Audi

D, 1910 – 1939, 1965 to date

(1) Audi Automobilwerke GmbH, Zwickau/Sachsen, 1910 – 1939

(2) Auto Union GmbH, Ingolstadt, 1965 – 1969

(3) Audi N.S.U. Auto Union AG, Ingolstadt, 1969 to date

After leaving the firm A. Horch, which he had founded, August Horch started a new company in 1909 which he at first named August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH, also in Zwickau. He was not allowed to use his own name for the new company, however, so he chose the name ‘Audi’ which is the latinized form of Horch. The first Audi for sale was the B 10/28ps with a 2.612cc engine which appeared in 1910, and was an immediate success. In the Austrian Alpine Trials in 1911 Horch himself drove one of these Audi cars without incurring any penalty points. He was also successful with the same type Audi in the same event in 1912. In 1912 the Audi Type C 14/35ps appeared. In a short-wheelbase version, it became a very well-known completion car and was called the Alpensieger because of its successes in the Austrian Alpine Trials of 1913 and 1914. Other pre-World War 1 Audi models were the Audi D 18/45ps and the Audi E 22/50ps. After the war the Audi G 8/28ps appeared as a new model and types C, D and E were carried were carried on. The 1922 ohv Audi type K succeeded the C, the 3.5-litre engine developing 50bhp. With the type Audi M 18/70ps ohc 6-cylinder of 1924 Audi started a range of 6- and 8-cylinder cars. The 1928 type Audi R or Audi Imperator 8-cylinder model for sale with a 4.872cc 100bhp engine was the last true Audi; all the following Audi-models were to some extent assembled cars.

J.S. Rasmussen became the main shareholder of Audi in 1928. He had acquired Rickenbacker machinery lines from the USA and engines of Rickenbacker type were fitted to the Zwickau (8-cylinder 4.371cc and 5130cc) and Dresden (6-cylinder 3.838cc) models. In 1931 a small Audi with 4-cylinder 1.1-litre Peugeot engine and D.K.W. chassis appeared. In 1932 Audi became a member of the Auto Union together with Wanderer, Horch and D.K.W. Two front-driven models (UW and 225) followed with 6-cylinder Wanderer engines. The last pre-war Audi was the Audi Type 920, rear-driven again and with 6-cylinder 3.281cc engine.

The Audi factory and the other Auto Union production plants were nationalized in 1945. The Auto Union was re-established in Düsseldorf in 1949. In 1956 Mercedes-Benz became the main shareholder, but in 1964 the Volkswagen works obtained a majority. The Audi name was revived in 1965 on a new medium-sized saloon. An inclined 1.7-litre 4-cylinder ohc engine drove the front wheels, and features of the design were disc front brakes, independent front suspension, and a beam rear axle. By the end of 1966 Audi was the staple Auto Union product, but two years later the range was quite extensive, including station wagons, a smaller 1½-litre Audi 60, and a 1.8-litre Super Audi 90. The 1969 merger with N.S.U. led to more models. In 1970 a 2+2 fastback Audi coupé, the 115bhp Audi 100S was added, and automatic transmission became a factory option. New for 1973 was a smaller type, the Audi 80 for sale. This differed from earlier Audis in its all-coil suspension, belt instead of chain drive for the camshaft, and a patent steering stabilization. It was available with 1300cc or 1500cc engines, the more powerful variant offering 98bhp and 105mph.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; HON

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