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Premium in the entry-level segment: the Audi A2 – progressive in design and technology, and with top long-term quality The Audi A2 1.2 TDI was the world’s first four-door three-liter car It was launched 25 years ago – and polarized opinions: the Audi A2. With its innovative aluminum body, the compact car was light, aerodynamic, and economical in terms of consumption. There were five engine variants to choose from; the A2 1.2 TDI caused a sensation as the world’s first four-door three-liter car. And since 2003, the special “colour.storm” edition has attracted attention with its special paint colors. However, since sales fell short of expectations, Audi ended production in 2005 after about five years and 176,377 units built. The innovative Audi A2 can showcase its qualities in a “second career”: as a modern classic with a stable value, the A2 has a loyal fan base and can still be seen on the road today as a daily companion. In the early 1990s, the three-liter car was announced as a development goal by the Volkswagen Group and Audi, and the first work on the project began shortly afterwards. The designers in Ingolstadt worked closely with the experts at the aluminum center in Neckarsulm. In May 1995, they presented a concept study called “Ringo,” whose Audi Space Frame (ASF) was less complex than the ASF of the Audi A8, which was largely built by hand. Stefan Sielaff – the former head of Audi’s Munich design studio – took over the project and led the interior design, while Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke handled the exterior. Together with future design chief Gerhard Pfefferle, they gave the “rolling cage” Ringo a two-door body – which proved already close to the later design. As development progressed, two studies were created: one was a show car at the IAA in Frankfurt in 1997 and, in addition to the provisional model designation Al2, it bore the nickname “Light Green” because of its color.

Booklet features a selection of more than two dozen anniversaries The launch of the Audi A2 25 years ago; the first new Audi in post-war times 60 years ago; and Hans Stuck’s record-breaking exploits in the “world’s fastest road-going car” near Lucca 90 years ago With the “Anniversary Dates 2025” booklet, Audi Tradition is showcasing the most important moments in the product and company history of Audi, which is as eventful as it is diverse. Audi historians have selected a total of 27 dates to commemorate in 2025. Twenty-five years ago, the Audi A2 hit the market. With its aluminum body, it made a name for itself as a progressive compact car: light, aerodynamic, and economical. The Audi A2 polarized opinion with its design and unusual proportions; the concept was ahead of its time. However, sales remained below expectations, and Audi ended production after roughly five years and 176,377 units built. Since then, the A2 became a fan favorite and is now a sought-after collector’s item. Sixty years ago, the first post–World War II Audi rolled off the production line. With the “Auto Union Audi” vehicle, Auto Union GmbH revived the tradition-steeped Audi brand name in 1965. The new name was meant to show that this car represented a fresh start for Auto Union in terms of technology. The Audi was the first car from the brand with four rings to feature a four-cylinder four-stroke engine, and it marked the beginning of a new era in Ingolstadt. Twenty years later, on January 1, 1985, Audi NSU Auto Union AG was renamed AUDI AG, and since that time, the company and its products have shared the same short, memorable name. Ninety years ago, in February 1935, a spectacular attempt to break speed records took place in Italy. After test drives in October 1934 with the Grand Prix racing car on the AVUS in Berlin, the Auto Union racing department started developing the vehicle that would later be known as the “Lucca” car.

Aerodynamics in automotive manufacturing from 1945 to the present day: from concept cars and record-breaking models to race cars and the Cd world champion, the Audi 100 Almost 30 exhibits feature in a special exhibition from July 25, 2024, to March 2, 2025 Audi wrote engineering history in 1982 with the Audi 100. With its drag coefficient of 0.30, the third-generation Audi 100 was the world’s most aerodynamically efficient production saloon at the time, making it an essential part of the new special exhibition "Form vollendet". The new special exhibition will be at the Audi museum mobile in Ingolstadt until March 2, 2025, where Audi Tradition will present aerodynamic concepts from 1945 to the present day. The aerodynamics research that flourished before the Second World War and which was the subject of Audi Tradition’s “Windschnittig” exhibition (German for “streamlined”) that ran until the end of June received little attention after 1945. Europe’s automotive industry was busy getting back on its feet. During this period, pre-war developments were still in use and improved upon. It wasn’t until the rising cost of fuel during the 1973 oil crisis prompted a shift in thinking that automotive engineers began focusing on reducing fuel consumption. One of the dials used to achieve this was aerodynamic drag. In 1982, Audi made a splash with the Audi 100; its drag coefficient of 0.30 set a world record for production sedans, a value that would become the benchmark for years to come. The new Audi Tradition special exhibition “Form vollendet” (German for “form perfected”) showcases the Cd world champion Audi 100 alongside other models such as the NSU Ro 80, the Porsche 356, the Lamborghini Countach, and the Ducati Paso 950.

Inspired by Bauhaus: Coupé study from 1995 began series production in 1998 178,765 first-generation Audi TT Coupés had rolled off the production line by 2006 Audi designer Torsten Wenzel introduced the study to series production: “The Audi TT is a driving sculpture” Twenty-five years, three generations: The brand with the four rings wrote design history with the Audi TT. Since its debut in 1998, the sports car has struck a chord with people worldwide thanks to the fun it promises drivers and its clear design language. „Auto Europe“ voted it the best new car of the year in 1999. In the mid-1990s, the Audi A8 luxury model elevated the Audi brand to a higher position and gradually led to the renaming of the model series: The Audi 80 became the Audi A4, and the Audi 100 was dubbed the Audi A6. Introduced in 1994, the Audi A4 was the first model to embody Audi’s new design language. Next was the Audi A3 premium compact car, launched in 1996, and the second generation of the Audi A6, introduced in 1997. In the course of emotionalizing the brand through a fresh, progressive design, American designer Freeman Thomas, under the then Head of Design Peter Schreyer, created a puristic sports car in the Audi TT Coupé. Audi presented the study to an enthusiastic trade show audience at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 1995. The model name “TT” is reminiscent of the legendary Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, one of the oldest motorsports events in the world and one where NSU and DKW celebrated great successes with their motorcycles. The name “TT” also recalls the sporty NSU TT of the 1960s. The Audi TT Coupé’s deliberate departure from the usual Audi nomenclature underscored the complete novelty of the model. Designer Wenzel: “In the Audi TT, every shape has a clear function” In December 1995, the decision was made to mass-produce the Audi TT Coupé.

Five-cylinder engine delivering 136 hp presented for the first time in 1976 in the Audi 100 Successful engine concept for series production and rallying Audi RS 3: modified five-cylinder engine with more torque Audi presented the first five-cylinder gasoline engine 45 years ago in the second-generation Audi 100. Enhancements and new developments followed with turbocharging, exhaust gas purification and four-valve technology, rally engines, and five-cylinder diesel units. The 2.5 TFSI won the “International Engine of the Year” award nine times in a row. Today, the high-performance engine in the new Audi RS 3 Sportback carries on the five-cylinder engine tradition – with more power than ever. The five-cylinder engines from Audi have achieved cult status – partly due to their successful deployment in motorsport and also on account of their reliability and economy. The engine’s unique 1-2-4-5-3 ignition sequence and the incomparable sound that comes with it make the driving experience so exhilarating. The first five-cylinder gasoline engine powered the Audi 100 (C2) in 1976.

The five-cylinder engine debuted in 1976 in the Audi 100 with 136 PS Successful engine concept for production models and rally sport Signature sound from its unique 1-2-4-5-3 firing order Audi RS 3 2.5 TFSI with 400 PS and 500 Nm torque Hand-assembled at the Bock plant in Győr, Hungary Audi will celebrate a very special anniversary in 2026: 50 years of the five-cylinder engine. The brand with the four rings first introduced this engine in 1976 in the second-generation Audi 100. This was followed by upgrades and new developments with turbocharging, exhaust gas purification, and four-valve technology, rally engines, and five-cylinder diesel engines. Currently, the 2.5 TFSI in the Audi RS 3 continues the great tradition of five-cylinder engines Audi’s five-cylinder engines have cult status and are deeply rooted in the Audi DNA. They have played a decisive role in shaping “Vorsprung durch Technik” – on the one hand with numerous successes in motorsport, and on the other, by virtue of their outstanding performance in series production. To this day, the 2.5 TFSI provides a highly evocative driving experience, not least because of its characteristic sound. The HISTORY: 50 years of success in series production and motorsport The first five-cylinder engine powered the Audi 100 (C2) in 1976. Known internally as Type 43, the model was intended to be positioned higher in the market than its predecessor. The four-cylinder engines of the time were not sufficient for the developers’ plans. Audi engineers therefore discussed using inline five-cylinder and six-cylinder engines in the early 1970s. The latter were ruled out due to space constraints and the unfavorable weight distribution. As a result, those responsible opted for the inline five-cylinder engine, which was based on the EA 827 engine concept, still in its infancy at the time. This inline four-cylinder engine was used throughout the Volkswagen Group in the 1970s, including in the Audi 80 and Audi 100.

Successful for decades: 662,762 units across three generations built over 25 years Design inspired by Bauhaus: every shape has a clear function Vorsprung durch Technik: New technologies launched with the TT, including Audi magnetic ride, Audi virtual cockpit, and OLED technology A quarter of a century of TT history: When Audi presented the concept car at the IAA in 1995, public opinion became clear right away: “This car should be mass-produced – exactly as it is!” With the series debut in 1998, the Audi TT wrote design history and was built across three generations as a Coupé and Roadster. With a vision of “a car for enthusiasts,” Audi presented the Audi TT Coupé as a sports car concept at the IAA in Frankfurt in the fall of 1995. Shortly afterward, the decision was made to mass-produce it. Torsten Wenzel, the exterior designer at Audi who helped introduce the study to series production, recalls: “To us, the greatest praise was when the trade press noted appreciatively that not much had changed from the concept to production model, although we did, of course, have to adapt many details due to the technical specifications for the production version, including the proportions.” Most noticeable was the integration of a rear side window, which elongated the car’s profile and increased the sports car’s dynamics. For Wenzel, the TT remains “a driving sculpture, with highest-quality surfaces and lines.” The body of the Audi TT appears to be made from one piece, Wenzel says, and the front end without traditional bumper overhangs emphasizes its distinctive shape. Another design element contributes to the unmistakable silhouette of the Audi TT Coupé: the circle – “the perfect graphic shape,” as Wenzel describes it. Numerous circular elements inspired the sports car’s exterior and interior design. Inspired by Bauhaus, every line in the Audi TT has a purpose, every shape a function. “At Audi Design, we always follow the philosophy of ‘less is more.’

Anniversary Dates 2026 Audi Tradition 2 Anniversary Dates 2026 2001 25 Years – First Audi Twelve-Cylinder Engine in the Audi A8 W12 ................................................4 1996 30 Years – Audi A3 .................................................5 March 1991 35 Years – Audi Cabriolet ......................................... 6 1986 40 Years – Audi 80 (B3) ..........................................7 1981 45 Years – Audi Research Car ...................................8 August 1976 50 Years – Audi 100 (C2) ........................................9 August 1976 50 Years – Audi Five-Cylinder Engines ....................11 November 1956 70 Years – Start of Production DKW Off-Road Vehicle ..........................................13 February 1951 75 Years – Death Anniversary of August Horch ........14 February 1931 95 Years – Front-Wheel Drive in the DKW F1 ..........15 October 1926 100 Years – First Horch Eight-Cylinder Engine .........16 1926 100 Years – Quadruple Victory of the NSU 6/60 hp in the First German Grand Prix ..............................17 1901 125 Years – First Horch Automobile .......................19 1906 120 Years – Overall Victory in the Herkomer Competition .......................................... 20 Contents Anniversaries in Our Corporate History Audi Tradition 3 Anniversary Dates 2026 1996 30 Years – Seven Countries, Seven Victories ........... 21 January 1981 45 Years – First International Rally Appearance of the Audi quattro ................................................ 22 1981 45 Years – Audi Coupé GT Group 2 .......................... 23 1956 70 Years – August “Gustl” Hobl 350cc Vice World Champion .................................. 24 August 1956 70 Years – NSU Speed Records 1956 ...................... 25 December 1956 70 Years – DKW 3=6 Monza Record Run ................ 27 April 1951 75 Years – NSU Speed Record 1951 ........................ 28 1936 90 Years – DKW Motorcycle Successes – 1936 Season ................................