History of Heavy equipment

Heavy equipment refers to heavy-duty vehicles, specially designed for executing construction tasks, most frequently ones involving earthwork operations. They are also known as heavy machines, heavy trucks, construction equipment, engineering equipment, heavy vehicles, or heavy hydraulics. They usually comprise five equipment systems: implement, traction, structure, power train, control and information.[1] Heavy equipment functions through the mechanical advantage of a simple machine, the ratio between input force applied and force exerted is multiplied. Some equipment uses hydraulic drives as a primary source of motion. Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 From horses, through steam, to diesel 2 Types 2.1 Images 3 Implements and Hydromechanical Work Tools 4 Traction: Off-the-road tires and Tracks 5 Structure 6 Powertrain 7 Control and Information 8 Heavy equipment operator 9 Equipment cost 9.1 Ownership Cost 9.2 Operating cost 10 Models 11 Notable Manufacturers 12 See also 13 References History[edit] Further information: History of construction and History of steam road vehicles JCB 3CX backhoe loader A wheeled bulldozer in an open pit coal mine A portable engine; a precursor to modern engineering vehicles An early gasoline-powered tractor The use of heavy equipment has a long history; the ancient Roman engineer Vitruvius (1st century BCE) gave descriptions of heavy equipment and cranes in ancient Rome in his treatise De architectura. The pile driver was invented around 1500. The first tunnelling shield was patented by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1818. From horses, through steam, to diesel[edit] Until the 19th century and into the early 20th century heavy machines were drawn under human or animal power. With the advent of portable steam-powered engines the drawn machine precursors were reconfigured with the new engines, such as the combine harvester. The design of a core tractor evolved around the new steam power source into a new machine core traction engine, that can be configured as the steam tractor and the steamroller. During the 20th century, internal-combustion engines became the major power source of heavy equipment. Kerosene, ethanol andengines were used, but today diesel engines are dominant. Mechanical transmission was in many cases replaced by hydraulic machinery. The early 20th century also saw new electric-powered machines such as the forklift. Caterpillar Inc. is a present-day brand from these days, starting out as the Holt Manufacturing Company. The first mass-produced heavy machine was the Fordson tractor in 1917. The first commercial continuous track vehicle was the Lombard Steam Log Hauler from 1901. Tracks became extensively used for tanks during World War I, and after the war they became commonplace for civilian machinery such as the bulldozer. The largest engineering vehicles, and the largest mobile land machines altogether, are bucket-wheel excavators, built from the 1920s. "Until almost the twentieth century, one simple tool constituted the primary earthmoving machine: the hand shovel - moved with animal and human powered, sleds, barges, and wagons. This tool was the principal method by which material was either sidecast or elevated to load a conveyance, usually a wheelbarrow, or a cart or wagon drawn by a draft animal. In antiquity, an equivalent of the hand shovel or hoe and head basket—and masses of men—were used to move earth to build civil works. Builders have long used the inclined plane, levers, and pulleys to place solid building materials, but these labor-saving devices did not lend themselves to earthmoving, which required digging, raising, moving, and placing loose materials. The two elements required for mechanized earthmoving, then as now, were an independent power source and off-road mobility, neither of which could be provided by the technology of that time."[2] Container cranes were used from the 1950s and onwards, and made containerization possible. Nowadays such is the importance of this machinery, some transport companies have developed specific equipment to transport heavy construction equipment to and from sites. Types[edit] These subdivisions, in this order, are the standard heavy equipment categorization. Some contractors place numbers on the side of their equipment corresponding to the category - Grader '02' - followed by a sequential number that usually corresponds to the number it was purchased, for example, 02-112, is the 112th grader a company has purchased since their founding. This allows for easy recognition of the equipment type and the relevant age. Track-type ##Agricultural tractors ##Air-track ##Bulldozer ##Snowcat ##Track skidder ##Track-type tractors (Bulldozer) ##Tractor ##Military engineering vehicles Grader ##Grader SkidSteer ##Skid steer loader Excavator ##Compact excavator ##Dragline excavator ##Dredging ##Excavator (wheel) ##Excavator (bagger, digger) ##Slurry wall excavator ##Front shovel ##Reclaimer ##Steam shovel ##Suction excavator ##Trencher (machine) ##Yarder Backhoe ##Backhoe loader, Backhoe Timber ##Feller buncher ##Harvester ##Skidder ##Track harvester ##Wheel forwarder ##Wheel skidder Pipelayer ##Pipelayer Scraper ##Fresno scraper ##Scraper ##Wheel tractor-scraper Mining ##Construction & mining tractor ##Construction & mining trucks Articulated ##Articulated hauler ##Articulated truck ##Water wagon Compactor ##Wheel dozers – soil compactors ##Soil stabilizer Loader ##Loader ##Skip loader (skippy) ##Wheel loader (front loader, integrated tool carrier) Track Loader ##Track loader Material Handler ##Aerial work platform / Lift table ##Boomtruck ##Cherry picker ##Crane ##Forklift ##Knuckleboom loader (trailer mount) & Knuckleboom loader (trailer mount) ##Reach stacker ##Telescopic handlers Paving ##Asphalt paver ##Asphalt plant ##Cold planer ##Concrete batch plant ##Cure rig ##Paver ##Pneumatic tire compactor ##Roller (road roller or roller compactor) ##Slipform paver ##Vibratory compactor, Compactor ##Stomper:concrete drop hammer Underground ##Roadheader ##Tunnel boring machine ##Underground mining equipment Hydromatic Tool ##Ballast tamper ##Attachments ##Drilling machine ##Pile driver ##Rotary tiller (rototiller, rotovator) ##Venturi-mixer Highway ##Dump truck ##Highway 10 yard rear dump ##Highway bottom dump (stiff), pup (belly train), triple ##Highway end dump and side dump ##Highway transfer, Transfer train ##Highway transit-mixer ##Lowboy (trailer) ##Street sweeper Images[edit] The Caterpillar D10N bulldozer evolved from tracked-type tractors and is characterized by a steel blade attached to the front that is used to push other equipment and construction materials, such as, earth. Normally the bucket is pulled toward the excavator to excavate material. The uncommon "thumb" attachment on this Caterpillar enables 'grabbing' objects, for example, during demolition. The wheel trencher MARAIS SMC 200 R. Iron bar reinforced foundation piles are driven with a drilling machine, concrete pump, mixer-truck, and a specialized auger that allows pumping concrete through its axis while withdrawn. Wheel loader Grader (plowing snow here) Landfill compactor (tamping tip) A wheeled front loader tractor equipped with a large bucket elevated by hydraulic rams. Reconditioned Caterpillar 825G Soil Compactor Folded conveyor on a tracked grinder Military engineering vehicles The militarized Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer allows for earthmoving projects in a combat environment. In the picture: IDF Caterpillar D9R. The militarized Huta Stalowa Wola backhoe loader in Poland which is subsidiary of LiuGong China Military scraper PiPz Dachs armoured engineering vehicle of the German Army (2008) Implements and Hydromechanical Work Tools[edit] ##auger ##backhoe ##bale spear ##broom ##bulldozer blade ##clam shell bucket ##cold plane ##demolition shears ##equipment bucket ##excavator bucket ##forks[disambiguation needed] ##grapple ##hydraulic hammer, hoe ram ##hydraulics ##hydraulic tilting bucket (4-in-1) ##landscape tiller ##material handling arm ##mechanical pulverizer, crusher ##multi processor ##pavement removal bucket ##pile driver ##power take-off (PTO) ##quick coupler ##rake ##ripper ##rotating grab ##sheep's foot compactor ##skeleton bucket ##snow blower ##stump grinder ##stump shear ##thumb ##tiltrotator ##trencher ##vibratory plate compactor ##wheel saw Traction: Off-the-road tires and Tracks[edit] Main articles: Off-the-road tire and Caterpillar track Heavy equipment requires specialized tires for various construction applications. While many types of equipment have continuous tracks applicable to more severe service requirements, tires are used where greater speed or mobility is required. An understanding of what equipment will be used for during the life of the tires is required for proper selection. Tire selection can have a significant impact on production and unit cost. There are three types of off-the-road tires, transport for earthmoving machines, work for slow moving earth moving machines, and load and carry for transporting as well as digging. Off-highway tires have six categories of service C compactor, E earthmover, G grader, L loader, LS log-skidder and ML mining and logging. Within these service categories are various tread types designed for use on hard-packed surface, soft surface and rock. Tires are a large expense on any construction project, careful consideration should be given to prevent excessive wear or damage. Structure[edit] "This system connects components, transmits loads, provides attachment points for implements, and allows the machine to travel over uneven ground. The machine’s frame, articulation, and steering for wheeled equipment are the major parts of this system."[1] Powertrain[edit] ##internal combustion engine ##transmission ##steering (tracked equipment) ##brakes Control and Information[edit] "The control and information systems. These systems enable the operator to direct and control all the other systems and provide information to guide operations or to monitor the performance and health of the equipment."[1] Heavy equipment operator[edit] Main article: Heavy equipment operator A heavy equipment operator drives and operates heavy equipment used in engineering and construction projects.[3][4] Typically only skilled workers may operate heavy equipment, and there is specialized training for learning to use heavy equipment. Much publication about heavy equipment operators focuses on improving safety for such workers. The field of occupational medicine researches and makes recommendations about safety for these and other workers in safety-sensitive positions. Equipment cost[edit] Due to the small profit margins on construction projects it is important to maintain accurate records concerning equipment utilization, repairs and maintenance. The two main categories of equipment costs are ownership cost and operating cost.[5] Ownership Cost[edit] To classify as an ownership cost an expense must have been incurred regardless of if the equipment is used or not. These costs are as follows: ##purchase expense ##salvage value ##tax savings from depreciation ##major repairs and overhauls ##property taxes ##insurance ##storage Depreciation can be calculated several ways, the simplest is the straight-line method. The annual depreciation is constant, reducing the equipment value annually. The following are simple equations paraphrased from the Peurifoy & Schexnayder text: m = some year in the future N = equipment useful life (years) and Dn = Annual depreciation amount Dn = purchase price / N Book value (BV) in year m BVm = purchase price - (m x Dn) example: N = 5 purchase price = $350,000 m = 3 years from now BV3 = $350,000 - ( 3 x $350,000/5) = $140,000 Operating cost[edit] For an expense to be classified as an operating cost, it must be incurred through use of the equipment. These costs are as follows:[6] ##F.O.G. ##fuel ##lubricants, lube oils, filters (oil, air, fuel, hydraulic), and grease ##repairs ##repair parts ##repair labor ##tires ##3rd party service contract ##replacement of high-wear items The biggest distinction from a cost standpoint is if a repair is classified as a major repair or a minor repair. A major repair can change the depreciable equipment value due to an extension in service life, while a minor repair is normal maintenance. How a firm chooses to cost major and minor repairs vary from firm to firm depending on the costing strategies being used. Some firms will charge only major repairs to the equipment while minor repairs are costed to a project. Another common costing strategy is to cost all repairs to the equipment and only frequently replaced wear items are excluded from the equipment cost. Many firms keep their costing structure closely guarded[citation needed] as it can impact the bidding strategies of their competition. In a company with multiple semi-independent divisions, the equipment department often wants to classify all repairs as "minor" and charge the work to a job - therefore improving their 'profit' from the equipment. Models[edit] Main article: Model construction vehicle Die-cast metal promotional scale models of heavy equipment are often produced for each vehicle to give to prospective customers. These are typically in 1:50 scale. The popular manufacturers of these models are Conrad and NZG in Germany, even for US vehicles. Notable Manufacturers[edit] The largest manufacturers based on 2011 revenue data as published by KHL Group:[7] 1. Caterpillar Inc. 2. Komatsu 3. Volvo Construction Equipment 4. Hitachi- Hitachi, Ltd. 5. Liebherr Group 6. SANY Group Company Ltd. 7. Zoomlion 8. Terex 9. Doosan Infracore (formerly Daewoo Heavy Industries & Machinery) - including Solar brand 10. Deere & Company 11. XCMG Other manufacturers include: ##Atlas Copco ##Bharat Earth Movers Limited (India) ##Bobcat Company ##CASE ##Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant ##CNH Global ##Demag ##Doosan Group ##Fiat-Allis ##Hyundai Heavy Industries ##Ingersoll Rand ##JCB ##Kubota ##Kobelco ##LiuGong ##Madill ##MARAIS ##Navistar International Corporation ##NCK ##New Holland ##Track Marshall ##Orenstein and Koppel GmbH (O&K) ##Paccar ##Poclain ##Rototilt ##Shantui ##ST Kinetics ##Takeuchi Manufacturing ##Wacker Neuson ##hidromek Wikimedia Commons has media related to Construction vehicles. See also[edit] ##Construction equipment theft ##Non-road engine ##Associated Equipment Distributors, the trade association for heavy equipment distributors

Histroy of RSD 58

The RSD 58 is an early production surface-to-air missile system developed by Rheinmetall Air Defence in Switzerland from 1947. Test firings were first made in 1950 with production starting in 1952 for the armed forces of Japan. Test firings were also made in Switzerland and Italy. On the basis of the RSA Missile, the beacon controlled missile system RSC / D was developed. There was no significant order, except for the delivery of a training battery to Japan and thus no larger order. The system consists of double start carriage, beacon, search radar, command station and diesel generator. All five components are each constructed on a single-axle trailer apart from the diesel generator that was built on a two-axle trailer. The two hydraulic elevator bars throw on / trolley enabled a self-assemble with rocket was thus no additional crane / loading vehicle necessary. The system RSC / D in 1960 was the basis of the developed under the code names Kriens RSC Missile system, which was completed in 1966 by EMD. The Air Force used instead the British Bloodhound system. A double carriage start of the RSC / D with 2 missiles and a beacon is now at the Full Military Museum. Start a double mount with 2 missile system RSD Kriens is now at the Aviation Museum in Dübendorf. The missile system RSC / D of the company Oerlikon Contraves was built in 1958 and tested in Italy. Contents [hide] 1 Design and development 2 Operators 3 References 3.1 Bibliography 4 External links Design and development[edit] Design work on the RSD-58 commenced in 1947, resulting in a liquid-fuelled rocket-powered missile, guided to its target by riding a radar beam. The complete system included a battery command post, target tracking radar, guidance beam transmitter and six twin railed trainable launchers. The entire system, including the static launchers, was readily transportable to new locations with mobility claimed to be similar to that of a heavy anti-aircraft gun system. Test firings commenced in Switzerland during 1950-51, with a batch of 25 pre-production missiles being evaluated at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, USA in 1953. Targeting is by search radar and beam transmitter with targets tracked by a search radar until a beam riding transmitter locks on, at which point the missile can be fired, riding the beam until impact, proximity fuze or radio signal detonation. Launchers, slaved to the beam transmitter can launch missiles at any angle form 10° to 90°. Control of the missiles is by vectoring rocket motor combustion chamber at low speeds and controllable rear fins at higher speeds. A parachute recoverable training round, the RSC-57, was developed which was powered by a reduced burn time rocket motor with the recovery parachute replacing the warhead. Lenkwaffensystem RSCD Leitstrahlsender front.JPG Lenkwaffensystem RSCD Doppelstartlafette front.JPG Lenkwaffensystem RSCD Leitstrahlsender.JPG RSCD Werfer.JPG RSD Triebwerk.JPG Operators[edit] Italy - Evaluation only. Japan Switzerland - Evaluation only. References[edit] This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2014) Hugo Schneider: Armament and equipment of the Swiss Army since 1817: light and medium anti-aircraft air defence anti-aircraft missiles, Volume 12 of armament and equipment of the Swiss Army since 1817, Author Publisher Stocker-Schmidt, 1982 Bibliography[edit] Taylor, John W.R. FRHistS. ARAeS (1962). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1962-63. London: Sampson, Low, Marston & Co Ltd. Hogg, Ian: Tykistö- ja ohjusaseet, Karisto, 2011, Hämeenlinna (Translated by: Petri Kortesuo) ISBN 978-951-23-5456-6 (s.209) (Finnish

History of Audi

Audi AG[1] (pronounced [ˈʔaʊ̯diː ʔaːˈgeː] ( listen)) is a German automobile manufacturer that designs, engineers, produces, markets and distributes luxury automobiles. Audi oversees worldwide operations from its headquarters in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. Audi-branded vehicles are produced in nine production facilities worldwide. Audi has been a majority owned (99.55%) subsidiary of Volkswagen Group since 1966, following a phased purchase of Audi AG's predecessor, Auto Union, from Daimler-Benz.[11] Volkswagen relaunched the Audi brand with the 1965 introduction of the Audi F103 series. The company name is based on the Latin translation of the surname of the founder, August Horch. "Horch", meaning "listen" in German, becomes "audi" in Latin. The four rings of the Audi logo each represent one of four car companies that banded together to create Audi's predecessor company, Auto Union. Audi's slogan is Vorsprung durch Technik, meaning "Advancement through Technology". However, since 2007 Audi USA has used the slogan "Truth in Engineering".[12] Audi is a member of the "German Big 3" luxury automakers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which are the three best-selling luxury automakers in the world.[13][14] Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 Birth of the company and its name 1.2 The merger of the four companies under the logo of four rings 1.3 Post-World War II 1.4 New Auto Union unit 1.5 Modern era 1.6 Audi 5000 unintended acceleration allegations 1.7 Model introductions 1.8 Audi AG today 2 Technology 2.1 Bodyshells 2.2 Space frame 2.3 Drivetrains 2.4 LED daytime running lights 2.5 Multi Media Interface 2.6 Synthetic Diesel 3 Models 3.1 Current model range 3.2 S and RS models 3.3 Electric vehicles 4 Production figures 5 Motorsport 5.1 Rallying 5.2 In the USA 5.3 Touring cars 5.4 24 Hours of Le Mans 5.5 American Le Mans Series 5.6 European Le Mans Series 5.7 World Endurance Championship 5.8 Formula E 5.9 Formula One 6 Marketing 6.1 Branding 6.2 Sponsorships 6.3 Multitronic campaign 6.4 Audi TDI 6.5 Audi e-tron 6.6 In video games 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External links History Birth of the company and its name Originally in 1885, automobile company Wanderer was established, later becoming a branch of Audi AG. Another company, NSU, which also later merged into Audi, was founded during this time, and later supplied the chassis for Gottlieb Daimler's four-wheeler.[15] On 14 November 1899, August Horch (1868–1951) established the company A. Horch & Cie. in the Ehrenfeld district of Cologne. Three years later in 1902 he moved with his company to Reichenbach im Vogtland. On May, 10th, 1904 he founded the August Horch & Cie. Motorwagenwerke AG, a joint-stock company in Zwickau (State of Saxony). After troubles with Horch chief financial officer, August Horch left Motorwagenwerke and founded in Zwickau on 16 July 1909, his second company, the August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH. His former partners sued him for trademark infringement. The German Reichsgericht (Supreme Court) in Leipzig,[16] eventually determined that the Horch brand belonged to his former company.[17] Audi Type E Since August Horch was banned from using "Horch" as a trade name in his new car business, he called a meeting with close business friends, Paul and Franz Fikentscher from Zwickau, Germany. At the apartment of Franz Fikentscher, they discussed how to come up with a new name for the company. During this meeting, Franz's son was quietly studying Latin in a corner of the room. Several times he looked like he was on the verge of saying something but would just swallow his words and continue working, until he finally blurted out, "Father – audiatur et altera pars... wouldn't it be a good idea to call it audi instead of horch?"[18] "Horch!" in German means "Hark!" or "hear", which is "Audi" in the singular imperative form of "audire" – "to listen" – in Latin. The idea was enthusiastically accepted by everyone attending the meeting.[19] On 25 April 1910 the Audi Automobilwerke GmbH Zwickau (from 1915 on Audiwerke AG Zwickau) was entered in the company's register of Zwickau registration court. The first Audi automobile, the Audi Type A 10/22 hp (16 kW) Sport-Phaeton, was produced in the same year,[20] followed by the successor Type B 10/28PS in the same year.[21] Audi started with a 2,612 cc inline-four engine model Type A, followed by a 3,564 cc model, as well as 4,680 cc and 5,720 cc models. These cars were successful even in sporting events. The first six-cylinder model Type M, 4,655 cc appeared in 1924.[22] August Horch left the Audiwerke in 1920 for a high position at the ministry of transport, but he was still involved with Audi as a member of the board of trustees. In September 1921, Audi became the first German car manufacturer to present a production car, the Audi Type K, with left-handed drive.[23] Left-hand drive spread and established dominance during the 1920s because it provided a better view of oncoming traffic, making overtaking safer.[23] The merger of the four companies under the logo of four rings Main article: Auto Union In August 1928, Jørgen Rasmussen, the owner of Dampf-Kraft-Wagen (DKW), acquired the majority of shares in Audiwerke AG.[24] In the same year, Rasmussen bought the remains of the U.S. automobile manufacturer Rickenbacker, including the manufacturing equipment for eight-cylinder engines. These engines were used in Audi Zwickau and Audi Dresden models that were launched in 1929. At the same time, six-cylinder and four-cylinder (the "four" with a Peugeot engine) models were manufactured. Audi cars of that era were luxurious cars equipped with special bodywork. In 1932, Audi merged with Horch, DKW, and Wanderer, to form Auto Union AG, Chemnitz. It was during this period that the company offered the Audi Front that became the first European car to combine a six-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive. It used a powertrain shared with the Wanderer, but turned 180-degrees, so that the drive shaft faced the front. Before World War II, Auto Union used the four interlinked rings that make up the Audi badge today, representing these four brands. This badge was used, however, only on Auto Union racing cars in that period while the member companies used their own names and emblems. The technological development became more and more concentrated and some Audi models were propelled by Horch or Wanderer built engines. Reflecting the economic pressures of the time, Auto Union concentrated increasingly on smaller cars through the 1930s, so that by 1938 the company's DKW brand accounted for 17.9% of the German car market, while Audi held only 0.1%. After the final few Audis were delivered in 1939 the "Audi" name disappeared completely from the new car market for more than two decades. Post-World War II IFA F9 Like most German manufacturing, at the onset of World War II the Auto Union plants were retooled for military production, and were a target for allied bombing during the war which left them damaged. Overrun by the Soviet Army in 1945, on the orders of the Soviet Union military administration the factories were dismantled as part of war reparations.[25] Following this, the company's entire assets were expropriated without compensation.[25] On 17 August 1948, Auto Union AG of Chemnitz was deleted from the commercial register.[24] These actions had the effect of liquidating Germany's Auto Union AG. The remains of the Audi plant of Zwickau became the VEB (for "People Owned Enterprise") Automobilwerk Zwickau or AWZ (in English: Automobile Works Zwickau). The former Audi factory in Zwickau restarted assembly of the pre-war-models in 1949. These DKW models were renamed to IFA F8 and IFA F9 and were similar to the West German versions. West and East German models were equipped with the traditional and renowned DKW two-stroke engines. The Zwickau plant manufactured the infamous Trabant until 1991, when it came under Volkswagen control—effectively bringing it under the same umbrella as Audi since 1945. New Auto Union unit A new West German headquartered Auto Union was launched in Ingolstadt, Bavaria with loans from the Bavarian state government and Marshall Plan aid.[25] The reformed company was launched 3 September 1949 and continued DKW's tradition of producing front-wheel drive vehicles with two-stroke engines.[25] This included production of a small but sturdy 125 cc motorcycle and a DKW delivery van, the DKW F 89 L at Ingolstadt. The Ingolstadt site was large, consisting of an extensive complex of formerly military buildings which was suitable for administration as well as vehicle warehousing and distribution, but at this stage there was at Ingolstadt no dedicated plant suitable for mass production of automobiles: for manufacturing the company's first post-war mass-market passenger car plant capacity in Düsseldorf was rented from Rheinmetall-Borsig. It was only ten years later, after the company had attracted an investor that funds became available for construction of major car plant at the Ingolstadt head office site. In 1958, in response to pressure from Friedrich Flick, then their largest single shareholder,[26] Daimler-Benz took an 87% holding in the Auto Union company, and this was increased to a 100% holding in 1959. However, small two-stroke cars were not the focus of Daimler-Benz's interests, and while the early 1960s saw major investment in new Mercedes models and in a state of the art factory for Auto Union's, the company's aging model range at this time did not benefit from the economic boom of the early 1960s to the same extent as competitor manufacturers such as Volkswagen and Opel. The decision to dispose of the Auto Union business was based on its lack of profitability.[27] Ironically, by the time they sold the business, it also included a large new factory and near production-ready modern four-stroke engine, which would enable the Auto Union business, under a new owner, to embark on a period of profitable growth, now producing not Auto Unions or DKWs, but using the "Audi" name, resurrected in 1965 after a 25-year gap. Under the terms of the sale, Daimler-Benz retained the old Düsseldorf plant, which survives to the present day as a centre for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle assembly. In 1964, Volkswagen acquired a 50% holding in the business, which included the new factory in Ingolstadt and the trademark rights of the Auto Union. Eighteen months later, Volkswagen bought complete control of Ingolstadt, and by 1966 were using the spare capacity of the Ingolstadt plant to assemble an additional 60,000 Volkswagen Beetles per year.[28] Two-stroke engines became less popular during the 1960s as customers were more attracted to the smoother four-stroke engines. In September 1965, the DKW F102 was fitted with a four-stroke engine and a facelift for the car's front and rear. Volkswagen dumped the DKW brand because of its associations with two-stroke technology, and having classified the model internally as the F103, sold it simply as the "Audi." Later developments of the model were named after their horsepower ratings and sold as the Audi 60, 75, 80, and Super 90, selling until 1972. Initially, Volkswagen was hostile to the idea of Auto Union as a standalone entity producing its own models having acquired the company merely to boost its own production capacity through the Ingolstadt assembly plant. Then VW chief Heinz Nordhoff explicitly forbade Auto Union from any further product development. Fearing that the company's heritage would disappear underneath VW badge engineering, Auto Union engineers under the leadership of Ludwig Kraus developed the first Audi 100 in secret, without Nordhoff's knowledge. When presented with a finished prototype, Nordhoff was so impressed he authorised the car for production, which when launched in 1968, went on to be a huge success. With this, the resurrection of the Audi brand was now complete, this being followed by the first generation Audi 80 in 1972, which would in turn provide a template for VW's new front-wheel-drive water-cooled range which debuted from the mid-1970s onward. Audi 80 assembly line in Wolfsburg, 1973 In 1969, Auto Union merged with NSU, based in Neckarsulm, near Stuttgart. In the 1950s, NSU had been the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles, but had moved on to produce small cars like the NSU Prinz, the TT and TTS versions of which are still popular as vintage race cars. NSU then focused on new rotary engines based on the ideas of Felix Wankel. In 1967, the new NSU Ro 80 was a car well ahead of its time in technical details such as aerodynamics, light weight, and safety. However, teething problems with the rotary engines put an end to the independence of NSU. The Neckarsulm plant is now used to produce the larger Audi models A6 and A8. The Neckarsulm factory is also home of the quattro GmbH, a subsidiary responsible for development and production of Audi high-performance models: the R8 and the "RS" model range. The mid-sized car that NSU had been working on, the K70, was intended to slot between the rear-engined Prinz models and the futuristic NSU Ro 80. However, Volkswagen took the K70 for its own range, spelling the end of NSU as a separate brand. Modern era The new merged company was known as Audi NSU Auto Union AG, and saw the emergence of Audi as a separate brand for the first time since the pre-war era. Volkswagen introduced the Audi brand to the United States for the 1970 model year. The first new car of this regime was the Audi 100 of 1968. This was soon joined by the Audi 80/Fox (which formed the basis for the 1973 Volkswagen Passat) in 1972 and the Audi 50 (later rebadged as the Volkswagen Polo) in 1974. The Audi 50 was a seminal design because it was the first incarnation of the Golf/Polo concept, one that led to a hugely successful world car. The Audi image at this time was a conservative one, and so, a proposal from chassis engineer Jörg Bensinger[29] was accepted to develop the four-wheel drive technology in Volkswagen's Iltis military vehicle for an Audi performance car and rally racing car. The performance car, introduced in 1980, was named the "Audi Quattro", a turbocharged coupé which was also the first German large-scale production vehicle to feature permanent all-wheel drive through a centre differential. Commonly referred to as the "Ur-Quattro" (the "Ur-" prefix is a German augmentative used, in this case, to mean "original" and is also applied to the first generation of Audi's S4 and S6 Sport Saloons, as in "UrS4" and "UrS6"), few of these vehicles were produced (all hand-built by a single team), but the model was a great success in rallying. Prominent wins proved the viability of all-wheel drive racecars, and the Audi name became associated with advances in automotive technology. In 1985, with the Auto Union and NSU brands effectively dead, the company's official name was now shortened to simply Audi AG. Audi Quattro In 1986, as the Passat-based Audi 80 was beginning to develop a kind of "grandfather's car" image, the type 89 was introduced. This completely new development sold extremely well. However, its modern and dynamic exterior belied the low performance of its base engine, and its base package was quite spartan (even the passenger-side mirror was an option.) In 1987, Audi put forward a new and very elegant Audi 90, which had a much superior set of standard features. In the early 1990s, sales began to slump for the Audi 80 series, and some basic construction problems started to surface. In the early part of the 21st century, Audi set forth on a German racetrack to claim and maintain several world records, such as top speed endurance. This effort was in-line with the company's heritage from the 1930s racing era Silver Arrows. Through the early 1990s, Audi began to shift its target market upscale to compete against German automakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW. This began with the release of the Audi V8 in 1990. It was essentially a new engine fitted to the Audi 100/200, but with noticeable bodywork differences. Most obvious was the new grille that was now incorporated in the bonnet. By 1991, Audi had the four-cylinder Audi 80, the 5-cylinder Audi 90 and Audi 100, the turbocharged Audi 200 and the Audi V8. There was also a coupe version of the 80/90 with both 4- and 5-cylinder engines. Although the five-cylinder engine was a successful and robust powerplant, it was still a little too different for the target market. With the introduction of an all-new Audi 100 in 1992, Audi introduced a 2.8L V6 engine. This engine was also fitted to a face-lifted Audi 80 (all 80 and 90 models were now badged 80 except for the USA), giving this model a choice of four-, five-, and six-cylinder engines, in Saloon, Coupé and Cabriolet body styles. The five-cylinder was soon dropped as a major engine choice; however, a turbocharged 230 hp (170 kW) version remained. The engine, initially fitted to the 200 quattro 20V of 1991, was a derivative of the engine fitted to the Sport Quattro. It was fitted to the Audi Coupé, and named the S2 and also to the Audi 100 body, and named the S4. These two models were the beginning of the mass-produced S series of performance cars. Audi 5000 unintended acceleration allegations Sales in the United States fell after a series of recalls from 1982 to 1987 of Audi 5000 models[30] associated with reported incidents of sudden unintended acceleration linked to six deaths and 700 accidents.[30] At the time, NHTSA was investigating 50 car models from 20 manufacturers for sudden surges of power.[31] A 60 Minutes report aired 23 November 1986,[32] featuring interviews with six people who had sued Audi after reporting unintended acceleration, showing an Audi 5000 ostensibly suffering a problem when the brake pedal was pushed.[33][34] Subsequent investigation revealed that 60 Minutes had engineered the failure – fitting a canister of compressed air on the passenger-side floor, linked via a hose to a hole drilled into the transmission.[32] Audi 100 C3, sold as the Audi 5000 in the U.S. Audi contended, prior to findings by outside investigators,[31] that the problems were caused by driver error, specifically pedal misapplication.[31] Subsequently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that the majority of unintended acceleration cases, including all the ones that prompted the 60 Minutes report, were caused by driver error such as confusion of pedals.[35] CBS did not acknowledge the test results of involved government agencies, but did acknowledge the similar results of another study.[33] In a review study published in 2012, NHTSA summarized its past findings about the Audi unintended acceleration problems: "Once an unintended acceleration had begun, in the Audi 5000, due to a failure in the idle-stabilizer system (producing an initial acceleration of 0.3g), pedal misapplication resulting from panic, confusion, or unfamiliarity with the Audi 5000 contributed to the severity of the incident."[36] This summary is consistent with the conclusions of NHTSA's most technical analysis at the time: "Audi idle-stabilization systems were prone to defects which resulted in excessive idle speeds and brief unanticipated accelerations of up to 0.3g [which is similar in magnitude to an emergency stop in a subway car]. These accelerations could not be the sole cause of [(long-duration) sudden acceleration incidents (SAI)], but might have triggered some SAIs by startling the driver.[37] The defective idle-stabilization system performed a type of electronic throttle control. Significantly: multiple "intermittent malfunctions of the electronic control unit were observed and recorded ... and [were also observed and] reported by Transport Canada."[37] With a series of recall campaigns, Audi made several modifications; the first adjusted the distance between the brake and accelerator pedal on automatic-transmission models.[30] Later repairs, of 250,000 cars dating back to 1978, added a device requiring the driver to press the brake pedal before shifting out of park.[30] A legacy of the Audi 5000 and other reported cases of sudden unintended acceleration are intricate gear stick patterns and brake interlock mechanisms to prevent inadvertent shifting into forward or reverse. It is unclear how the defects in the idle-stabilization system were addressed. Audi's U.S. sales, which had reached 74,061 in 1985, dropped to 12,283 in 1991 and remained level for three years.[30] – with resale values falling dramatically.[38] Audi subsequently offered increased warranty protection[38] and renamed the affected models – with the 5000 becoming the 100 and 200 in 1989[31] – and only reached the same sales levels again by model year 2000.[30] A 2010 BusinessWeek article – outlining possible parallels between Audi's experience and 2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls – noted a class-action lawsuit filed in 1987 by about 7,500 Audi 5000-model owners remains unsettled and is currently being contested in county court in Chicago after appeals at the Illinois state and U.S. federal levels.[30] Model introductions Audi TT In the mid-to-late 1990s, Audi introduced new technologies including the use of aluminum construction. Produced from 1999 to 2005, the Audi A2 was a futuristic super mini, born from the Al2 concept, with many features that helped regain consumer confidence, like the aluminium space frame, which was a first in production car design. In the A2 Audi further expanded their TDI technology through the use of frugal three-cylinder engines. The A2 was extremely aerodynamic and was designed around a wind tunnel. The Audi A2 was criticised for its high price and was never really a sales success but it planted Audi as a cutting-edge manufacturer. The model, a Mercedes-Benz A-Class competitor, sold relatively well in Europe. However, the A2 was discontinued in 2005 and Audi decided not to develop an immediate replacement. The next major model change came in 1995 when the Audi A4 replaced the Audi 80. The new nomenclature scheme was applied to the Audi 100 to become the Audi A6 (with a minor facelift). This also meant the S4 became the S6 and a new S4 was introduced in the A4 body. The S2 was discontinued. The Audi Cabriolet continued on (based on the Audi 80 platform) until 1999, gaining the engine upgrades along the way. A new A3 hatchback model (sharing the Volkswagen Golf Mk4's platform) was introduced to the range in 1996, and the radical Audi TT coupé and roadster were debuted in 1998 based on the same underpinnings. The engines available throughout the range were now a 1.4 L, 1.6 L and 1.8 L four-cylinder, 1.8 L four-cylinder turbo, 2.6 L and 2.8 L V6, 2.2 L turbo-charged five-cylinder and the 4.2 L V8 engine. The V6s were replaced by new 2.4 L and 2.8 L 30V V6s in 1998, with marked improvement in power, torque and smoothness. Further engines were added along the way, including a 3.7 L V8 and 6.0 L W12 engine for the A8. Audi AG today Audi Q7 Audi's sales grew strongly in the 2000s, with deliveries to customers increasing from 653,000 in 2000 to 1,003,000 in 2008. The largest sales increases came from Eastern Europe (+19.3%), Africa (+17.2%) and the Middle East (+58.5%). China in particular has become a key market, representing 108,000 out of 705,000 cars delivered in the first three quarters of 2009. One factor for its popularity in China is that Audis have become the car of choice for purchase by the Chinese government for officials, and purchases by the government are responsible for 20% of its sales in China.[39] As of late 2009, Audi's operating profit of €1.17-billion ($1.85-billion) made it the biggest contributor to parent Volkswagen Group's nine-month operating profit of €1.5-billion, while the other marques in Group such as Bentley and SEAT had suffered considerable losses.[40] May 2011 saw record sales for Audi of America with the new Audi A7 and Audi A3 TDI Clean Diesel.[41] In May 2012, Audi reported a 10% increase in its sales—from 408 units to 480 in the last year alone.[42] Audi manufactures vehicles in seven plants around the world, some of which are shared with other VW Group marques[43] although many sub-assemblies such as engines and transmissions are manufactured within other Volkswagen Group plants. Audi's two principal assembly plants are: Ingolstadt, Opened by Auto Union in 1964, (A3, A4, A5, Q5) Neckarsulm, Acquired from NSU in 1969 (A4, A6, A7, A8, R8 & all RS variants) Outside of Germany, Audi produces vehicles at: Aurangabad, India since 2006 Bratislava, Slovakia, shared with Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda and Porsche (Q7) Brussels, Belgium, acquired from Volkswagen in 2007 (A1) Changchun, China since 1995 Győr, Hungary, (TT and some A3 variants) Jakarta, Indonesia since 2011 Martorell, Spain shared with SEAT and Volkswagen (Q3) In September 2012, Audi announced the construction of its first North American manufacturing plant in Puebla, Mexico. This plant is expected to be operative in 2016 and produce the second generation Q5.[44] From 2002 up to 2003, Audi headed the Audi Brand Group, a subdivision of the Volkswagen Group's Automotive Division consisting of Audi, Lamborghini and SEAT, that was focused on sporty values, with the marques' product vehicles and performance being under the higher responsibility of the Audi brand. In 2014, most of the Audi dealers in UK falsely claimed that the Audi A7, A8, and R8 were Euro NCAP safety tested, all achieving five out of five stars. In fact none were tested.[45] Technology Bodyshells Audi produces 100% galvanised cars to prevent corrosion,[46] and was the first mass-market vehicle to do so, following introduction of the process by Porsche, c. 1975. Along with other precautionary measures, the full-body zinc coating has proved to be very effective in preventing rust. The body's resulting durability even surpassed Audi's own expectations, causing the manufacturer to extend its original 10-year warranty against corrosion perforation to currently 12 years (except for aluminium bodies which do not rust).[47] Space frame The Audi R8 uses Audi Space Frame technology Audi introduced a new series of vehicles in the mid-1990s and continues to pursue new technology and high performance. An all-aluminium car was brought forward by Audi, and in 1994 the Audi A8 was launched, which introduced aluminium space frame technology (called Audi Space Frame or ASF) which saves weight and improves torsion rigidity compared to a conventional steel frame. Prior to that effort, Audi used examples of the Type 44 chassis fabricated out of aluminium as test-beds for the technique. The disadvantage of the aluminium frame is that it is very expensive to repair and requires a specialized aluminium bodyshop.[48] The weight reduction is somewhat offset by the quattro four-wheel drive system which is standard in most markets. Nonetheless, the A8 is usually the lightest all-wheel drive car in the full-size luxury segment, also having best-in-class fuel economy.[49] The Audi A2, Audi TT and Audi R8 also use Audi Space Frame designs. Drivetrains Layout Audi A4 For most of its lineup (excluding the A3, A1, and TT models), Audi has not adopted the transverse engine layout which is typically found in economy cars (such as Peugeot and Citroën), since that would limit the type and power of engines that can be installed. To be able to mount powerful engines (such as a V8 engine in the Audi S4 and Audi RS4, as well as the W12 engine in the Audi A8L W12), Audi has usually engineered its more expensive cars with a longitudinally front-mounted engine, in an "overhung" position, over the front wheels in front of the axle line. While this allows for the easy adoption of all-wheel drive, it goes against the ideal 50:50 weight distribution. In all its post Volkswagen-era models, Audi has firmly refused to adopt the traditional rear-wheel drive layout favored by its two arch rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW, favoring either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The majority of Audi's lineup in the United States features all-wheel drive standard on most of its expensive vehicles (only the entry-level trims of the A4 and A6 are available with front-wheel drive), in contrast to Mercedes-Benz and BMW whose lineup treats all-wheel drive as an option. BMW did not offer all-wheel drive on its V8-powered cars (as opposed to crossover SUVs) until the 2010 BMW 7 Series and 2011 BMW 5 Series, while the Audi A8 has had all-wheel drive available/standard since the 1990s. Regarding high-performance variants, Audi S and RS models have always had all-wheel drive, unlike their direct rivals from BMW M and Mercedes-AMG whose cars are rear-wheel drive only (although their performance crossover SUVs are all-wheel drive). Audi has recently applied the quattro badge to models such as the A3 and TT which do not use the Torsen-based system as in prior years with a mechanical center differential, but with the Haldex Traction electro-mechanical clutch AWD system. Engines Volkswagen Group W12 engine from the Volkswagen Phaeton W12 Further information: Audi production engines In the 1980s, Audi, along with Volvo, was the champion of the inline-five cylinder, 2.1/2.2 L engine as a longer-lasting alternative to more traditional six-cylinder engines. This engine was used not only in production cars but also in their race cars. The 2.1 L inline five-cylinder engine was used as a base for the rally cars in the 1980s, providing well over 400 horsepower (300 kilowatts) after modification. Before 1990, there were engines produced with a displacement between 2.0 L and 2.3 L. This range of engine capacity allowed for both fuel economy and power. For the ultra-luxury version of its Audi A8 fullsize luxury flagship sedan, the Audi A8L W12, Audi uses the Volkswagen Group W12 engine instead of the conventional V12 engine favored by rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The W12 engine configuration (also known as a "WR12") is created by forming two imaginary narrow-angle 15° VR6 engines at an angle of 72°, and the narrow angle of each set of cylinders allows just two overhead camshafts to drive each pair of banks, so just four are needed in total.[50] The advantage of the W12 engine is its compact packaging, allowing Audi to build a 12-cylinder sedan with all-wheel drive, whereas a conventional V12 engine could only have a rear-wheel drive configuration as it would have no space in the engine bay for a differential and other components required to power the front wheels. In fact, the 6.0 L W12 in the Audi A8L W12 is smaller in overall dimensions than the 4.2 L V8 that powers the Audi A8 4.2 variants.[51] The 2011 Audi A8 debuted a revised 6.3-litre version of the W12 (WR12) engine with 500 PS (370 kW; 490 hp). Fuel Stratified Injection New models of the A3, A4, A6 and A8 have been introduced, with the ageing 1.8-litre engine now having been replaced by new Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) engines. Nearly every petroleum burning model in the range now incorporates this fuel-saving technology. V8 FSI engine Direct-Shift Gearbox At the turn of the century, Volkswagen introduced the Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG), a type of dual clutch transmission. It is an automated semi-automatic transmission, drivable like a conventional automatic transmission. Based on the gearbox found in the Group B S1, the system includes dual electrohydraulically controlled clutches instead of a torque converter. This is implemented in some VW Golfs, Audi A3, Audi A4 and TT models where DSG is called S-tronic. LED daytime running lights Beginning in 2005, Audi has implemented white LED technology as daytime running lights (DRL) in their products. The distinctive shape of the DRLs has become a trademark of sorts. LEDs were first introduced on the Audi A8 W12, the world's first production car to have LED DRLs,[52][53][54] and have since spread throughout the entire model range. The LEDs are present on some Audi billboards. Since 2010, Audi has also offered the LED technology in low- and high-beam headlights.[55] The DRL in an Audi A4 B8 Multi Media Interface Multi Media Interface-Menu on Audi virtual cockpit, Audi TT Mk3 Starting with the 2003 Audi A8, Audi has used a centralised control interface for its on-board infotainment systems, called Multi Media Interface (MMI). This came amid criticism of BMW's iDrive control. It is essentially a rotating control knob and 'segment' buttons – designed to control all in-car entertainment devices (radio, CD changer, iPod, TV tuner), satellite navigation, heating and ventilation, and other car controls with a screen. MMI was widely reported to be a considerable improvement on BMW's iDrive, although BMW has since made their iDrive more user-friendly. The availability of MMI has gradually filtered down the Audi lineup, and following its introduction on the third generation A3 in 2011, MMI is now available across the entire range. It has been generally well-received, as it requires less menu-surfing with its segment buttons around a central knob, along with 'main function' direct access buttons – with shortcuts to the radio or phone functions. The colour screen is mounted on the upright dashboard, and on the A4 (new), A5, A6, A8, and Q7, the controls are mounted horizontally. Synthetic Diesel Audi has come out with technology to produce synthetic diesel from water and carbon dioxide.[56] Models Main article: List of Audi vehicles Current model range The following tables list Audi production vehicles that are sold as of 2014: Audi cars A1 Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Ambition S-line – Frontansicht, 15. Mai 2011, Wuppertal.jpg Supermini 3-door Hatchback Sportback (5-door Hatchback) A3 Audi - A3 - Mondial de l'Automobile de Paris 2012 - 202.jpg Compact Executive Car 3-door Hatchback Saloon (Sedan) Sportback (5-door Hatchback) Cabriolet A4 Audi A4 sedan -- 02-18-2011.jpg Compact Executive Car Saloon (Sedan) Avant (Estate/Wagon) Allroad (Crossover Estate/Wagon) A5 2010 Audi A5 (8T) 3.0 TDI quattro Sportback 03.jpg Compact Executive Car Coupé Sportback (5-door Hatchback) Cabriolet (Convertible) A6 2012 Audi A6 -- 07-07-2011 2.jpg Executive Car Saloon (Sedan) Avant (Estate/Wagon) Allroad (Crossover Estate/Wagon) A7 2012 Audi A7 -- 07-07-2011 1.jpg Executive Car Sportback (5-door Hatchback) A8 Audi A8 D4 registered September 2010 4134 cc Diesel 4wd.jpg Full-size Luxury Car Saloon (Sedan) Audi coupés and SUVs TT 2007 Audi TT (8J) 2.0 TFSI coupe 01.jpg Compact Sports Car Coupé Roadster (Convertible) R8 Audi R8 V10 – Frontansicht, 13. März 2011, Wuppertal.jpg Sports Car Coupé Spyder (Convertible) Q3 Audi Q3 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic Samoaorange.JPG Compact Crossover SUV SUV Q5 Audi Q5 front 20090404.jpg Compact Crossover SUV SUV Q7 Audi Q7 (Facelift) front 20110115.jpg Full-size Crossover SUV SUV S and RS models Main article: Audi S and RS models S (Sport) models S3 Audi S3 Sprintblau.JPG Small Family Car 3-door Hatchback Sportback (5-door Hatchback) S4 2012-03-07 Motorshow Geneva 4621.JPG Compact Executive Car Saloon (Sedan) Avant (Estate/Wagon) S5 AudiS five.jpg Compact Executive Car Coupé Cabriolet (Convertible) Sportback (5-door Hatchback) S6[57] 2013 Audi S6 -- 2012 DC.JPG Executive Car Saloon (Sedan) Avant (Estate/Wagon) S7[58] Audi S7 (6147099035).jpg Executive Car Sportback (5-door Hatchback) S8[59] Audi A8 D4 registered September 2010 4134 cc Diesel 4wd.jpg Full-size Luxury Car Saloon (Sedan) TTS Audi TT S -- 2011 DC.jpg Compact Sports Car Coupé Roadster (Convertible) RS (RennSport/Racing Sport) models RS4 Audi-RS4.jpg Compact Executive Car Avant (Estate/Wagon) RS5 Audi RS5 front.jpg Compact Executive Car Coupé Cabriolet (Convertible) RS7 2014 Audi RS7.jpg Executive Car Sportback (5-door Hatchback) TT RS Audi TT-RS.jpg Compact Sports Car Coupé Roadster (Convertible) Electric vehicles Further information: Audi concept vehicles Audi is planning an alliance with the Japanese electronics giant Sanyo to develop a pilot hybrid electric project for the Volkswagen Group. The alliance could result in Sanyo batteries and other electronic components being used in future models of the Volkswagen Group.[60] Concept electric vehicles unveiled to date include the Audi A1 Sportback Concept,[61] Audi A4 TDI Concept E,[62] and the fully electric Audi e-tron Concept Supercar.[63] Production figures A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 Q3 Q5 Q7 TT R8 1998[64] — — 143,974 271,152 — 174,867 — 15,355 — — — 13,682 — 1999[64] — — 143,505 252,514 — 162,573 — 14,636 — — — 52,579 — 2000[65] — 32,164 136,141 231,869 — 180,715 — 12,894 — — — 56,776 — 2001[66] — 49,369 131,082 308,778 — 186,467 — 11,708 — — — 39,349 — 2002[67] — 37,578 125,538 360,267 — 178,773 — 10,942 — — — 34,711 — 2003[68] — 27,323 159,417 353,836 — 168,612 — 21,748 — — — 32,337 — 2004[69] — 19,745 181,274 345,231 — 195,529 — 22,429 — — — 23,605 — 2005[70] — 10,026 224,961 337,705 — 215,437 — 21,515 — — 1,185 12,307 — 2006[71] — — 231,752 341,110 487 229,021 — 22,468 — — 72,169 23,675 164 2007[72] — — 231,117 289,806 25,549 243,842 — 22,182 — 162 77,395 56,766 4,125 2008[73] — — 222,164 378,885 57,650 214,074 — 20,140 — 20,324 59,008 41,789 5,656 2009[74] — — 206,747 282,033 84,883 182,090 — 8,599 — 105,074 27,929 22,821 2,101 2010[75] 51,937 — 198,974 306,291 111,270 211,256 8,496 22,435 — 154,604 48,937 26,217 3,485 2011[76] 117,566 — 189,068 321,045 111,758 241,862 37,301 38,542 19,613 183,678 53,703 25,508 3,551 2012[6] 123,111 — 164,666 329,759 103,357 284,888 28,950 35,932 106,918 209,799 54,558 21,880 2,241 Data from 1998 to 2010. Figures for different body types/versions of models have been merged to create overall figures for each model. Motorsport Audi has competed in various forms of motorsports. Audi's tradition in motorsport began with their former company Auto Union in the 1930s. In the 1990s, Audi found success in the Touring and Super Touring categories of motor racing after success in circuit racing in North America. Rallying Main article: Audi Sport WRC results Walter Röhrl with his Quattro A2 during the 1984 Rally Portugal In 1980, Audi released the Quattro, a four-wheel drive (4WD) turbocharged car that went on to win rallies and races worldwide. It is considered one of the most significant rally cars of all time, because it was one of the first to take advantage of the then-recently changed rules which allowed the use of four-wheel drive in competition racing. Many critics doubted the viability of four-wheel drive racers, thinking them to be too heavy and complex, yet the Quattro was to become a successful car. Leading its first rally it went off the road, however the rally world had been served notice 4WD was the future. The Quattro went on to achieve much success in the World Rally Championship. It won the 1983 (Hannu Mikkola) and the 1984 (Stig Blomqvist) drivers' titles,[77] and brought Audi the manufacturers' title in 1982 and 1984.[78] Audi Quattro S1 driven at the 2007 Rallye Deutschland In 1984, Audi launched the short-wheelbase Sport Quattro which dominated rally races in Monte Carlo and Sweden, with Audi taking all podium places, but succumbed to problems further into WRC contention. In 1985, after another season mired in mediocre finishes, Walter Röhrl finished the season in his Sport Quattro S1, and helped place Audi second in the manufacturers' points. Audi also received rally honours in the Hong Kong to Beijing rally in that same year. Michèle Mouton, the only female driver to win a round of the World Rally Championship and a driver for Audi, took the Sport Quattro S1, now simply called the "S1", and raced in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The 1,439-metre (4,721 ft) climb race pits a driver and car to drive to the summit of the 4,302-metre (14,114 ft) Pikes Peak mountain in Colorado, and in 1985, Michèle Mouton set a new record of 11:25.39, and being the first woman to set a Pikes Peak record. In 1986, Audi formally left international rally racing following an accident in Portugal involving driver Joaquim Santos in his Ford RS200. Santos swerved to avoid hitting spectators in the road, and left the track into the crowd of spectators on the side, killing three and injuring 30. Bobby Unser used an Audi in that same year to claim a new record for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb at 11:09.22. In 1987, Walter Röhrl claimed the title for Audi setting a new Pikes Peak International Hill Climb record of 10:47.85 in his Audi S1, which he had retired from the WRC two years earlier. The Audi S1 employed Audi's time-tested inline-five-cylinder turbocharged engine, with the final version generating 441 kW (600 PS; 591 bhp).[79] The engine was mated to a six-speed gearbox and ran on Audi's famous four-wheel drive system. All of Audi's top drivers drove this car; Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist, Walter Röhrl and Michèle Mouton. This Audi S1 started the range of Audi 'S' cars, which now represents an increased level of sports-performance equipment within the mainstream Audi model range. In the USA As Audi moved away from rallying and into circuit racing, they chose to move first into America with the Trans-Am in 1988. In 1989, Audi moved to International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) GTO with the Audi 90, however as they avoided the two major endurance events (Daytona and Sebring) despite winning on a regular basis, they would lose out on the title. Touring cars In 1990, having completed their objective to market cars in North America, Audi returned to Europe, turning first to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) series with the Audi V8, and then in 1993, being unwilling to build cars for the new formula, they turned their attention to the fast-growing Super Touring series, which are a series of national championships. Audi first entered in the French Supertourisme and Italian Superturismo. In the following year, Audi would switch to the German Super Tourenwagen Cup (known as STW), and then to British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) the year after that. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), having difficulty regulating the quattro four-wheel drive system, and the impact it had on the competitors, would eventually ban all four-wheel drive cars from competing in 1998,[80] but by then, Audi switched all their works efforts to sports car racing. By 2000, Audi would still compete in the US with their RS4 for the SCCA Speed World GT Challenge, through dealer/team Champion Racing competing against Corvettes, Vipers, and smaller BMWs (where it is one of the few series to permit 4WD cars). In 2003, Champion Racing entered an RS6. Once again, the quattro four-wheel drive was superior, and Champion Audi won the championship. They returned in 2004 to defend their title, but a newcomer, Cadillac with the new Omega Chassis CTS-V, gave them a run for their money. After four victories in a row, the Audis were sanctioned with several negative changes that deeply affected the car's performance. Namely, added ballast weights, and Champion Audi deciding to go with different tyres, and reducing the boost pressure of the turbocharger. In 2004, after years of competing with the TT-R in the revitalised DTM series, with privateer team Abt Racing/Christian Abt taking the 2002 title with Laurent Aïello, Audi returned as a full factory effort to touring car racing by entering two factory supported Joest Racing A4 DTM cars. 24 Hours of Le Mans Further information: List of Audi vehicles (Le Mans prototypes) Audi R10 TDI Audi began racing prototype sportscars in 1999, debuting at the Le Mans 24 hour. Two car concepts were developed and raced in their first season - the Audi R8R (open-cockpit 'roadster' prototype) and the Audi R8C (closed-cockpit 'coupé' GT-prototype). The R8R scored a credible podium on its racing debut at Le Mans and was the concept which Audi continued to develop into the 2000 season due to favourable rules for open-cockpit prototypes. However, most of the competitors (such as BMW, Toyota, Mercedes and Nissan) retired at the end of 1999. The factory-supported Joest Racing team won at Le Mans three times in a row with the Audi R8 (2000–2002), as well as winning every race in the American Le Mans Series in its first year. Audi also sold the car to customer teams such as Champion Racing. In 2003, two Bentley Speed 8s, with engines designed by Audi, and driven by Joest drivers loaned to the fellow Volkswagen Group company, competed in the GTP class, and finished the race in the top two positions, while the Champion Racing R8 finished third overall, and first in the LMP900 class. Audi returned to the winner's podium at the 2004 race, with the top three finishers all driving R8s: Audi Sport Japan Team Goh finished first, Audi Sport UK Veloqx second, and Champion Racing third. At the 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans, Champion Racing entered two R8s, along with an R8 from the Audi PlayStation Team Oreca. The R8s (which were built to old LMP900 regulations) received a narrower air inlet restrictor, reducing power, and an additional 50 kg (110 lb) of weight compared to the newer LMP1 chassis. On average, the R8s were about 2–3 seconds off pace compared to the Pescarolo–Judd. But with a team of excellent drivers and experience, both Champion R8s were able to take first and third, while the Oreca team took fourth. The Champion team was also the first American team to win Le Mans since the Gulf Ford GTs in 1967. This also ends the long era of the R8; however, its replacement for 2006, called the Audi R10 TDI, was unveiled on 13 December 2005. The R10 TDI employed many new and innovative features, the most notable being the twin-turbocharged direct injection diesel engine. It was first raced in the 2006 12 Hours of Sebring as a race-test in preparation for the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans, which it later went on to win. Audi has been on the forefront of sports car racing, claiming a historic win in the first diesel sports car at 12 Hours of Sebring (the car was developed with a Diesel engine due to ACO regulations that favor diesel engines). As well as winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006 making history, the R10 TDI has also shown its capabilities by beating the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP in 2007, and beating Peugeot again in 2008, (however Peugeot won the 24h in 2009) and, in a podium clean-sweep by proving its reliability throughout the race (compared to all four 908 entries retired before the end of the race) while breaking a new distance record (set way back by the Porsche 917K of Martini Racing in 1971), in 2010 with the R15 TDI Plus.[81] Audi's sports car racing success would continue with the Audi R18's victory at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans. Audi Sport Team Joest's Benoît Tréluyer earned Audi their first pole position in five years while the team's sister car locked out the front row.[82] Early accidents eliminated two of Audi's three entries, but the sole remaining Audi R18 TDI of Tréluyer, Marcel Fässler, and André Lotterer held off the trio of Peugeot 908s to claim victory by a margin of 13.8 seconds. Results Car Year 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1 Position 4 3 1 1 4 3 3 3 1 6 3 3 Ret 1 5 2 2 3 1 2 2 3 1 1 1 Ret 1 Ret 2 1 2 1 1 3 Ret 2 Ret 3 Ret 5 4 Ret 4 17 1 Ret 5 3 Ret 4 Ret Ret 7 2 3 American Le Mans Series Audi entered a factory racing team run by Joest Racing into the American Le Mans Series under the Audi Sport North America name in 2000. This was a successful operation with the team winning on its debut in the series at the 2000 12 Hours of Sebring. Factory backed Audi R8s were the dominant car in ALMS taking 25 victories between 2000 and the end of the 2002 season. In 2003 Audi sold customer cars to Champion Racing as well as continuing to race the factory Audi Sport North America team. Champion Racing won many races as a private team running Audi R8s and eventually replaced Team Joest as the Audi Sport North America between 2006 and 2008. Since 2009 Audi has not taken part in full American Le Mans Series Championships, but has competed in the series opening races at Sebring, using the 12 hour race as a test for Le Mans, and also as part of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship season calendar. Results Year Manufacturer Chassis Team Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 Rd4 Rd5 Rd6 Rd7 Rd8 Rd9 Rd10 Rd11 Rd12 2000 Germany Audi R8 United States Audi Sport North America 2 20 3 Ret 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 6 4 3 2 Ret 1 4 2 2 1 15 2001 Germany Audi R8 United States Audi Sport North America 1 1 1 1 1 5 Ret 2 Ret Ret 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 4 1 1 2002 Germany Audi R8 United States Audi Sport North America 5 14 1 2 3 2 Ret 1 1 6 1 2 1 2 1 1 4 3 1 2003 Germany Audi R8 United States Audi Sport North America 1 2 2 1 1 7 1 2 3 United States Champion Racing 2 1 3 2 20 1 4 1 1 2004 Germany Audi R8 United Kingdom Audi Sport UK 1 2 United States Champion Racing 3 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2005 Germany Audi R8 United States Champion Racing 1 1 18 1 3 Ret 3 2 7 4 2 3 3 2 1 1 1 3 1 2 2006 Germany Audi R8 United States Audi Sport North America 1 3 1 R10 Ret 1 2 1 4 7 2 1 4 1 2 1 1 1 2007 Germany Audi R10 United States Audi Sport North America 4 1 7 3 2 5 5 2 2 3 1 1 1 2 12 6 23 3 3 4 2 17 3 2008 Germany Audi R10 United States Audi Sport North America 3 Ret 2 Ret 21 2 2 2 DSQ 1 2 6 1 1 7 4 1 1 1 Ret 3 1 2009 Germany Audi R15 United States Audi Sport North America 5 4 2010 Germany Audi R15 United States Audi Sport North America 1 3 2012 Germany Audi R18 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 16 1 2 2013 Germany Audi R18 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 1 2 European Le Mans Series Audi participated in the 2003 1000km of Le Mans which was a one-off sports car race in preparation for the 2004 European Le Mans Series. The factory team Audi Sport UK won races and the championship in the 2004 season but Audi was unable to match their sweeping success of Audi Sport North America in the American Le Mans Series, partly due to the arrival of a factory competitor in LMP1, Peugeot. The French manufacturer's 908 HDi FAP became the car to beat in the series from 2008 onwards with 20 LMP wins. However, Audi were able to secure the championship in 2008 even though Peugeot scored more race victories in the season.[83] Results Year Manufacturer Chassis Team Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 Rd4 Rd5 2003 Germany Audi R8 Japan Audi Sport Japan 1 2004 Germany Audi R8 United Kingdom Audi Sport UK 2 1 1 Ret 1 2 3 1 Japan Audi Sport Japan 3 4 2 2 2005 Germany Audi R8 France Team Oreca Ret 1 2 2 2008 Germany Audi R10 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 5 6 4 4 1 2 2 2 3 4 2010 Germany Audi R15 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest 1 3 Ret 5 3 12 World Endurance Championship 2012 In 2012, the FIA sanctioned a World Endurance Championship which would be organised by the ACO as a continuation of the ILMC. Audi competed won the first WEC race at Sebring and followed this up with a further three successive wins, including the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans. Audi scored a final 5th victory in the 2012 WEC in Bahrain and were able to win the inaugural WEC Manufacturers' Championship. 2013 As defending champions, Audi once again entered the Audi R18 e-tron quattro chassis into the 2013 WEC and the team won the first five consecutive races, including the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans. The victory at Round 5, Circuit of the Americas, was of particular significance as it marked the 100th win for Audi in Le Mans prototypes.[84] Audi secured their second consecutive WEC Manufacturers' Championship at Round 6 after taking second place and half points in the red-flagged Fuji race.[85] 2014 For the 2014 season Audi entered a redesigned and upgraded R18 e-tron quattro which featured a 2 MJ energy recovery system. As defending champions, Audi would once again face a challenge in LMP1 from Toyota, and additionally from Porsche who returned to endurance racing after a 16-year absence. The season opening 6hrs of Silverstone was a disaster for Audi who saw both cars retire from the race, marking the first time that an Audi car has failed to score a podium in a World Endurance Championship race. Results Year Manufacturer Chassis SEB United States SPA Belgium LMS France SIL United Kingdom SÃO Brazil BHR Bahrain FUJ Japan SHA China Total points Pos. 2012 Germany Audi R18 e-tron quattro 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 173 (209) 1st Year Manufacturer Chassis SIL United Kingdom SPA Belgium LMS France SÃO Brazil COA United States FUJ Japan SHA China BHR Bahrain Total points Pos. 2013 Germany Audi R18 e-tron quattro 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 207 (207) 1st Year Manufacturer Chassis Car SIL United Kingdom SPA Belgium LMS France COA United States FUJ Japan SHA China BHR Bahrain SÃU Brazil Total points Pos. 2014 Germany Audi R18 e-tron quattro 1 Ret 2 1 1 5 4 4 3 244 2nd 2 Ret 5 2 2 6 5 5 5 Formula E Audi will provide factory support to Abt Sportsline in the FIA Formula E Championship, The team will compete under the title of Audi Sport Abt Formula E Team in the inaugural 2014-15 Formula E season.[86] On 13 February 2014 the team announced its driver line up as Daniel Abt and World Endurance Championship driver Lucas di Grassi.[87] Team Chassis Driver CHI China MAL Malaysia URU Uruguay ARG Argentina TBA United States MIA United States LBH United States MON Monaco GER Germany GBR United Kingdom Total points Germany Audi Sport Abt Formula E Team Spark-Renault SRT 01E Daniel Abt 10 10 15 2015 62 Lucas di Grassi 1 2 3 2015 Formula One Audi has been linked to Formula One in recent years but has always resisted due to the company's opinion that it is not relevant to road cars, but hybrid power unit technology has been adopted into the sport, swaying the company's view and encouraging research into the program by former Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali. Marketing Branding The old logo used by Audi (1985–2009) The Audi emblem is four overlapping rings that represent the four marques of Auto Union. The Audi emblem symbolises the amalgamation of Audi with DKW, Horch and Wanderer: the first ring from the left represents Audi, the second represents DKW, third is Horch, and the fourth and last ring Wanderer.[88][89] Its similarity to the Olympic rings caused the International Olympic Committee to sue Audi in International Trademark Court in 1995, to which they lost.[90] As part of Audi's centennial celebration in 2009, the company updated the logo, changing the font to left-aligned Audi Type, and altering the shading for the overlapping rings.[91] The revised logo was designed by Rayan Abdullah.[92] Audi developed a Corporate Sound concept, with Audi Sound Studio designed for producing the Corporate Sound.[93] The Corporate Sound project began with sound agency Klangerfinder GmbH & Co KG and s12 GmbH. Audio samples were created in Klangerfinder's sound studio in Stuttgart, becoming part of Audi Sound Studio collection. Other Audi Sound Studio components include The Brand Music Pool, The Brand Voice.[94] Audi also developed Sound Branding Toolkit including certain instruments, sound themes, rhythm and car sounds which all are supposed to reflect the AUDI sound character.[95] Audi started using a beating heart sound trademark beginning in 1996. An updated heartbeat sound logo, developed by agencies KLANGERFINDER GmbH & Co KG of Stuttgart and S12 GmbH of Munich, was first used in 2010 in an Audi A8 commercial with the slogan "The Art of Progress."[96][97] Slogans Audi's corporate tagline is Vorsprung durch Technik, meaning "Progress through Technology".[98] The German-language tagline is used in many European countries, including the United Kingdom, and in other markets, such as Latin America, Oceania and parts of Asia including Japan. A few years ago, the North American tagline was "Innovation through technology", but in Canada the German tagline Vorsprung durch Technik was used in advertising. More recently, however, Audi has updated the tagline to "Truth in Engineering" in the U.S.[99] Typography Audi Sans (based on Univers Extended) was originally created in 1997 by Ole Schäfer for MetaDesign. MetaDesign was later commissioned for a new corporate typeface called Audi Type, designed by Paul van der Laan and Pieter van Rosmalen of Bold Monday. The font began to appear in Audi's 2009 products and marketing materials.[100] Sponsorships Audi sponsors Bundesliga club Bayern Munich Audi is a strong partner of different kinds of sports. In football, long partnerships exist between Audi and domestic clubs including FC Bayern Munich, Hamburger SV, 1. FC Nuremberg, Hertha Berlin, and Borussia Mönchengladbach and international clubs including Chelsea FC, Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax Amsterdam, Queens Park Rangers F.C. and Perspolis F.C.. Audi also sponsors winter sports: The Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is named after the company. Additionally, Audi supports the German Ski Association (DSV) as well as the alpine skiing national teams of Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, France, Liechtenstein, Italy, Austria and the US. For almost two decades Audi fosters golf sport: for example with the Audi quattro Cup and the HypoVereinsbank Ladies German Open presented by Audi. In sailing, Audi is engaged in the Medcup regatta and supports the team Luna Rossa during the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and also is the primary sponsor of the Melges 20 sailboat. Further, Audi sponsors the regional teams ERC Ingolstadt (hockey) and FC Ingolstadt 04 (soccer).[101] In 2009, the year of Audis 100th anniversary, the company organises the Audi Cup for the first time.[102] Audi also sponsor the New York Yankees as well. In October 2010 they agreed to a three sponsorship year-deal with Everton.[103] Audi also sponsors the England Polo Team and holds the Audi Polo Awards.[104][105] Multitronic campaign Audi Centre Sydney, Zetland, New South Wales, Australia In 2001, Audi promoted the new multitronic continuously variable transmission with television commercials throughout Europe, featuring an impersonator of musician and actor Elvis Presley.[106][107] A prototypical dashboard figure – later named "Wackel-Elvis" ("Wobble Elvis" or "Wobbly Elvis") – appeared in the commercials to demonstrate the smooth ride in an Audi equipped with the multitronic transmission. The dashboard figure was originally intended for use in the commercials only, but after they aired the demand for Wackel-Elvis fans grew among fans and the figure was mass-produced in China and marketed by Audi in their factory outlet store.[108] Audi TDI As part of Audi's attempt to promote its Diesel technology in 2009, the company began Audi Mileage Marathon. The driving tour featured a fleet of 23 Audi TDI vehicles from 4 models (Audi Q7 3.0 TDI, Audi Q5 3.0 TDI, Audi A4 3.0 TDI, Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI with S tronic transmission) travelling across the American continent from New York to Los Angeles, passing major cities like Chicago, Dallas and Las Vegas during the 13 daily stages, as well as natural wonders including the Rocky Mountains, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon.[109] As part of 2014 model year Audi TDI vehicles launch in the US, 3 television commercials ("The Station", "Future", "Range") were produced. In the 60-second 'The Station' ad, a woman at a fueling station reaches for the diesel pump to fill up her Audi A6. In a dramatic fashion, unsuspecting onlookers race towards her and they can't imagine the luxury vehicle is in fact a diesel. The spot ends with the tagline "It's time to rethink diesel – join the club." "The Station" appeared on primetime network and cable 2013 fall programming including Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, Hostages, Sons of Anarchy and NBC NFL Sunday Night Football. The 15-second "Range" ad demonstrates the potential to drive from New York to Chicago on a single tank of gas, covering a range of approximately 790 miles. In the 15-second "Future" ad, viewers see the potential for clean diesel as today's leading alternative fuel solution and an intelligent choice for those on the leading-edge. Audi TDI provides drivers with 30% better fuel economy and range without compromises on performance and design. In addition to the three new television spots, Audi also tried to dispel the most common myths of diesel – gas station availability, the smell and perception associated with an older generation of diesel vehicles, weak performance – in a series of four online video shorts that would roll out over the next two months on the Audi YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/audiusa). The spots also will appear on The Washington Post and Slate.com in a custom user-generated content hub through 2013-10-31. In addition to standard and high-impact ads, the content hub features custom videos, articles and infographics, along with relevant social conversations. The Audi TDI clean diesel campaign also features print ads that reinforce the message "the future of fuel is here now." Print ads would roll out in select automotive buff books in fall 2013.[110][111] 'The Station' ad was premiered in Canada in September 2013.[112] 'The Station' (also called 'The Moment of Truth') ad was produced by Venables Bell & Partners, Biscuit Filmworks, Final Cut.[113][114][115] As part of 2014 model year Audi TDI vehicles launch in the US, the 'Truth in 48' driving challenge took place from Audi Pacific dealership at Los Angeles to New York in 48 hours or less, began at 9 a.m. PDT on 2013-09-07. The Coast-to-coast attempt used 2014 Audi A6 TDI and Audi A7 TDI and a 2014 Audi Q5 TDI crossover as the support vehicle, with teams of eight noted hypermilers and four journalists.[116][117] Audi e-tron The next phase of technology Audi is developing is the e-tron electric drive powertrain system. They have shown several concept cars as of March 2010, each with different levels of size and performance. The original e-tron concept shown at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show is based on the platform of the R8 and has been scheduled for limited production. Power is provided by electric motors at all four wheels. The second concept was shown at the 2010 Detroit Motor Show. Power is provided by two electric motors at the rear axle. This concept is also considered to be the direction for a future mid-engined gas-powered 2-seat performance coupe. The Audi A1 e-tron concept, based on the Audi A1 production model, is a hybrid vehicle with a range extending Wankel rotary engine to provide power after the initial charge of the battery is depleted. It is the only concept of the three to have range extending capability. The car is powered through the front wheels, always using electric power. It is all set to be displayed at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi, India, from 5 January. Powered by a 1.4 litre engine, and can cover a distance up to 54 km s on a single charge. The e-tron was also shown in the 2013 blockbuster film Iron Man 3 and was driven by Tony Stark (Iron Man). In video games Audi R8 In PlayStation Home, the PlayStation 3's online community-based service, Audi has supported Home by releasing a dedicated Home space in the European version of Home. Audi is the first carmaker to develop a space for Home. On 17 December 2009, Audi released the Audi Space as two spaces; the Audi Home Terminal and the Audi Vertical Run.[118] The Audi Home Terminal features an Audi TV channel delivering video content, an Internet Browser feature, and a view of a city. The Audi Vertical Run is where users can access the mini-game Vertical Run, a futuristic mini-game featuring Audi's e-tron concept. Players collect energy and race for the highest possible speeds and the fastest players earn a place in the Audi apartments located in a large tower in the centre of the Audi Space. In both the Home Terminal and Vertical Run spaces, there are teleports where users can teleport back and forth between the two spaces. Audi has stated that additional content will be added in 2010.[119] See also Portal icon Bavaria portal Portal icon Companies portal Portal icon Cars portal Wanderer (car) DKW Horch Notes 1.^ Jump up to: a b "Satzung und Statuten der AUDI AG" [Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of AUDI AG] (PDF). audi.com (in German). Ingolstadt, Germany: AUDI AG. 20 May 2010. p. 1. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012. 2.^ Jump up to: a b "History of Audi AG". 3.Jump up ^ AUDI, production plant. "Production Plant Worldwide". 4.Jump up ^ "AUDI AG: new record year with over 1.74 million deliveries in 2014". Retrieved 2015-01-17. 5.Jump up ^ AUDI AG 2012, p. 188. 6.^ Jump up to: a b c d "VWAG financial year2012" (PDF). Retrieved March 2013. 7.Jump up ^ Fuhrmans, Vanessa (13 March 2013). "Audi Stalks BMW's Luxury Crown". 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History of Range Rover

The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle (SUV) also with extensive off road capabilities, produced by British car maker Land Rover, and serves as its flagship model. Land Rover is one of several auto manufacturers owned by Tata, the Indian multinational conglomerate Tata Group. The Range Rover was launched in 1970, and created a new space in the automotive world. It is now in its fourth generation. Land Rover has expanded the Range Rover model line to include two different designs: the Range Rover Evoque and the Range Rover Sport that derive core styling, brand identity and breadth of capability from the current Range Rover model. Contents [hide] 1 History 2 The Range Rover 2.1 First generation (1970–1996) 2.1.1 Australian assembly 2.1.2 Utility vehicles 2.2 Second generation (1994–2002) 2.3 Third generation (2002–2012) 2.4 Fourth generation (since 2012) 2.4.1 Hybrid version 3 Sales (Excludes Range Rover Sport model) 4 Motorsport 5 Range Rover Sport 6 Range Rover Evoque 7 Criticism 8 References 9 External links History[edit] The Rover Company (the creator of the Land Rover marque) had been experimenting with a larger model than the Land Rover Series as far back as 1951, when the Rover P4-based two-wheel-drive "Road Rover" project was developed by Gordon Bashford.[2] This was shelved in 1958, and the idea lay dormant until 1966, when engineers Spen King and Bashford set to work on a new model.[3] In 1967, the first Range Rover prototype was built, with the classic Range Rover shape clearly discernible, but with a different front grille and headlight configuration. The design of the Range Rover was finalised in 1969. Twenty-six Velar engineering development vehicles were built between 1969 and 1970 and were road registered with the number plates YVB151H through to YVB177H.[4] The Velar name was derived from the Italian "velare" meaning to veil or to cover.[5] Range Rover development engineer Geof Miller used the name as a decoy for registering pre-production Range Rovers. The Velar company was registered in London and produced 40 pre-production vehicles that were built between 1967 and 1970. Most of these Velar pre-production vehicles are accounted for and have survived into preservation.[5] The Range Rover was launched in 1970. In the early 1970s, the Musée du Louvre in Paris exhibited a Range Rover as an "exemplary work of industrial design".[6] In 1972, the British Trans-Americas Expedition became the first vehicle-based expedition to traverse the Americas from north-to-south, including traversing the roadless Darién Gap. The specially modified Range Rovers used for this expedition are now on display in the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust collection at Gaydon, Warwickshire. Between 1974 and 1987, Land Rover vehicles were only sold in the United States through the grey market. The Land Rover company began selling the Range Rover officially in the U.S. on 16 March 1987. [7] From that time until 1993, the U.S. marketing was all in the name of Range Rover, because it was the only model offered in the American market. In 1993, with the arrival of the Defender 110 and the imminent arrival of the Land Rover Discovery, the company's U.S. sales were under the name "Land Rover North America". In 2005, Land Rover launched another model under the Range Rover brand – the Range Rover Sport, which was based on the Land Rover Discovery platform, but the new Range Rover Sport has the latest Range Rover platform. In 2011, the Range Rover Evoque was launched. The Range Rover[edit] First generation (1970–1996)[edit] Range Rover "Classic" Range Rover front 20080331.jpg Overview Production 1970–1996 Assembly Solihull plant, Solihull, United Kingdom Enfield, Australia [1] Body and chassis Body style 3-door SUV 5-door SUV Related Land Rover Discovery Powertrain Engine 3.5 L V8 130 hp Carburettor 3.5 L V8 155 hp 3.9 L V8 182 hp 4.2 L V8 200 hp 2.4 L 112 hp VM Turbodiesel 2.5 L 119 hp VM Turbodiesel 2.5 L 111 hp 200TDi Turbodiesel 2.5 L 111 hp 300TDi Turbodiesel Dimensions Wheelbase 100.0 in (2,540 mm) (SWB) 108.0 in (2,743 mm) (LWB) Length 175 in (4,445 mm) (SWB) 183 in (4,648 mm) (LWB) Width 70.1 in (1,781 mm) Height 70.9 in (1,801 mm) (1970-1980) 70.1 in (1,781 mm) (1980 onwards) Main article: Range Rover Classic The first-generation Range Rover was produced between 1970 and 1996. It was available only in a 2-door body until 1981. Unlike other 4x4s such as the Jeep Wagoneer, the original Range Rover was not designed as a luxury-type vehicle. While certainly up-market compared to preceding Land Rover models, the early Range Rovers had fairly basic, utilitarian interiors with vinyl seats and plastic dashboards that were designed to be washed down with a hose. Convenience features such as power steering, carpeted floors, air conditioning, cloth/leather seats, and wooden interior trim were fitted later. The Range Rover was a body-on-frame design with a box section ladder type chassis, like the contemporary Series Land Rovers. The Range Rover utilised coil springs as opposed to leaf springs, permanent four-wheel drive, and four-wheel disc brakes. The Range Rover was originally powered by various Rover V8 engines and diesel engines. Originally, the Range Rover was fitted with a detuned 130 hp (97 kW) version of the Buick-derived Rover V8 engine. In 1984, the engine was fitted with Lucas fuel injection, boosting power to 155 hp (116 kW). The 3.5 litre (3,528 cc) engine was bored out to a displacement of 3.9 litres (3,947 cc) for the 1990 model year, and 4.2 litre (4,215 cc) in 1992 (1993 model year) for the 108-inch Long Wheelbase Vogue LSE (County LWB [long wheelbase] in North America). One of the first significant changes came in 1981, with the introduction of a four-door body. Shortly after they introduced twin thermo fan technology to reduce significant overheating problems 1970s models experienced in Australia. In 1988, LR introduced a durable 2.4 litre turbodiesel (badged Vogue Turbo D) arrived with 112 bhp (84 kW), manufactured by Italian VM Motori. The same engine was also available in the Rover SD1 passenger car. The diesel project was codenamed project Beaver. During the project, 12 world records were broken, including the fastest diesel SUV to reach 100 mph (160 km/h), and the furthest a diesel SUV has travelled in 24 hours. In 1990 project Otter was unveiled. This was a mildly tuned 2.5 litre, 119 bhp (89 kW) version of the 'Beaver' 2.4. In 1992, Land Rover finally introduced their own diesel engines in the Range Rover, beginning with the 111 bhp (83 kW) 200TDi, first released in the Land Rover Discovery and following in 1994, the 300 TDi, again with 111 bhp. The very first Range Rover was a green model with the registration "YVB 151H",[8] and is now on exhibition at Huddersfield Land Rover Centre, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The first generation model was known as the Range Rover until almost the end of its run, when Land Rover introduced the name Range Rover Classic to distinguish it from its successors.[9] Australian assembly[edit] Jaguar-Rover-Australia began assembly of the Range Rover from CKD kits at its Enfield plant, in New South Wales, Australia in 1979. Government increases in the tariff on parts lead to Australian assembly being discontinued in 1983.[1] Utility vehicles[edit] YAM Range Rover Airport Crash Tender The first-generation Range Rover served as the base for specialist utility vehicles. These included the Carmichaels International six-wheel Fire Tender. This was a two-door model with an extended chassis and a third "lazy" axle added. Designed for small airfield use, it had a water-pump mounted on the front bumper driven directly by the V8's crankshaft. The MoD purchased them for the RAF, this version was called the TACR2. Carmichaels was contracted to supply the modified chassis and the fire-fighting body was supplied and mounted by Gloster-Saro. These were four-door versions using an internally mounted water-pump driven by a gearbox PTO. At least one of these (at Duxford IWM) has been converted into a full 6x6 by linking a drive-through unit to the two rear axles' differentials. Second generation (1994–2002)[edit] Range Rover (P38A) 1995-1998 Land Rover Range Rover (P38A) 4.0 SE wagon 05.jpg Overview Production 1994–2002 Body and chassis Body style 5-door SUV Powertrain Engine 4.0 L Rover V8 4.6 L Rover V8 2.5 L BMW M51 Turbodiesel I6 Transmission 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual Dimensions Wheelbase 108.1 in (2,746 mm) Length 185.5 in (4,712 mm) Width 74.4 in (1,890 mm) Height 71.6 in (1,819 mm) Main article: Range Rover (P38A) After 25 years from the introduction of the first-generation Range Rover, the second-generation Range Rover—model-designation P38A—was introduced for the 1995 model year, with an updated version of the Rover V8 engines. There was also the option of a 2.5 litre BMW six-cylinder turbo-diesel with a BOSCH injection pump. This was the first Diesel injection with electronic controls in a Land Rover, before common rails were introduced. This was a result of BMW's subsequent ownership of Rover Group and hence the Land Rover brand. The new model offered more equipment and premium trims, positioning the vehicle above the Land Rover Discovery to face the increased competition in the SUV marketplace. This model was the last to feature the Rover V8 and interior leather supplied by Connolly who went out of business in 2002. It was the first model to feature Satellite Navigation as an option. Third generation (2002–2012)[edit] Range Rover (L322) Range Rover HSE.JPG Overview Production 2002–2012 Body and chassis Body style 5-door SUV Powertrain Engine Petrol engines: 4.2 L Jaguar AJ-V8 Supercharged V8 (2006–2009) 4.4 L BMW M62 V8 (2002–2006) 4.4 L Jaguar AJ-V8 V8 (2006–2009) 5.0 L Jaguar AJ-V8 Supercharged V8 (2009–2012) Diesel engines: 3.0 L BMW M57 TD I6 (2002–2006) 3.6 L Ford Lion V8 TD V8 (2007–2010) 4.4 L Ford TD V8 (2010–2012) Transmission 8-speed automatic[10] (since 2010) 6-speed automatic (since 2006) 5-speed automatic (2002–2005) Dimensions Wheelbase 113.4 in (2,880 mm) Length 194.9 in (4,950 mm) (2002–2005) 195.7 in (4,971 mm) (since 2006) 195.9 in (4,976 mm) Width 75.7 in (1,923 mm) (2002–2009) 76.1 in (1,933 mm) (since 2010) Height 73.3 in (1,862 mm) (2002–2005) 74.9 in (1,902 mm) (2006–2009) 73.9 in (1,877 mm) (since 2010) Main article: Range Rover (L322) In 2002, the third-generation model was introduced which saw the model move further up-market. Planned and developed under BMW ownership the third generation was to share components and systems (electronics, core power units etc.) with the 7 Series (E38). It was designed to accommodate BMW's M62 V8 engines for future models. The manual transmission was dropped entirely, leaving only the automatic. The 7 Series electronics system was being phased out during the development of the third-generation Range Rover and being replaced with the electronics from the BMW E39 5 Series. Range Rover Interior Range Rover Logo Fourth generation (since 2012)[edit] Range Rover (L405) Geneva MotorShow 2013 - Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography front.jpg Overview Production Since 2012[11] Model years 2012- present Body and chassis Body style 5-door Full-Size SUV Powertrain Engine 3.0 L V6 Diesel 4.4 L V8 Diesel 5.0 L V8 Petrol[12] Transmission 8-Speed Automatic Dimensions Wheelbase 2,922 mm (115.0 in)[12] Length 4,999 mm (196.8 in)[12] Width 2,073 mm (81.6 in)[12] Height 1,835 mm (72.2 in)[12] Main article: Range Rover (L405) The fourth generation Range Rover, codenamed L405 was exhibited in September 2012 at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.[13] Hybrid version[edit] The Range Rover Hybrid is diesel-powered hybrid electric model unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The ordering process began in September 2013, and retail deliveries in Europe are slated to start in early 2014.[14] Sales (Excludes Range Rover Sport model)[edit] Calendar year Worldwide 2009 22,001[15] 2010 23,602[15] 2011 29,626[15] 2012 27,496[15] 2013 45,077[15] Motorsport[edit] A Range Rover was used to win the 1979 inaugural and 1981 Paris–Dakar Rally, completing a race distance in each case of approx 10,000 km.[16] Range Rovers also competed in the East African Safari throughout the 1980s.[17] Range Rover Sport[edit] Range Rover Sport Main article: Range Rover Sport On 26 November 2004, Land Rover released the first photographs of the Range Rover Sport, a new model it planned to show to the public for the first time at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The Range Rover Sport is a production car development of the Range Stormer concept vehicle the company showcased in the 2004 North American International Auto Show. Though called the Range Rover Sport "L319", it was not merely a new specification within the Range Rover line-up, but rather an adapted Discovery "L320", or T5 Platform Discovery/LR3 with Range Rover exterior styling and Range Rover interior seating and dash forms, a shortened wheelbase, smaller luggage capacity and a single rather than split tailgate which was angled back for styling improvements. With entry model pricing close to upper Discovery models, the Sport became the biggest seller of all the Land Rover products. This model was released for sale in late 2005 as a 2006 model. In 2013 a new completely redesigned version was released for sale as a 2014 model year "L494". Unlike the original and current Discovery, it is does not have a steel chassis rales but is based on the new D7u alloy Platform, which much more resembles current flagship Range Rover with closer equipment levels and capabilities in a smaller body style. Hence the L494 Range Rover Sport is around 400kg lighter than the previous generation and benefits significantly in performance due to its drastic weight reduction. Range Rover Evoque[edit] Range Rover Evoque Main article: Range Rover Evoque The Range Rover Evoque, which went into production in July 2011, has its roots in the Land Rover LRX concept car; with which it bears an almost identical resemblance. It is available with either a three-door or five-door hatchback body, front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and with a 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine or one of two different power output 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engines. In 2012, at the Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover unveiled a convertible concept, which featured four seats and a drop-down tailgate.[18] Criticism[edit] Main article: Criticism of sport utility vehicles The Range Rover brand has attracted some controversy,[19] particularly from those concerned with the potential negative environmental impact of large, luxury vehicles. In 2005, members of Greenpeace temporarily disrupted Range Rover production at the Land Rover plant in Solihull.[20] In 2004, Spen King criticised SUV owners who drove their vehicles in urban areas, saying that vehicles like the Range Rover he created were "never intended as a status symbol but later incarnations of my design seem to be intended for that purpose."[21] In 2014 it was reported that Range Rovers could be opened and started using hand-held equipment readily available from eBay. High levels of theft rendered Range Rovers not insurable.[22] Reliability issues are common complaints.[23] JD Power also awards category winner status to several Land Rovers in the USA, and long term recent tests have shown excellent reliability. In Europe, some products win reliability appraisals. [2