horch and the Company »which in 4 years got over in Zwickkau based in Mannheim firm«. In 1909 it constructed new rather unsuccessful 6-cylinder motor which hardly was did not result firm on a bankruptcy side that very much revolted its partners, decided to finish with the zealous inventor and to expel it from own firm. But Horch there and then nearby based other company which, naturally, too carried the name "Horch". Its former partners, feeling in young firm of the strong competitor, brought an action against Horch with the requirement to change the firm name. According to a judgement, the new enterprise for release of cars could not carry name Horch, and Avgust Horch addressed to worldwide market to a variant of the former name: to a word Horch, in German meaning "listen", became Audi. So in 1909 the well-known trade mark and not less well-known company "Audi" was born.

The first car under Audi-A name has been exhausted in 1910. The next year Audi-century model such Three cars Horch followed exposed in June 1911 on the first races of Auto Alpenfart in the Austrian Alpes of nearby 2500 km which came in the stead of the well-known run on a prize of German prince Henry.

In 1912 there was the most known model — Audi-with. Same year its first samples passed serious check on the next Alpine races and achieved quite good results, for what From a steel to name cars of a series "Alpenziger".

In 20th years Audi firm stood on the verge of bankruptcy. It had to merge with other firm.
In 1928 company has been got German DKW, Jorgen Skafte Rasmussen became the owner of Audi.
In 1932 economic crisis jogged a number of German firms to concern Auto Union creation ("Auto Union"). It included along with DKW and Wanderer ("Vanderer") the former firms-contenders "Horch" and "Audi". The concern exhausted two models equipped with a forward control and engines Wanderer. Cars well were on sale up to the Second World War beginning.

After the Second World War of Audi and other firms-partners on Auto Union have been nationalised. They were transformed to division «by Associations of the national enterprises for release of cars».

In 1949 Auto Union ("Mercedes Benz") has been reformed thanks to attraction of the majority of actions of firm of Mercedes-Benz.

In 1958 Daimler-Benz AG got controlling interest Auto Union, but then sold their Volkswagen. After transition in 1965 controlling interests to Volkswagen, Audi name began to be applied again. Soon after that events the new car with a forward control has been exhausted, and already by the end 1968 Audis came back to the market, having good assortment of models and the excellent statistics of sales. As an emblem four circles symbolising an event in 1932 interflow of four companies have been kept.

Model "100″ which has appeared in the market in 1968, and also its followers including well-known for Audi Quattro, 4 wheels differed a sports cross-section and a drive gear on all that was a new mark in motor industry of Germany. Model Quattro which has appeared in 1980, gave powerful spur to development of the automobile industry and brought to Audi firm, Volkswagen branch, a world fame. It was the easy, fast car Grand Turismo with magnificent stability, type of the car for rally. It was difficult to competitors to compete with it rally car Audi Quattro. The model exclusively successfully acted in a several auto racing.

In 1969 concern of Volkswagen bought Neckarsulmer Automobilwerke («Automobile factory in Nekkarzulme», NSU). As a result the firm name changed, the firm began to be called as Audi NSU Auto Union, and in the summer 1985 name of firm has been transformed again to Audi AG.

With 1970 wide export of Audi to the United States began. At first export to the USA was limited to Audi Super 90 (a sedan and the versatile person). And also new Audi 100. Since 1973 Audi 80 joined them. Which, unlike the European variant, existed and as the versatile person of Audi 80 (actually VW Passat Variant with higher level of a complete set). After Audi model received in the market of the USA own designations: Audi 4000 for Audi 80. Audi 5000 for Audi 100. However repeating cases of infringements of liability of the producer for the production from the midpoint of 80th years led to recession of deliveries of Audi in the USA.

In 1980 all-wheel drive sporty coupe the huge attention at Audi stand on the Geneva motor show drew. For the first time the passenger all-wheel drive high-power car was offered in the form of Audi quattro with the concept of the all wheel drive used till now only in lorries and off-road cars. The idea of such car arose in the winter 1976/77 during test runs on off-road car VW Iltis developed for the Bundeswehr. The magnificent behaviour of this car at movement on ice and snow led to thought to introduce all wheel drive VW Iltis in serial Audi 80. Also the variant of the raised capacity – presented in the autumn of 1979 five-cylinder turbo engine 2.2 l by power of 147 kw / 200 l has been developed. With.

In 1982 Audis 80 Quattro started to a large-lot production of a constant all wheel drive. Gradually the concept Quattro began to be offered as well for other series of models of Audi.

On the basis of Audi 80 the sporty coupe (Audi Coupe) which debuted in the end of 1993 was issued. The version with a body a cabriolet has been presented for the first time in Geneva in 1991. This veteran of family of Audi in the middle of 2000 has been laid off. Since 1992 them made about 72 thousand piece

In December, 1990 new Audi 100 (internal designation С4) which for the first time in history the enterprises began to be offered also with the six-cylinder engine of the V-shaped form has been presented. Compact (128 kw. 174 l. With.) the strong unit with a working volume of the engine of 2.8 liters was the shortest and easy in the class.

Audi A4 is the successor of Audi 80, issued in 1986-1994 For the first time has been presented in October 1994.
In 2001 versatile person А4 Avant and coupe-cabriolet А4 Cabrio who receives a collapsible rigid roof (as Mercedes-Benz SLK) was issued and, obviously, will prepare at firm Karmann factory.

Audi A8 a leader of a lineup of Audi for the first time has been shown in February 1994
In May, 1994 to public presented five-seater RS2 Avant with 2,2-liter 315- hp turbo engine.
Audi A3 model is created on platform Golf IV. The first display of model took place in June, 1996. Audi A3 manufacture began in 1997.

Audi A6 for the first time has been presented with a body a sedan in Geneva on a showroom in 1997. In February 1998 model А6 Avant with a body the versatile person has been presented. All models of platform С4 laid off in the summer of 1997 in connection with development absolutely new A6 (4B-type).

From the moment of display of conceptual Audi A2 in the autumn 1997 г, prior to the beginning of a batch production (the beginning of 2000) models А2 passed hardly more than two years. So Audi had a new family of cars of the European dimensional class of Century

AUDI S4/S4 Avante/RS4, high-power sports version of Audi A4 with the engine 2,7-V6-Biturbo. For the first time has been presented on a showroom in Frankfurt am Main in 1997. In 1999 version RS4 Avante with the engine 2,7-V6-Biturbo (380 l has been presented. With.).

"Sports" complete sets S6/S6 Avant appeared in the autumn of 1996.
The sports car of Audi TT with a coupe body has been presented for the first time in Geneva in September 1998, with a body a roadster — in August 1999. The model prototype has been presented in 1995 on a showroom in Frankfurt am Main.

AUDI S3, sports version of Audi A3 with the engine 1,8 20V with a turbo-supercharging and the all-wheel drive transmission, possessing high capacity. For the first time has been presented in March 1999.

AUDI S8, high-power sports version of Audi A8 with the engine 4,2 V8 and an all wheel drive. For the first time has been shown in the beginning 1998.

Audi All-road, model off road on the basis of A6 Avant, for the first time has been presented in February 2000.
Now Audi, being concern part of "Volkswagen" company group, endures rough lifting. The similar success became possible thanks to new workings out of firm.

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