Audi Little Known Facts

Name: Audi
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Audi's origins: The company was founded in 1909 by August Horch, who left his former employer, the German automobile manufacturer DKW (Dampf-Kraft-Wagen or steam-powered vehicle), after a disagreement over naming rights.
The name "Audi": The name "Audi" is derived from the Latin word for "listen." This was chosen because Horch's former company had already used his last name, which in German means "car" (the same meaning as the first letter of his last name).
Audi's early models: The first Audi car, the Type A 4/8 horsepower, was produced in 1909 and featured a 1.5-liter engine.
The Four Rings: In 1932, Auto Union (which included Audi) merged with DKW, Wanderer, and Dixi to form the Auto Union company, which later became AUDI AG. The four interlocking rings on Audi's logo represent each of these companies: DKW, Wanderer, Dixi, and Audi.
Audi during World War II: During World War II, the factory produced military equipment, including aircraft engines and munitions, but not cars.
The DKW connection: In addition to being a competitor, DKW was also a supplier of engines to Auto Union (later AUDI AG).
Ingolstadt, Germany: Audi's headquarters are located in Ingolstadt, which is a small town about 60 km north of Munich.
Audi's racing heritage: In the early years of car racing, Audi had significant success with its racing cars, including the legendary "Auto Union Type C" racing car from the 1930s.
The birthplace of quattro: In 1980, Audi released the first production car with a permanent all-wheel-drive system (quattro), which was originally designed for rally racing.
The most powerful car ever made: The Bugatti Veyron's cousin, the Audi Veyron (an experimental car developed by Volkswagen Group) held the record for the fastest production car in 1998 at 407 km/h (253 mph).
Audi's involvement with Formula One: In 2006, AUDI AG acquired a majority stake in the North American division of Spyker F1 team and became a partner in the Audi F1 engine project.
The electric car pioneer: In 1899, the first electric car produced by Audi (then known as DKW) was launched in Germany.
Audi's design awards: The company has won numerous prestigious international design awards, including the Red Dot and iF Design Awards.
Audi's partnership with Lamborghini: Since 1994, AUDI AG has owned a majority stake in Lamborghini, which is also a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.
The Audi TTS and TT model line: Introduced in 1998, the TTS/TT model line was originally intended to be based on the original TT, but development led to the creation of an entirely new car: the TT S, which later became known as the TTS (TT Sport).
Audi's commitment to sustainability: The company has made significant investments in electric vehicles and alternative fuels, aiming to become carbon neutral by 2050.
The legendary Audi S1 Egoista Concept Car: Unveiled at the 2013 Wörthersee Tour in Germany, this concept car celebrated the 20th anniversary of the first-generation TT and boasted an astonishing top speed of 310 km/h (193 mph).
Audi's involvement with e-tron series: The Audi e-tron is a line of electric vehicles launched by AUDI AG, with the goal of becoming one of the leading companies in the electric vehicle market.
The world's first 8-cylinder engine from Audi: In 1936, Auto Union (Audi) developed an 8-cylinder inline engine for its cars, a major achievement at that time.
The Audi TT and Lamborghini Huracan partnership: A collaboration between the two companies resulted in the development of the Lamborghini Huracán Performante, which shares some mechanical components with the Audi R18 racing car.
Audi's pioneering work in lightweight construction: The company has led the way in using high-strength steel, aluminum and magnesium alloys to reduce vehicle weight while maintaining performance and comfort.
The most recent partnership between Audi and Lamborghini: A joint development agreement for a hybrid powertrain that will be applied across both brands' respective product lines was announced in 2017.
Audi's participation at the 24 hours of Le Mans: The company has had success with its racing team, including taking multiple victories at the famous 24-hour endurance event.
The involvement of Porsche and Audi together for electrification: In March 2020, both companies started working on a joint platform for electric vehicles.
Audi's record in Nürburgring lap times: The company has set numerous records with various models at the famous Nordschleife circuit.
First car factory to get certified as carbon neutral: Audi's Ingolstadt plant was officially recognized by the Science-Based Targets initiative for achieving carbon neutrality back in 2017.
The largest electric SUV maker in Europe: As of Q1 2020, AUDI AG became the top-selling manufacturer of electric SUVs in Europe with the e-tron series alone.
Audi's investment into artificial intelligence and robotics: The company has made strategic investments in AI startups like Baidu (Chinese leading search engine) for leveraging their expertise in automotive tech advancements.
Record production at Ingolstadt plant: Over 150,000 Audi cars left the Ingolstadt factory during the pandemic year of 2020-21.
Audi's electric vehicle battery innovation: Their engineers have made key contributions to developing and using batteries with better durability in harsher conditions for e-tron variants.