| Audi produces 100% galvanized vehicles to | | | | giving this model a choice of 4, 5 and 6 |
| prevent corrosion. Along with other | | | | cylinder engines, in sedan, coupe and |
| precautionary measures, the thus achieved | | | | cabriolet body styles. |
| full-body zinc coating has proved to be very | | | | |
| effective in preventing rust and corrosion | | | | The 5 cylinder was soon dropped as a major |
| perforation. The body's resulting durability | | | | engine choice; however, a turbocharged 230hp |
| even surpassed Audi's own expectations, | | | | (169kW) version remained. The engine, |
| causing the manufacturer to extend its | | | | initially fitted to the 200 quattro 20V of |
| original 10-year warranty against corrosion | | | | 1991, was a derivative of the engine fitted |
| perforation to currently 12 years. An | | | | to the Sport Quattro. It was fitted to the |
| all-aluminium car was brought forward by | | | | Audi Coupe and named the S2 and also to the |
| Audi, and in 1994 the Audi A8 was launched, | | | | Audi 100 body, and named the S4. These two |
| which introduced aluminum space frame | | | | models were the beginning of the |
| technology. Audi introduced a new series of | | | | mass-produced S series of performance cars. |
| vehicles in the mid-nineties and continues to | | | | |
| pursue leading-edge technology and high | | | | The Audi A8 replaced the V8 in 1994, with a |
| performance. | | | | revolutionary Aluminium Space Frame (ASF) to |
| | | | save weight. The weight reduction was offset |
| The all-aluminum concept was extended to the | | | | by the quattro all-wheel drive system. It |
| company's new sub-compact, the Audi A2 which | | | | meant the car had similar performance to its |
| was launched in 2001, although this model was | | | | rivals, but far superior handling. |
| withdrawn from production late in 2005 as the | | | | |
| costs of producing an all-aluminium small car | | | | The next major model change was in 1995 when |
| proved too high for many buyers looking for a | | | | the Audi A4 replaced the Audi 80. The new |
| small semi-luxurious car. The aluminium body | | | | nomenclature scheme was applied to the Audi |
| has proved better suited to larger executive | | | | 100 to become the Audi A6 (with a minor |
| models such as the large A8 saloon. | | | | facelift). This also meant the S4 became the |
| | | | S6 and a new S4 was introduced in the A4 |
| In all its post Volkswagen-era models, Audi | | | | body. The S2 was discontinued. The Audi |
| has firmly refused to adopt the traditional | | | | Cabriolet continued on (based on the Audi 80 |
| rear wheel drive layout favoured by its two | | | | platform) until 1999, gaining the engine |
| arch rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW, favouring | | | | upgrades along the way. A new A3 hatchback |
| either front wheel drive or all wheel drive. | | | | model (sharing the Volkswagen Golf Mk.4's |
| To achieve this, Audi has usually engineered | | | | platform) was introduced to the range in |
| its cars with a longitudinally mounted engine | | | | 1996, and the radical TT coupe and roadster |
| mounted in an "overhung" position over the | | | | were debuted in 1998 based on the same |
| front wheels - in front of the axle line. | | | | underpinnings. Another interesting model |
| While this allows for equal length | | | | introduced was the Mercedes-Benz A-Class |
| driveshafts (therefore combatting torque | | | | competitor, the Audi A2. The model sold |
| steer), and the easy adoption of all-wheel | | | | relatively well in Europe, however, the A2 |
| drive, it goes against the ideal 50/50 weight | | | | was discontinued in 2005 and Audi decided not |
| distribution. For this reason, most still | | | | to develop an immediate replacement. |
| believed that BMW still have the edge over | | | | |
| Audi in terms of dynamic prowess, although | | | | The engines available throughout the range |
| this will be addressed with the forthcoming | | | | were now a 1.4L, 1.6L and 1.8L 4 cylinder, |
| A5 coupe in 2007, which will feature the | | | | 1.8L 4-cylinder turbo, 2.6L and 2.8L V6, 2.2L |
| engine mounted behind the front wheels. | | | | turbo-charged 5 cylinder and the 4.2L V8. The |
| | | | V6s were replaced by new 2.4L and 2.8L 30V |
| In the 1970s, two vehicle manufacturers Audi | | | | V6s in 1998, with marked improvement in |
| and Subaru designed their own all wheel drive | | | | power, torque and smoothness. Further engines |
| systems in passenger vehicles. In the 1980s, | | | | were added along the way, including a 3.7L V8 |
| all-wheel drive systems in cars became a fad, | | | | and 6.0L W12 for the A8.At the turn of the |
| and other German manufacturers like Porsche, | | | | century, Audi introduced the direct-shift |
| BMW and Mercedes-Benz offered all-wheel drive | | | | gearbox, or DSG, a manual transmission |
| systems in their cars to compete in the | | | | drivable like an automatic transmission. The |
| marketplace, along with GM, Ford, Toyota and | | | | system includes dual electrohydraulically |
| others. Unfortunately, the all-wheel drive | | | | controlled clutches instead of a torque |
| system in the Mercedes-Benz vehicles were | | | | converter. This is implemented in some |
| riddled with problems right from the design | | | | Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 and TT models. The |
| sheet. The system also was not popular in | | | | engine range was continually upgraded, with a |
| Porsche vehicles because owners wanted the | | | | 2.7L twin turbo V6 being offered in the Audi |
| traditional performance of the rear wheel | | | | S4, A6 and allroad, while the 2.8L V6 was |
| drive they got used to in older Porsches. | | | | replaced by a 3.0L unit. |
| Although Porsche and Mercedes-Benz offer | | | | |
| all-wheel-drive systems in some cars and | | | | In 2001, Audi released a high performance |
| trucks today, neither manufacturer is as | | | | version of the A8, dubbed S8. It featured a |
| well-known for all-wheel-drive technology as | | | | 360-horsepower 4.2L V8 with 317 torque. |
| is Audi. Today, after over 25 years of | | | | |
| class-leading technology and engineering, the | | | | New models of the A3, A4, A6 and A8 have been |
| name quattro is an identifiable symbol and | | | | introduced, with the aging 1.8 litre engine |
| trademark that shows would-be competitors the | | | | now having been replaced by new FSI (Fuel |
| level of quality they have to achieve in | | | | Stratified Injection) engines. Nearly every |
| order to attempt to compete with Audi. | | | | petrol model in the range now incorporates |
| Unfortunately, Audi have recently applied the | | | | this fuel-saving technology, including the |
| quattro badge to models such as the A3 and TT | | | | following: |
| which do not actually use the quattro | | | | |
| four-wheel drive system, but VW's Synchro | | | | 1.6 litre 4 cylinder 115bhp, 2.0 litre 4 |
| modified front wheel drive systems. | | | | cylinder 150bhp (Slowly being phased out in |
| | | | order to make way for TSI engines - see |
| In the 1980s, Audi was the champion of the | | | | section below), 2.0 litre 4 cylinder 200bhp, |
| inline 5 cylinder, 2.1/2.2 L engine as a | | | | 2.0 litre 4 cylinder 220bhp, 3.2 litre V6 |
| longer lasting alternative to more | | | | 250-260bhp, 4.2 litre V8 350bhp, 4.2 litre V8 |
| traditional 6 cylinder engines. This engine | | | | 414bhp, & 5.2 litre V10 450bhp. |
| was used not only in production cars but also | | | | |
| in their race cars. The 2.1L inline 5 | | | | Other engines on sale and featuring in |
| cylinder engine was used as a base for the | | | | products of the Audi brand include: |
| rally cars in the 1980s, providing well over | | | | |
| 400 horsepower (298kW) after modification. | | | | 1.6 litre 4 cylinder 102bhp, 1.9 litre TDi |
| Before 1990, there were engines produced with | | | | 105bhp, 2.0 litre TDi 140bhp, 2.0 litre TDi |
| a displacement between 2.0L and 2.3L. This | | | | 170bhp, 2.7 litre TDi 180bhp, 3.0 litre TDi |
| range of engine capacity was a good | | | | 233bhp, & 4.2 litre TDi 326bhp. All TDi |
| combination of good fuel economy (which was | | | | models are diesels. |
| on the mind of every motorist in the 1980s) | | | | |
| and, of course, a good amount of power. | | | | As a premium member of the VW Group, |
| | | | technologies are frequently first introduced |
| Through the early 1990s, Audi began to move | | | | to the mass market in Audi vehicles before |
| more towards the position of being a real | | | | being 'trickled down' to more value oriented |
| competitor in its target market against | | | | brands such as VW, SEAT and Å koda. Recent |
| Mercedes-Benz and BMW. This began with the | | | | examples of this include a number of the FSI |
| release of the Audi V8 in 1990. It was | | | | engines mentioned above, as well as the |
| essentially a new engine fitted to the Audi | | | | quick-shifting DSG automatic gearbox option. |
| 100/200, but with noticeable bodywork | | | | |
| differences. Most obvious was the new grille | | | | TSI technology was introduced to the |
| that was now incorporated in the bonnet. | | | | Volkswagen Golf early in 2006. These engines |
| | | | use, initially at least, a capacity of 1.4 |
| By 1991, Audi had the 4 cylinder Audi 80, the | | | | litres combined with both a turbo- and |
| 5 cylinder Audi 90 and Audi 100, the | | | | super-charger to produce a high power output, |
| turbocharged Audi 200 and the Audi V8. There | | | | with lower levels of harmful carbon dioxide |
| was also a coupe version of the 80/90 with | | | | emissions and improved fuel economy when |
| both 4 and 5 cylinder engines. | | | | compared with a non-turbo or super-charged |
| | | | engine of a high capacity, such as 2.0 |
| Although the five cylinder engine was a | | | | litres. The 1.4 litre TSI engine currently on |
| successful and very robust powerplant, it was | | | | sale in VW's Golf produces outputs of 140 and |
| still a little too different for the target | | | | 170bhp. These engines have proved popular |
| market. With the introduction of an all-new | | | | amongst the motoring press in Britain and |
| Audi 100 in 1992, Audi introduced a 2.8L V6 | | | | could soon be filtered into the Audi range, |
| engine. This engine was also fitted to a | | | | with a possibility of featuring in the A3 and |
| face-lifted Audi 80 (all 80 and 90 models | | | | A4 models, as well as maybe featuring in SEAT |
| were now badged 80 except for the USA), | | | | and Skoda's model ranges sometime soon. |