Search

40 years of pioneering spirit As the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, “The only constant in life is change,” and that is also true for Audi Sport GmbH. There has always been, and always will be, transformation: quattro GmbH was founded in 1983 to secure the quattro name and marketing rights. What began in the mid-1980s with high-quality accessories and sports gear went on to become a success story. At the 1995 International Motor Show, quattro GmbH presented the first customized Audi models, including the Audi A8 and the Audi Cabriolet. The following year, quattro GmbH was officially registered as a car manufacturer – the first in-house model was the Audi S6 plus. Today, the initial handful of people has grown into a team of around 1,200 dedicated employees. In 2020, series production, vehicle customization, Audi exclusive, and all Audi motorsport activities were brought together under Audi Sport GmbH. The Audi Sport GmbH recipe for success is its team that is always daring to try new things while still remaining true to its intrinsic character. Going forward, the sporty Audi subsidiary is pursuing a clear and systematic electrification strategy. The vision is to set standards in the high-performance customer experience and electrification sector – and thus ensure the future of the brand with the four rings’ sporty DNA.

China GT Championship (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner Circuit Hero One (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner DMV GTC Dunlop 60 (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner Eset V4 Cup (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner Eset V4 Cup Endurance (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner FFSA GT4 France Pro-Am (Audi R8 LMS GT4) Winner FIA CEZ (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner FIA CEZ Endurance (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner GT4 European Series Silver (Audi R8 LMS GT4) Winner GT Masters Asia (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner GT Sweden (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge TCR (Audi RS 3 LMS) Winner New Zealand Endurance Championship (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner Pirelli World Challenge GTS (Audi R8 LMS GT4) Winner Pirelli World Challenge GTS Sprint (Audi R8 LMS GT4) Winner Pirelli World Challenge GTS SprintX (Audi R8 LMS GT4) Winner South Island Endurance Series Three Hour (Audi R8 LMS GT3) Winner TCR Benelux (Audi RS 3 LMS) Winner TCR Russia (Audi RS 3 LMS) Winner Victorian State Circuit Racing Championships Sports Cars (Audi R8 LMS GT3) 2017 Winner Drivers, Manufacturers and Teams classification DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM) Winner Nürburgring 24 Hours (Audi R8 LMS) Winner Spa 24 Hours (Audi R8 LMS) Winner Australian GT (Audi R8 LMS) Winner Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup (Audi R8 LMS) Winner Canarian Hill Climb Championship (Audi R8 LMS) Winner China GT Championship (Audi R8 LMS) Winner DMV GTC (Audi R8 LMS) Winner DMV GTC Dunlop 60 (Audi R8 LMS) Winner FIA European Hillclimb Championship (Audi R8 LMS) Winner Intercontinental GT Challenge (Audi R8 LMS) Winner North Island Endurance Series Three Hour (Audi R8 LMS) Winner Saudi GT (Audi R8 LMS) Winner Three Hour Endurance Championship (Audi R8 LMS) Winner Victorian State Circuit Racing Championships Sports Cars (Audi R8 LMS) Winner Pirelli World Challenge TC (Audi RS 3 LMS) Winner TCR China (Audi RS 3 LMS) Winner TCR Russia (Audi RS 3 LMS) 2016 3rd in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) Winner Manufacturers and Teams classification DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM) Winner Drivers and Manufacturers Classification

1994 30 Years Audi 80 Competition ...............................29 1989 35 Years Audi 90 IMSA-GTO ..................................30 1984 40 Years Double championship win for Stig Blomqvist and Audi .......................................31 May 1984 40 Years Audi Sport quattro S1 .............................32 January 1984 40 Years Walter Röhrl joins Audi ...........................33 1984 40 Years Harald Demuth German rally champion in Audi quattro ....................................................35 1984 40 Years Audi at Pikes Peak ...................................36 November 1954 70 Years Top-three finish in the European Touring Car Championship for DKW ........37 July 1954 70 Years Werner Haas World Champion on NSU Rennmax .................................................38 September 1939 85 Years Final grand prix victory ............................39 August 1939 85 Years Wanderer class victory in the Liège–Rome–Liège Rally .......................................40 August 1934 90 Years Six Days Trial in Garmisch-Partenkirchen ....................................41 March 1934 90 Years Auto Union grand prix racing car ..............42 Audi Tradition 5 Anniversary Dates 2024 Years 25 Audi S3 The compact three-door Audi A3 that was unveiled in autumn 1996 was based on the platform of the VW Golf IV, which hit the market one year later.

On October 10, 1983, Audi Sport GmbH, as it is known now, was founded as quattro GmbH. Today, it shapes the sporty and exclusive image of the brand with the four rings. At Audi, the vehicles with the red rhombus stand for performance and sportiness. Audi Sport GmbH: 40th anniversary insights October 10, 2023, marks the 40th anniversary of Audi Sport GmbH, which evolved from quattro GmbH. In early summer, Audi started the events to celebrate this anniversary in parallel with the Nürburgring 24 Hours and an exhibition at the Neckarsulm facility. 40 facts about 40 years of Audi Sport GmbH To mark the 40th birthday of Audi Sport GmbH, which evolved from quattro GmbH founded in 1983, the company presents 40 exciting facts. Red rhombus meets “Green Hell”: 40 years of Audi Sport GmbH with a special kick-off at the Nürburgring Almost 40 years ago – on October 10, 1983 – Audi Sport GmbH, as it is known now, was founded as quattro GmbH. Today, it shapes the sporty and exclusive image of the brand with the four rings. At Audi, the vehicles with the red rhombus stand for performance and sportiness. The birthday celebrations began at the 2023 Nürburgring 24 Hours. Audi Sport GmbH is currently involved in four business areas: In addition to the development and production of high-performance models, it is responsible for both factory and customer motorsport for the brand with the four rings. In addition, vehicle customization via the Audi exclusive program and the sale of high-quality lifestyle collections from the Audi collection are among its core areas. Highlights from 40 years of Audi Sport GmbH Audi Sport GmbH in pictures 24h Nürburgring 2023 Modern race cars in historic dress: 24h Nürburgring with design icons from Audi Audi Sport customer racing contested the 51st edition of the Nürburgring 24 Hours with four Audi R8 LMS cars in epoch-making designs. Audi’s expressive liveries reflect its motorsport history.

Exclusive event for customers and fans at Audi Forum Neckarsulm Exciting insights into four decades of Audi Sport GmbH Rolf Michl, Managing Director Audi Sport GmbH: “Proud past, even stronger future” Today marks the 40th anniversary of Audi Sport GmbH, which evolved from quattro GmbH. In early summer, Audi started the events to celebrate this anniversary in parallel with the Nürburgring 24 Hours and an exhibition at the Neckarsulm facility. Next Saturday (October 14), an exclusive event will be hosted at Audi Forum Neckarsulm with exciting insights into the high-performance subsidiary that has been successful for 40 years. quattro GmbH has existed since 1983, and in 2016, it was renamed as Audi Sport GmbH: Today, the wholly owned subsidiary of AUDI AG is shaping the sporty and exclusive image of the premium brand with the four rings even stronger than ever. “We look back proudly on the past 40 years and want to be even stronger in the future. To this end, we will selectively expand our model portfolio and our other service offerings together with AUDI AG. The sales records of recent years clearly underline our ambitions,” says Rolf Michl, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH. Strengthening ties with customers and fans through direct contact On October 14, 2023, the public can enjoy an exclusive event with an informative and entertaining program in and around Audi Forum Neckarsulm. Starting at 11 a.m., Audi Sport GmbH and AUDI AG will be represented openly and personally on the factory grounds of the Neckarsulm facility. The employees of the four rings are using the highlight of this anniversary year to provide customers and fans with comprehensive information, further strengthening the bond with them through direct contact.

To mark the 40th birthday of Audi Sport GmbH, which evolved from quattro GmbH founded in 1983, the company presents 40 exciting facts. quattro and quattro GmbH: Audi registered the quattro brand in 1979. The term quattro (Italian for “four”) stands for the drivetrain of an automobile that transfers power to all four of its wheels. In March 1980, the brand with the four rings presented the quattro sports coupé, its first model with permanent all-wheel drive. This cutting-edge technology, which offers a particularly high level of dynamic handling, safety, and unique driving pleasure, is still the basic feature of all Audi RS models today. In 1983, Audi founded quattro GmbH as a wholly owned subsidiary. The original goals were to protect the quattro name and marketing rights internationally in a legal manner, and to supplement the Audi portfolio in a targeted way with sophisticated product and service ranges bearing the quattro logo. The original: Audi systematically extended the offering of vehicles with permanent all-wheel drive to all of its model ranges in the 1980s. To identify the forefather of all the brand’s all-wheel drive models, the first Audi quattro was later given the name “Ur-quattro” in German. With 147 kW (200 hp), the sports coupé was in the sports car league at the time. Thick cheeks: The characteristic fender flares – known as blisters – marked the first Audi quattro. This feature is at the core of Audi’s design DNA. “Making technology visible” is the name of this central design philosophy of the brand with the four rings. Audi also emphasizes the strong quattro character with this striking design feature on many of the current RS models. October 10, 1983: On this day, Audi founded quattro GmbH, which was renamed as Audi Sport GmbH in 2016. The name quattro GmbH unmistakably stands for the special note of individuality, sportiness, and exclusivity that Audi’s new corporate subsidiary delivers. Its first managing director was Jens Neumann.

99 times pure fascination: from the unique ice race concept to a special edition Audi exclusive: three decades of customization expertise at the sporty Audi subsidiary Bernhard Neufeld, Head of Audi exclusive: “New style of the ice race edition as the emotional pinnacle of electromobility” Audi celebrates the 40th anniversary of Audi Sport GmbH, which emerged from quattro GmbH founded in 1983, with the Audi RS e-tron GT (combined electric power consumption in kWh/100 km [62.1 mi]: 22.1–19.8, combined CO₂ emissions in g/km [g/mi]: 0) as a special edition: The ice race edition embodies a new form of individualization. This edition enriches the emotional portfolio of Audi exclusive – an offering that has delighted the brand’s distinguished clientele for some three decades now. Audi draws its inspiration for this edition from the unique GP Ice Race in Austria. The color tones of the world of snow are reflected on the outer skin of the body and are continued in the interior. With its basic color Florett silver metallic and the black carbon roof in combination with a striking foil warp, the Audi RS e-tron GT ice race edition appears magical at first sight. The colors silver and white symbolize sparkling snow crystals and ice lakes, the purple accents evoke images of shimmering ski goggles. The precise accentuations and transparent patterns harmoniously, yet excitingly, reproduce the style of mountainous winter worlds. This color scheme is continued in the interior: seat center panels, shoulder arches and side bolsters in diamond silver leather emphasize this character. Combined with black leather sections and contrasting purple stitching, the four-door Gran Turismo spoils you with an exclusive ambience. Striking details round off the interior experience. “This new style of the ice race edition underscores the emotional pinnacle of electric mobility at Audi,” says Bernhard Neufeld, Head of Audi exclusive.

Wide range of NSU exhibits through cooperation between Audi Tradition and the Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum Neckarsulm (German Motorcycle and NSU-Museum Neckarsulm) Joint exhibition from June 14, 2023 to May 5, 2024 at two locations: the Audi Forum in Neckarsulm and the Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum “Fascination meets performance” – Exhibition for 40-year anniversary of Audi Sport GmbH as part of the special exhibition in the Audi Forum in Neckarsulm Anniversary magazine on NSU history from a wide range of perspectives Two partners, one theme: NSU. In 2023, Audi and the city of Neckarsulm are celebrating 150 years of the traditional brand NSU. That is reason enough for Audi Tradition and the Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum Neckarsulm (German Motorcycle and NSU-Museum Neckarsulm) to reassert the long history of Audi’s Neckarsulm site and the history of NSU in the new special exhibition “Innovation. Wagemut. Transformation. 150 Jahre NSU” (in English: “Innovation. Audacity. Transformation. 150 Years of NSU”). The exhibition will be on display from June 14, 2023 to May 5, 2024 in the Audi Forum Neckarsulm and the Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum Neckarsulm. Additionally, an anniversary magazine is being published at the start of the exhibition: a solid 176 pages covering many facets of NSU history. The company and the NSU brand are closely tied to Neckarsulm right in the name, which is derived from the city where the Neckar and Sulm rivers meet. Moreover, the history of NSU offers a unique perspective on the development of mobility: from the bicycle to the motorcycle to the car. It was 150 years ago, in 1873, when Christian Schmidt and Heinrich Stoll founded a knitting machine workshop under the name “Mechanische Werkstätte Schmidt & Stoll.” That workshop later evolved into NSU Motorenwerke AG and then Audi’s Neckarsulm site.