| Audi traces its origins back to 1899 and August Horch. | | | | - In March 1980, the introduction of the Audi Quattro |
| When Horch was forced out of the company he had | | | | four-wheel drive sports coupe caused a sensation on |
| founded, he started a new company in 1909 called | | | | the Audi stand at the Geneva Motor Show. The |
| Audi which was a Latin translation of Horch (in | | | | Quattro was the first high-performance vehicle with |
| German: 'Listen'). From the start, the company's policy | | | | four-wheel drive, and is regarded as the first |
| was to build cars mainly for the luxury category. | | | | successful application of four-wheel drive on a road |
| Since 1932 the Audi emblem has been the 'four rings', | | | | car. |
| which represent its amalgamation with DKW, Horch | | | | - In the late 1980s, a report by the U.S. TV show, "60 |
| and Wanderer to form Auto Union AG in Chemnitz, | | | | Minutes" rigged an Audi to perform in an uncontrolled |
| Germany. Audi supplied a wide range of passenger | | | | manner. The report impacted Audi sales badly causing |
| vehicles during the 1930s - from motorcycles to luxury | | | | the company to rename the 5000 model the 100/200 |
| saloon cars. Volkswagen bought the company in 1964. | | | | in 1989 |
| In the 1980s, Audi dominated world rally with the Audi | | | | - In 1994, the launch of the first Audi A8 with an |
| Quattro, and has had huge success in the Le Mans 24 | | | | all-aluminium body was a world first for a passenger |
| Hour with its R10 prototype racer. | | | | car. |
| Audi's progressive designs and groundbreaking | | | | - Audi's legendary slogan, 'Vorsprung durch Technik' |
| technology combine to make cars which are | | | | means Advancement through Technology |
| innovative yet stylish. The current crop of production | | | | AUDI FACTS |
| vehicles from the Audi A3 to the Audi R8 supercar | | | | - Type: Public (Xetra: NSU) |
| has propelled Audi to record sales during the 21st | | | | - Founded: 1910, Zwickau, Germany |
| century. | | | | - Headquarters: Ingolstadt, Germany |
| Audi have produced every kind of car imaginable: from | | | | - Key People: Rupert Stadler, Chairman |
| executive cars such as the Audi A4 and Audi A6 to | | | | - Industry: Automotive |
| sports cars such as the Audi TT - from the Audi Q7 | | | | - Products: Automobiles, Engines |
| full size SUV to the Audi A2 super-mini and they show | | | | - Subsidiaries: Quattro GmbH, Lamborghini S.p.A., |
| no signs of slowing down. | | | | SEAT, S.A. |
| DID YOU KNOW? | | | | |