Auto Union and Neckarsulm-based NSU, which is located close to Stuttgart, amalgamated in 1969. The NSU Prinz, whose TT and TTS versions are still in demand as vintage race cars, was one of the company’s tiny automobiles. NSU had previously been the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. NSU then concentrated on developing new rotary engines based on Felix Wankel’s theories. The new NSU Ro 80 was an automobile that, in 1967, was well ahead of its time in terms of technical aspects including aerodynamics, light weight, and safety. The independence of NSU was, however, ended by rotary engine teething issues. The larger Audi models A6 and A8 are currently produced in the Neckarsulm factory. The “quattro GmbH,” a company in charge of the development and manufacture of the R8 and the RS model line of Audi high-performance vehicles, is based in the Neckarsulm facility.
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Modern era
With its headquarters at NSU’s Neckarsulm plant, the newly combined business, known as Audi NSU Auto Union AG, was established on 1 January 1969. This was the first time since the pre-war era that Audi emerged as a distinct brand. For the 1970 model year, Volkswagen launched the Audi brand in the United States. The mid-sized automobile that NSU had been developing, the K70, which was originally supposed to sit between the futuristic NSU Ro 80 and the rear-engined Prinz models, was instead introduced as a Volkswagen that same year.
Following the 1968 introduction of the Audi 100, the 1972 Audi 80/Fox (which served as the inspiration for the 1973 Volkswagen Passat) and the 1974 Audi 50 (eventually rebadged as the Volkswagen Polo) followed. Because it was the initial iteration of the Golf/Polo concept, which eventually resulted in a very popular global automobile, the Audi 50 was a crucial design. In the end, the Audi 80 and 100the predecessors of the A4 and A6, respectivelybecame the company’s top sellers, while the dwindling NSU lineup received little attention. The Prinz models were discontinued in 1973, and the fatally flawed NSU Ro80 was discontinued in 1977, effectively putting an end to the NSU brand. As the 1970s went on, production of the Audi 100 gradually shifted from Ingolstadt to Neckarsulm, and by the time the second generation C2 variant was introduced in 1976, full production had shifted to the former NSU facility. From that point forward, higher-end Audi vehicles would be made in Neckarsulm.
The request by chassis engineer Jrg Bensinger[26] to adapt the four-wheel drive system in Volkswagen’s Iltis military vehicle for an Audi performance car and rally racing car was approved because the company’s reputation at the time was conservative. The performance vehicle, known as the “Audi Quattro,” debuted in 1980. It was a turbocharged coup and the first German large-scale production automobile with permanent all-wheel drive via a center differential. Few of these cars were made (they were all hand-built by a single team), but the model was a great success in rallying. It is commonly known as the “Ur-Quattro” (the “Ur-” prefix is a German augmentative used, in this case, to mean “original” and is applied to the first generation of Audi’s S4 and S6 Sport Saloons, as in “UrS4” and “UrS6”). All-wheel-drive racecars were proven to be viable by notable victories, and the name Audi came to represent advancements in automobile technology.
The Auto Union and NSU brands had mostly died out by 1985, therefore the company’s full name was now Audi AG. In addition, two new wholly owned subsidiaries, Auto Union GmbH and NSU GmbH, were established to own and manage the historical trademarks and intellectual property of the original constituent companies (with the exception of Horch, which had been retained by Daimler-Benz after the VW takeover) and to run Audi’s heritage operations. At the same time, the company’s headquarters relocated back to Ingolstadt.
What was the original name of Audi?
German automaker AUDI AG makes vehicles under the Audi brand. The Volkswagen Group includes it. The Latinized version of founder August Horch’s last name, which is the German word for “listen,” served as the inspiration for the name Audi. Germany’s Ingolstadt serves as the home base for Audi.
August Horch, a pioneer in the automobile industry, established August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH in Germany on July 16, 1909. A short while later, he changed the company’s name to Audi Automobilwerke, the Latin version of his last name.
To become Auto Union AG in 1932, Audi merged with Horch, DKW, and Wanderer. The brands Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer are represented by the four rings of the Audi logo. The four interconnected rings were a unique feature of Auto Union AG’s racing cars prior to World War II. The names and logos of the member companies were used.
On September 3rd, 1949, Auto Union GmbH was founded in Ingolstadt after a series of adjustments as WWII drew to a close.
On April 24, 1958, Daimler-Benz AG purchased the bulk of Auto Union GmbH’s shares, followed by the remaining ones. Auto Union was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Stuttgart-based Daimler Group from this day until the end of 1965.
Of December 1964, Volkswagenwerk AG bought the bulk of the stock in Auto Union GmbH; towards the end of 1966, Audi became a fully owned VW subsidiary.
The newly acquired NSU Motorenwerke AG by VW and the Ingolstadt-based Auto Union GmbH amalgamated to establish Audi NSU Auto Union AG in March 1969.
A four-wheel-drive sports coup was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1980. The first four-wheel-drive high-performance car was the Audi Quattro. Only trucks and off-road vehicles had previously utilised this drive concept. The Audi Quattro’s permanent all-wheel-drive technology was an international racing sensation that eventually made its way into the full lineup of Audi vehicles.
Audi NSU Auto Union AG changed its name to AUDI AG in January 1985. The business also relocated its headquarters from Ingolstadt at the same time. From that point on, both the firm and the cars shared the same name.
What does the word “Audi” mean?
Logo? Of course! When the Auto Union AG was established about 90 years ago, that was also their first thought. How four businesses eventually evolved into four rings and the world-renowned AUDI AG. And here’s why the process of sand painting is so crucial to the creation of logos:
“A good logo is one that your big toe can carve into the sand. Kurt Weidemann, a well-known type designer and graphic artist, said as much (19222011). Based on his statements, the designers’ directions could have been straightforward and basic yet nonetheless clever and memorable nearly 90 years ago. In 1932, the four businesses Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer merged to establish Auto Union AG, which later changed its name to AUDI AG. The business also need a new logo. The creation of the four interlocking rings.
What products did Audi produce during World War Two?
Some of Audi’s factories were used to produce tanks and airplane engines for the military during the war.
Based on their study and access to the Audi archives, Kukowski and Boch said that Auto Union’s management bore “Founder Dr. Richard Bruhn, a Nazi party member, bears primary moral accountability for the use of slave labor.
From 1932, the year that Auto Union was created, through 1945, and again after the firm was restored post-war, Bruhn served as its chairman of the board.
Audi’s website refers to Bruhn as the “The Auto Union’s founder passed away in 1964.
“According to Peter Mosch, the head of the Audi works council, “I’m really astonished by the scope of the former Auto Union leadership’s role in the system of forced and slave labor.” “He continued, “I was unaware of the scope [of this involvement].
After merging with Volkswagen, the parent company of Audi, in 1965, Auto Union dropped its previous name in 1985.
The German auto industry established a fund a decade ago to recompense Nazi slave laborers and their relatives. According to the Daily Mail, Audi contributed millions to that fund.
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What vehicle introduced seat belts?
A three-point belt is a unified, Y-shaped design that resembles the separate lap and sash belts. Similar to the separate lap-and-sash belt, the three-point belt distributes the force of the moving body over the chest, pelvis, and shoulders in the event of a collision. In 1959, Volvo unveiled the first three-point safety belt for mass manufacture. [27] On August 13, 1959, a Volvo PV 544 was delivered to a dealer in Kristianstad and became the first automobile with a three-point belt. The 1959 Volvo 122, which had a two-point seat belt when it was first delivered in 1958 but was later upgraded to a three-point seat belt, was the first automobile model to come standard with a three-point seat belt. [28] Nils Bohlin, who had before worked on ejection seats at Saab, created the three-point belt. [29] In the interest of safety, Volvo then opened up the new seat belt design patent and made it freely available to other automakers. [30] [31]
Who is an Audi driver?
Audi motorists are The majority of Audi drivers are males between the ages of 25 and 39 who live in London or Scotland. They tend to be Conservative party supporters and are more likely to work in the business, consulting, or advertising/marketing/public relations fields professionally.
What does “a4” in an Audi mean?
The A stands for Audi, and the four stands for a standard four-cylinder engine, likely the only one available at the time the vehicle was produced. The same logic applies to the A6 and A8.
Ford owns Audi, right?
The major automakers with present presences in the United States are listed below, along with the brands they sell.
BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce are all owned by BMW Group. Smart and Mercedes-Benz are owned by Daimler AG. Lincoln and Ford are owned by Ford Motor Co. Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac all belong to General Motors. Hummer is back as a GMC subsidiary brand. In order to co-develop EVs, GM and Honda have an official collaboration. Acura and Honda are owned by Honda Motor Co. It collaborates with GM. Sony Honda Mobility is the name of the electric vehicle firm they founded with Sony. Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia are all owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Mazda is owned by Mazda Motor Corp. Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Infiniti are all owned by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Following the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A., a new company called Stellantis was created. According to the explanation, the word is derived from the Latin verb “stello,” which means “to dazzle with stars.” Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram are now under Stellantis and are FCA brands that are offered in the United States. Other Stellantis automobile brands include Citroen, DS Automobiles, Opel, Peugeot, and Vauxhall. Subaru is owned by Subaru Corp. Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by Tata Motors. Owned by Tesla. Lexus and Toyota are owned by Toyota Motor Corp. Additionally, it owns stock in Suzuki and Subaru. The automotive brand VinFast, along with VinHomes, VinBigData, VinBioCare, and VinBrain, are all owned by VinGroup. Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Volkswagen are all brands owned by Volkswagen AG. Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus are all brands owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH).
A and S Models
Sedans or hatchbacks are the types of Audi cars that start with the letter A. The size of the car increases as the next number increases. Accordingly, the A3 is Audi’s smallest sedan, while the A8 is their biggest.
The majority of Audi sedans and hatchbacks have a model that starts with the letter S. Sport, denoted by the letter S, refers to a bigger, more potent engine with more horsepower and torque. For instance, the S6 resembles the A6 in terms of look but has an 8-cylinder, 450-horsepower engine as opposed to the A6’s, which has a 6-cylinder, 333-horsepower engine.
Q Models
Q stands for quattro, the renowned all-wheel drive system from Audi. SUVs, crossovers, and wagons that begin with the letter Q always have quattro as standard equipment. The Q3 is the smallest and the Q7 is the largest, just like with Audi cars.
R Models
Roadsters with mid-engines and two seats, like the R8, are performance sports cars. Audi Space Frame, a high strength aluminum frame with integrated panels that is lighter and stronger than conventional steel, serves as the foundation for the body of these vehicles.
RS Models
RS stands for “Rennsport,” which is the German equivalent of “Race-Sport.” The most powerful and high-performing Audi models are called RS models. Audi typically only makes one RS model at a time, and the current RS 7 boasts a staggering 605 horsepower TFSI engine that accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in under 3.3 seconds.
TT Models
The Tourist Trophy, a motorcycle racing competition held on the Isle of Man for more than a century, inspired the naming of TT models, which deviate from the naming convention’s set norms. Compact sports vehicles known as TT variants have transversely mounted turbocharged engines. The TT is offered in the aforementioned S and RS variants.
Why are Audis famous?
This German luxury brand is renowned for its performance, beautifully designed interiors, and iconic Quattro all-wheel-drive system, as well as for its technology and style. Almost every model has a premium cabin and is a reliable performer. The cabin is quiet, and the ride and handling are good. Audi, like many other automakers, is progressively introducing more electric cars; the brand labels these models E-Tron. Currently, Audis are considered to be a reliable brand.
Since when do airbags exist?
In the 1970s, passenger car airbags were first made available in the US. Ford began producing airbag-equipped prototype vehicles in 1971, when the nation’s seatbelt usage rates were far lower than they are now. 200 Mercury Montereys were part of the fleet run by Allstate, which demonstrated the airbags’ dependability and functionality in crash tests and marketed them in well-known magazine commercials. [33] 1973 saw the introduction of full-sized Chevrolet automobiles from General Motors. Seven fatalities occurred in the initial fleet of experimental GM vehicles with airbags, and one of those deaths was subsequently thought to be related to the airbag. [34]
In full-sized Cadillac,[35] Buick, and Oldsmobile models, GM introduced its ACRS system in 1974 as a normal manufacturing option (RPO code AR3). This system included a padded lower dashboard and a passenger-side air bag. There was a driver-side airbag and a driver-side knee restraint in the 1970s GM vehicles with ACRS. [36] Both front passengers were protected by the passenger-side airbag, which unlike most modern systems had a knee and torso cushion and had a dual-stage deployment determined by the power of the crash. All sitting positions in the ACRS-equipped vehicles had lap belts, however there were no shoulder belts. The driver and outer front passenger of closed automobiles without airbags were already required to wear shoulder belts in the US, but GM decided to promote its airbags as an alternative. This option cost US$225 in 1974, US$300 in 1975, and US$340 in 1976 (US$1,619 in 2021 dollars [37]) for Cadillac vehicles.
Early airbag research took place at a time when auto safety laws was gaining attention on a global scale. Some safety experts favored an occupant protection standard that was performance-based rather than one that required a specific technical solution (which could rapidly become outdated and prove to not be a cost-effective approach). Other ideas, however, received less attention as nations successfully imposed seatbelt requirements. [28]