The history of Audi: the brand that brought innovative safety systems to the world

2023 Author: Charles Youmans | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-20 18:41

Audi AG is today one of the largest luxury car manufacturers. On the basis of this company, leading European specialists are engaged in the development, design and construction of cars. The city where the headquarters is located is Ingolstadt (Germany).

The beginning of history - 1899

Audi's history is florid and has gone through many transitions. Today the company is a huge auto concern that has absorbed Lamborghini and SEAT. However, the Audi brand itself became owned by Volkswagen AG under an agreement from 1966. Today the company is one of the three largest German manufacturers in terms of the number of products sold.

The name appeared due to the translation of the name of the founder Horch into Latin, which literally translates as "Listen". August Horch left a huge mark on history. After graduating from the Technical University, he went to the plant to the famous businessman Karl Benz, where he began to work on new engines. After years of hard work, he becomes the Head of the Automotive Division. The ambitious young man opened his own company in 1899, which five years later he was transferred to the rank of a joint-stock company and designated as the headquarters of Zwickau.

Among the first inventions is a six-cylinder engine, the presentation of which turns into a collapse and almost costs Horch's business. Things are going badly, as a hot-tempered nature becomes the cause of a quarrel with all companions. As a result, the engineer leaves his own firm. However, he does not intend to leave the automotive business, so in the near future a new company appears, named after him. To suppress competition, the former partners go to court challenging the right to the name "Horch". It was at this point that Horch renamed his new company Audi.

The first car of the new company

The first Audi model - Type A, which is based on a 22-horsepower engine with a volume of 2 612 cc, comes out already in 1910. Strengthening the structure increases the power to 28 hp. As a result, over two years of work, 137 copies are released on the market. One of these models is now in the Technical Museum in Prague, photos of Audi have been published on the network, on which you can appreciate the attempts to create a unique car.

A year later, a modification of the Audi Type B appears. It was created for taking part in races. As a result, only three models were born, which took part in the 2.5 thousand kilometers race in the Auto Alpenfart race. Of course, it was far from the ideal model, so in the next generations the errors were corrected and in 1912 version C was born, which went down in history as the "Conqueror of the Alps". This model brings three victories in the designated races in 1912, 1913 and 1914. At first, the Audi engine had a capacity of 35 hp, but was later increased to 40. The maximum speed that the Alpine Conqueror developed was 90 km / h. As a result, a number of victories, serious design decisions and a fighting spirit of the creator forced most competitors to reconsider their views on an unremarkable businessman.

Since 1911 Horch also decided to try his hand at creating premium cars. His company produces 53 of the D, which targets high-ranking officials. August III, the king of Saxony, becomes one of the owners of an elite car.

In 1912, the company tries its hand at creating the first truck, called the Audi Type Ct. The maximum weight of the transported cargo is 1 ton, and the engine power is 28 or 35 horsepower. It is worth noting the appearance in the pre-war period of two more modifications - E and G. The first went down in history as an extremely expensive model - 14,500 marks, and the second, as the owner of a unique arrangement of cylinders.

In 1920, Horch resigned from the position of director of his own company and transferred to the civil service, where he received a high position in the Ministry of Transport. As a result, he becomes a member of the directorate, which makes responsible decisions, deciding the future development of the country.

Despite the departure of the head, the company continues to develop. In 1921, the council chooses a new vector of development. The designers make a historic breakthrough in safety with the release of the first left-hand drive Audi. The replacement helped to ensure safe overtaking and improved visibility. Other car companies are beginning to copy the successful find.

Meanwhile, the lineup continues to develop. In 1923, the M model entered the arena, but only very wealthy people can buy an Audi, since the cost of one car reaches the limit of 22, 3 thousand marks, which makes the car the most expensive in Germany. Innovative features, overhead valves and braking system on all wheels make it special. The top speed was 120 km / h. The release lasts only 4 years as the price scares off buyers. An improved model comes to replace, but at a reduced price. The new Audi gets the name Audi R Imperator. Despite the price cut, buyers did not queue up either. Production is declining, and the financial condition of the company is approaching bankruptcy.

The first coup and new inventions - 1928-1939

To avoid financial ruin, the creator sells the company to businessman Jorgen Skaft Ramussen, who until that time was the owner of the motorcycle production Zschopauer Motorenwerke / DKW. The merger of the two companies takes place on the eve of the global economic crisis, so expensive and "gluttonous" cars are becoming absolutely unnecessary. Then Ramussen gives the order to create a compact car with front-wheel drive, which has no analogues yet. As a result, the engineers manage to put together what was conceived, and the car gets the name DKW F1.

The next landmark event took place in 1932 when four manufacturers - Audi, Horch, DKW and Wanderer - merged. As a result, the new company received the name Auto Union, the emblem of which became four united rings, which have survived to this day as the main distinctive sign. It is worth noting that large firms decided to merge because they did not compete with each other. The first specialized in luxury cars, the second in motorcycles and small cars, Horch focused on luxury cars, and Wanderer was the leader in the middle segment.

Audi was notoriously in a losing position. The fact is that the economic situation forced buyers to focus on inexpensive models. DKW accounted for almost 18% of all sales, while Audi got only 0.1%.

Post-war years and the rise of the brand from the bottom of the financial bottom

The Second World War inflicted devastating damage, both in production and in factory facilities, some of which were destroyed, some were exported to the Soviet Union. As a result, the Auto Union company first fell into the hands of the owners of Daimler-Benz, later in 1965 the controlling stake was bought out by Volkswagen AG. The latter planned to close their own production of the company and use the surviving factories to create their own machines.

Despite the resistance of the management, the head of the design department does not abandon the further development of Audi. The project falls into the hands of the head of the concern, Heinrich Nordhoff, who immediately sends the novelty into production. This is exactly how the history of the legendary Audi 100 sounds. Today experts say that this particular model began the history of the brand as a leader and benchmark.

The bet was made not only on the technical stuffing, but also on the Audi bodies, among which were the Audi 2 - and 4-door modifications of the sedan and fastback. They managed to keep the front-wheel drive and longitudinal engine layout. The car gained immense popularity on the territory of the Soviet Union, where mass deliveries were established. Excellent dynamics, practicality and comfort deserve positive reviews. Audi was in great demand, especially after the release of the second generation.

In 1969 the company merges with NSU Motorenwerke AG and revises its core business. Since now, engineers have been working on innovative technologies. And in 1972, the Audi 80 appears, which shares the same platform with the VW Passat. The 80th presents a compact station wagon and a sedan. A little later, the luxury version of the Audi 90 appears. The MacPherson strut front suspension and telescopic shock absorbers are already indicated here. The engine produces 54-100 hp. In 1973, the novelty manages to bypass the main competitors Alfa Romeo Alfetta and Renault 5 in the nomination "The main car of the year".

In 1974, Ferdinand Piëch became the head of the design department, who now manages all Audi processes. As the years go by, the company continues to work on strengthening the engine. Only in 1985 did they manage to take a serious step. At this time, the company was renamed Audi AG, and a gasoline turbocharged engine was introduced into the cars, galvanized and aluminum bodies, 8- and 16-cylinder Audi engines appeared. The diesel was presented in a completely new form - with direct injection.

The appearance of new models 1980-2000

On March 3, 1980, at the next motor exhibition in Geneva, a passenger car with an all-wheel drive system, the Audi Quattro, was presented. In fact, the idea of all-wheel drive was no longer new. For the first time, it was tested on the Iltis all-terrain vehicle from Volkswagen. In practice, it has been proven that handling on a snowy road is improved. The name of the model was chosen for a reason, this is how “four” sounds from Italian. At the beginning of its launch, the Quattro was not recognized due to its heavy weight and complex design. What was the surprise of critics when he began to win prizes in the races. In addition, the company has invested heavily in advertising. The video showed Quartreau climbing a ski jump.

Eight years later, the company introduced the luxury sedan Audi V8, equipped with an M8 engine and an all-wheel drive system. As a result, it produced 250 and 280 horsepower, had excellent sound insulation and corresponded to the luxury comfort of the cabin. Two years later, the Audi 100 came out with a six-cylinder V-shaped engine with 174 horsepower.

Another major change dates back to 1990, when the 80th becomes obsolete and is replaced by the Audi A4, which has a single platform with the Volkswagen Passat 5. The main innovation was the emergence of directional stability and strengthening of security systems. In 1994, version 100 is replaced by the Audi A6. The latter belongs to the business class, is equipped with biturbo engines, including diesel engines, and has a choice of both full and front-wheel drive. At the same time, a luxury car Audi A8 comes out, and after another 4 years, the Audi TT sports coupe debuts at the Geneva Motor Show, in the "heart" of which is a bi-turbo "diesel", automatic and four-wheel / front-wheel drive.

Modern Audi - what it has become in the XXI century

In 2005, the first off-road vehicle, the Audi Q7, appears in the company's lineup. Permanent four-wheel drive supports a 6-band "automatic", electronic assistants, adaptive air suspension. By this point, security systems have reached the highest level, gaining recognition in crash tests.

Not to be missed is the Audi R8 sports car. The price of this model in 2019 starts at 11.2 million rubles for the third generation. The first car boasted 4, 2 and 5, 2 liter engines, all-wheel drive and a single platform with the Lamborghini Gallardo. The main innovation is the appearance of all-LED optics in mass production.

In 2009, the company starts developing electric vehicles and demonstrates a concept car that will further "grow" into a whole family of e-tron, which includes the Audi A3, A1 and Speder. Since 2010, the Kaluga automobile enterprise has begun to assemble the Audi A6, A4, Audi A5. In addition, the local plant sheltered prefabricated workshops for the Audi Ku 5 and Ku 7. But recently, local production has been discontinued. In 2010, the German brand sets up the delivery of the Audi A7, which is still on sale. The most recent model is considered the Audi Q8 - a crossover, created according to all the canons of modern automotive industry.