Why are some Audi A4’s referred to as B5 or B6? What came before the A6 and when was the Audi 100 produced? These and many other code-specific answers should be in the table below:
R8
Lineage: Audi RennSport
The Audi-Porsche Genesis
Audi Sport, a name that can not be mentioned without a referral to the Group B (or rather the “Golden”) Era of the World Rally Championship in the 1980’s. While it was short-lived, it was Audi, who took the first step in creating a four-wheel drive rally car, intriguing other manufacturers like Peugeot, Lancia, MG and Ford to join the fight.
Tested: Audi S1 Sportback
The mental case
Today I bring you further evidence that Audi has gone a bit mental. Not content with building quality motor cars, their engineers have produced fine fast cars over the years. After building such monsters as R8, RS7, S8, RS4 and S3, they recently cornered the tiny A1, looked at each other and nodded quietly.
Tested: Audi S3 Cabriolet
The powerful poser
Some things just shouldn’t work, but do. Snoek and jam, leather and lace, symphonies and rock music, you get the idea. There are similarly strange combinations in the world of cars which, in theory, should be ghastly. We’ve just spent a week with one of them and it’s called an Audi S3 Cabriolet.
List: (affordable) High-rev Monsters
The fizzy champions
I’ll let you into a little secret. There’s a get-out-of-jail-free card which I will allow any car to pull no matter how terrible it may be. It’s not red paint, it’s not Xenon lights, nor is it a gigantic sound system or two-tone sports seats. Those do count for something but they can’t compete with high revs.
Tested: 2012 Audi A5 2.0TFSi quattro S-Line
The graceful style
Recently I was accused of being biased towards certain genres and brands of cars but easily defended my preferences with the fact that a car must ultimately serve its purpose. Some brands do it better than others and my love for two-door coupés is simply because they should be beautiful and sophisticated.
Tested: 2011 Audi A1 1.6 TDi Ambition
The memorable gem
After many thoughts of rejection, years of feeling inadequate and a growing inferiority complex, I finally whipped out my big red pen and made an X next to the word Audi. That’s right – for reasons unknown, this is my virgin test of an Ingolstadt car.