Audi Tradition | Audi MediaCenter

Audi Tradition - Audi Tradition

The eventful and varied history of AUDI AG extends back to the 19th century. Find out more about the great personalities from the brand’s 100-plus years of history. Learn about the fascinating evolution of the various models and major milestones in the fields of car manufacturing, engine production and motor racing.

History of AUDI AG

MediaInfos

Leading light: 25 years Audi A2 - The Audi A2 was launched in 2000 – 25 years ago. The picture shows the special “colour.storm” edition in Papaya orange.

Company

09/25/2025

Leading light: 25 years Audi A2

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.

Le Mans legend on display: Audi Tradition at gamescom - A screen of the Project Motor Racing video game from GIANTS Software – on display: the Audi R8 Le Mans Prototype that won the 2002 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Company

08/07/2025

Le Mans legend on display: Audi Tradition at gamescom

Audi Tradition is bringing some serious horsepower to Cologne for this year’s gamescom. Winner of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2002, the Audi R8 with starting number 1 is set to be a showstopper. The 610-horsepower race car will be showcased at the GIANTS Software booth (Hall 6, Stand B061) during the convention from August 20 to 24. Publisher GIANTS Software is launching the racing simulation Project Motor Racing – developed by Straight4 Studios – on November 25, where players will be able to take the wheel of the iconic 2002 Le Mans winner.

A new era for the four rings: 60 years since the first post-war Audi - A new era began in Ingolstadt 60 years ago: the first post-Second World War Audi rolled off the assembly line on August 13, 1965. The Audi, known internally as the F 103, was a resounding...

Company

07/04/2025

A new era for the four rings: 60 years since the first post-war Audi

A new era began in Ingolstadt 60 years ago: the first post-Second World War Audi rolled off the assembly line on August 13, 1965. And on that occasion, after a quarter of a century, Auto Union GmbH once again adopted the traditional Audi brand name. The name itself was intended to demonstrate the model’s status as a technical pioneer. It was, after all, Audi’s first automobile with a four-cylinder, four-stroke engine. The Audi, known internally as the F 103, was a resounding success and spawned an entire model series that – with further developments in design and technology – remained in production until 1972.

Audi Tradition launches its 2025 event season - The Festival of Speed in Goodwood (July 10–13, 2025) attracts motorsport fans from around the world. Audi Tradition will be there to celebrate the first Audi victory at Le Mans 25 years ago – together with...

Company

01/23/2025

Audi Tradition launches its 2025 event season

Audi Tradition will be attending numerous events again this year and celebrating many anniversaries. It has been 60 years since the Audi brand name was reintroduced. In 1965, the company “with the four rings,” then still called Auto Union GmbH, ended its two-stroke era, introduced a new model with a four-cylinder four-stroke engine, and named it – Audi. This first post–World War II Audi can be viewed along with other vehicles from the historical AUDI AG collection, for example, on International Museum Day on May 18, in Ingolstadt. What’s more, this year, the Audi museum mobile is celebrating its very own anniversary on Museum Day: its 25th birthday.

Audi Tradition to commemorate numerous anniversaries in 2025 - Audi Tradition to commemorate numerous anniversaries in 2025.

Company

12/06/2024

Audi Tradition to commemorate numerous anniversaries in 2025

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.

Now also available on the Audi Tradition app: A city tour to discover Auto Union’s historical facilities in Ingolstadt - To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of Auto Union GmbH in Ingolstadt, a new feature is being added to the Audi Tradition...

Company

09/18/2024

Now also available on the Audi Tradition app: A city tour to discover Auto Union’s historical facilities in Ingolstadt

To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of Auto Union GmbH in Ingolstadt, a new feature is being added to the Audi Tradition app: Anyone interested in learning more about Audi’s beginnings in Ingolstadt can now take a digital city tour that can be accessed anytime and anywhere, at home or on the go. The app is particularly useful as a virtual tour guide on location in Ingolstadt, taking users on a walk to discover Auto Union’s historic sites. The Audi Tradition app can be downloaded free of charge from all major app stores for iOS and Android smartphones.

A new beginning 75 years ago - September 3, 1949, is an important date in the history of Audi. On this day, Auto Union GmbH was founded in Ingolstadt. The main administrative offices, and thus the new headquarters of the young company, were set up in...

Company

08/27/2024

Auto Union GmbH founded in Ingolstadt on September 3, 1949: A new beginning 75 years ago

Audi has been building cars at the Ingolstadt site for over 75 years. Audi Tradition will commemorate this anniversary with a lecture at the Audi museum mobile and a celebration on Josef-Strobl-Platz in downtown Ingolstadt, the historic site of the company’s former headquarters. Visitors to the anniversary celebration on Sunday, September 8, can look forward to a collection of the first vehicle models produced in Ingolstadt and other enjoyable activities. The evening before, the Night of the Museums at the Audi mobile museum will offer wide-ranging entertainment. The Audi Big Band will perform a colorful mix of Latin, soul, funk, and pop, and visitors will also be treated to numerous highlight tours, including the current special exhibition “Form vollendet”.

After “Windschnittig” comes “Form vollendet”: A new special exhibition at the Audi museum mobile - In 1982, Audi wrote technological history with the Audi 100. With its drag coefficient of 0.30, the third-generation Audi 100 was the world’s most streamlined...

Company

07/24/2024

After “Windschnittig” comes “Form vollendet”: A new special exhibition at the Audi museum mobile

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.

Imagined over 90 years ago, now brought to life: Audi Tradition presents the Auto Union Type 52 - Imagined over 90 years ago, now brought to life: Audi Tradition presents the Auto Union Type 52 Schnellsportwagen at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024.

Company

07/11/2024

Imagined over 90 years ago, now brought to life: Audi Tradition presents the Auto Union Type 52

Everyone knows the Auto Union Silver Arrows, the legendary 1930s Grand Prix race cars. But hardly anyone knows that a street-legal sports car version with a 16-cylinder engine was also planned for these pioneering racing cars: the Auto Union Type 52. Now Audi has built this car, the Schnellsportwagen, and will present it to the public for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England in mid-July.

Company

06/07/2024

Grand Opera: New Audi Tradition exhibition “125 years of Horch”

It was 125 years ago that Audi founder August Horch started A. Horch & Cie., his very first company. Audi Tradition is celebrating the prestigious anniversary with a new special exhibition. Open from June 10 to December 31 at the Audi Forum Neckarsulm, it showcases premium exhibits framed by renowned opera houses – hence the title: “Grand Opera – 125 years of Horch”.

Germany’s first small car was launched 50 years ago - The Audi 50 – a model from Audi’s historical vehicle collection.

Company

04/04/2024

Germany’s first small car was launched 50 years ago: the Audi 50

It arrived at just the right time: The Audi 50, the first small car from a German manufacturer, was launched in 1974, shortly after the beginning of the oil crisis in 1973. Its fuel consumption was economical, and its design pioneering: front-wheel drive with a transverse engine, a two-door hatchback with a large trunk and fold-down backrest, compact external dimensions, and appealing road performance and driving characteristics. Moreover, the Audi 50 was a blueprint for the structurally almost identical VW Polo, which was launched seven months later, leveraging synergies within the Volkswagen Group – already a recipe for success half a century ago.

Audi Tradition at many international events in 2024 - Audi Tradition commences the event season 2024.

Company

02/02/2024

Audi Tradition at many international events in 2024

Audi Tradition is poised to participate in over a dozen international events in 2024 as the classic car season begins. Mainstays of the event calendar include the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England (July 11–14), two classic car rallies at Audi’s home sites – the Donau Classic (June 27–29) in and around Ingolstadt and the Heidelberg Historic (July 11–13) in Neckarsulm – as well as the Sachsen Classic in Dresden and Zwickau (August 15–17). For 2024, the Audi museum mobile, as always, has a varied program in store. In addition to special exhibitions on the history of aerodynamics, the museum of the brand with the four rings will continue its series of lectures and again take part in International Museum Day (May 19) and the Night of the Museums (September 7).

Horch 14/40 hp, saloon limousine, 4 cylinder 1913 model - Horch 14/40 hp, saloon limousine, 4 cylinder 1913 model

Horch

Audi Type E, 22/55 hp, 5.7 litre four-cylinder inline engine, 55 hp

Audi

Anniversary magazine History - Wanderer W 25 K Roadster

Wanderer

DKW P15 roadster, 600 cc, two-stroke inline engine, rear-wheel drive, 15 hp, 1928; the first DKW car.

DKW

Anniversary magazine History - The Auto Union was formed in 1932

Auto Union

NSU/Wankel Spider

NSU

Images

Leading light: 25 years Audi A2 - The Audi A2 was launched in 2000 – 25 years ago. The picture shows a side view of the special “colour.storm” edition in Papaya orange, dynamic outdoor shot.

Leading light: 25 years Audi A2 - The Audi A2 was launched in 2000 – 25 years ago. The picture shows the special “colour.storm” edition in Papaya orange.

Leading light: 25 years Audi A2 - The Audi A2 was launched in 2000 – 25 years ago. The picture shows the Audi A2 1.2 TDI as the world’s first four-door three-liter car.

Leading light: 25 years Audi A2 - The Audi A2 was launched in 2000 – 25 years ago. The picture shows its Audi Space Frame (ASF).

Leading light: 25 years Audi A2 - The Audi A2 was launched in 2000 – 25 years ago. In 1997, the show car Al2 was presented at the IAA in Frankfurt, it bore the nickname “Light Green” because of its color. Only a little later, “Light Blue” could be seen...

Leading light: 25 years Audi A2 - The Audi A2 was launched in 2000 – 25 years ago. The picture shows the special “colour.storm” edition in Misano red pearl effect, Sprint blue pearl effect and Imola yellow. (from left)

Leading light: 25 years Audi A2 - The Audi A2 was launched in 2000 – 25 years ago. The picture shows the Audi A2 1.2 TDI as the world’s first four-door three-liter car, dynamic outdoor shot, front three-quarter view.

Leading light: 25 years Audi A2 - The Audi A2 was launched in 2000 – 25 years ago. The picture shows three A2 models of the historical collection of AUDI AG, shot taken in front of the Audi Forum Neckarsulm.

As of: 10/30/2025

Videos

Audi Tradition: a story of the automobile

quattro moments experience drive 2021

Historical commercial of DKW/Auto Union: "DKW Junior: The key to your happiness” (1959)

Highlights of Goodwood Speedweek 2020

Großglockner Grand Prix 2017 with replica of the Auto Union Type C

Journey back in time: Walter Röhrl at the AvD Histo-Monte

As of: 10/30/2025