Illustration of a blue Audi 100

The Four Rings with a new profile

As the standard of living rose, so did the demands people placed on their cars. The two-stroke engine could no longer meet these demands, and so the takeover by Volkswagenwerk AG and the merger with NSU Motorenwerk AG were ultimately the only chance of survival for Auto Union – albeit as part of a larger group. As the company shifted its focus to the water-cooled four-stroke engine, a new era began in Ingolstadt.

 

Auto Union Audi (1965-1972)

Illustration Auto Union Audi on a grey background

Change of pace in Ingolstadt.

This front-wheel drive saloon, as the first vehicle from Auto Union GmbH to be equipped with the new four-cylinder four-stroke engine, ushered in a new era under the resurrected Audi brand. The model name Audi would later be supplemented with a power output in PS to distinguish it from other models. The F 103 series that began with this model was built in various versions until 1972.

More details

Auto Union Audi:

  • Engine: Petrol engine, 4 inline cylinders
  • Displacement: 1,696 cm³
  • Power output: 53 kW/72 PS at 5,000 rpm
  • Top speed: 148 km/h
  • Length/width/height: 4,380/1,626/1,451 mm
  • Unladen weight: 980 kg (two-door model)

 
 

NSU Ro 80 (1967-1977)

Illustration of the Audi NSU Ro80

Form follows function.

This saloon in the upper mid-range segment was ahead of its time in terms of design and technology. It is considered the originator of what automotive designers call the wedge form, and it was one of the few production vehicles on the market to be powered by a Wankel engine. In 1968, the Ro 80 was the first German car to be named “Car of the Year”.

More details

NSU Ro 80:

  • Engine: Two-disc rotary piston engine
  • Chamber volume: 2 x 497 cm³
  • Power output: 85 kW/115 PS at 5,500 rpm
  • Top speed: 180 km/h
  • Length/width/height: 4,780/1,760/1,410 mm
  • Unladen weight: 1,290 kg

 

Audi 100 (1968-1976)

Illustration of the Audi 100 in gray on a white background

Under the radar.

The story of how the Audi 100 came into being is somewhat unusual. Although the Volkswagen Group’s Board of Management had ordered a development stop, Ludwig Kraus, then technical director of Auto Union GmbH, had the vehicle developed in secret. After receiving retrospective approval, the mid-range saloon became a big success and played a decisive role in preserving Auto Union’s independence within the Volkswagen Group.

Mehr Details

Audi 100 LS (C1):

  • Engine: Petrol engine, 4 inline cylinders 
  • Displacement: 1,760 cm³
  • Power output: 74 kW/100 PS at 5,500 rpm 
  • Top speed: 170 km/h
  • Length/width/height: 4,625/1,729/1,421 mm
  • Unladen weight: 1,050 kg

 
 

Audi 80 (1972-1978)

Illustration of a green Audi 80 against a white background

A million-seller.

The Audi 80 was the first Audi model to roll off the production line more than a million times. With its modern lightweight construction and newly developed engines, it was a trendsetter for the Volkswagen Group’s models in the 1970s, providing the basis for such cars as the VW Passat.

More details

Audi 80 GT (B1):

  • Engine: Petrol engine, 4 inline cylinders
  • Displacement: 1,588 cm³
  • Power output: 72 kW/100 PS at 5,800 rpm
  • Top speed: 173 km/h
  • Length/width/height: 4,245/1,600/1,362 mm
  • Unladen weight: 880 kg

 

Discover the other eras of the Audi product history

Illustration of the car Union SP 1000 Roadster RGB

The era of the economic miracle

After the currency reform in 1948, the need for mobility grows in Germany. Auto Union GmbH and NSU Werke AG focus on two-wheelers and automobiles.

Illustration of an Audi TT in front of a grey background

Ascent to the premium segment

In the 1980s and 1990s, Audi repositioned itself in the luxury class with innovative technology such as quattro all-wheel drive, lightweight aluminium construction and powerful, highly efficient engines.

Illustration of the Horch 1

The beginnings

Audi and its predecessor brands were among the pioneers of automotive engineering at the beginning of the 20th century. The brands covered all vehicle segments, producing everything from entry-level to luxury models.

Illustration of the Audi front on a grey background

United to form Auto Union AG

With the merger of Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer to form Auto Union AG in 1932, the manufacturers ensure their survival in the crisis thanks to synergies and segmentation.

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Notice: All consumption and emission values are based on the characteristics of the German market.