Insane RS 7, Audi TT Turns 25, RS 3 vs Huracan STO & More! | AudiWorld Driven

Audi TTAudiWorld Driven series. Once again, we rounded up the hottest Audi news, reviews, videos, and AudiWorld forum discussions from the past week just for you. This week incudes a look back at the game changing Audi TT that turns 25-years old this year. Speaking of milestones, how about a 1973 Audi 100 that has been with the same owner since new? It is up for sale right now. The folks over a Consumer Reports do not think too highly of the Audi Q5. And Audi may have just revealed what EV charging will be like in the future. There is a lot to cover this week so let’s jump in with all four wheels.

Happy Birthday Audi TT!

Audi TTHERE.

Must Watch Video: Custom Audi RS 7 is a Matte Black Masterpiece

The Audi RS 7 is a great looking car. And this is the best-looking RS 7 you will ever see. And with the Akrapovic exhaust, it is the best-sounding as well. We know your time is precious and in the digital world of today there are a million things competing for your attention. But trust us, set aside eight minutes and thirty-nine seconds, and watch this video.

Forum Thread of the Week: Consumer Reports Ranks Q5 Nearly Dead Last

Audi Q5HERE.

Original-Owner 1973 Audi 100 LS 4-Speed Being Sold at Auction

Audi 100HERE.

Must Watch Video: Lamborghini Supercar Struggles to Stay Ahead of RS 3

The Audi RS 3 is a terrific machine. And this video is just the latest proof. This time the mighty RS 3 is up against a fire breathing Lamborghini Huracan STO. The Lambo is not just a little bit more expensive than the Audi. It is not double the price. It is not triple the price. That Huracan STO is more than five times more expensive than the RS 3. It is a two-seat full bore supercar. Against a tiny Audi performance sedan? Well, look away Lambo fans. Yes, at the end of the day the expensive Italian put down a quicker lap time. But it was less than 1 second faster than the Audi. And you can complain about different tires and drivers and other factors making a difference. But the RS 3 hung right in there, and it punches far above its weight class.

Audi Cubes Offer Glimpse into Future of EV Charging

EV CubesHERE.

Images: Audi; Bring a Trailer; Autoweek

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Top Five Audi Cars from the 1970s

Audi 100 Coupe

The Audi 100 sedan first appeared in 1970 and established a beachhead for Audi in the U.S. The strategy of positioning the 100 as a reasonably priced, upscale car with advanced features like front-wheel drive, disc brakes, and rack-and-pinion steering paid off in spades. It sold well, peaking at over 31K units in 1973. Most importantly, it cut a sizeable chunk out of Mercedes-Benz’s market share.

Mark Webb is fascinated by anything automotive and particularly loves cars that are unusual or have a good story. He’s owned a variety of cars from 60’s muscle, Japanese imports, and oddities like a VW Thing and Porsche 924. After 20 years in the automotive and tech industries, he’s a walking encyclopedia of car info and is always on the lookout for his next project or a good road trip.

Top 5 Audis of the 1960s

Audi NSUAudi NSU Auto Union AG, the new company’s model lineup included the air-cooled, rear-wheel drive NSU Prinz, water-cooled four-cylinder, front-wheel drive Audi 60 and Audi 100, and the futuristic rotary engine NSU Ro 80.

As a result of the merger, Audi emerged as a separate brand for the first time since the 1930s. The company set its sights on the North American market, launching the Audi 80 and 100 and leveraging Volkswagen’s extensive U.S. dealer network. In return, Volkswagen got the futuristic NSU Ro 80 and K70 to bolster its product line. The result was a diverse collection of cars, including the five on this list which helped put Audi on the map.

5. NSU Ro 80

NSU Ro 80

The NSU Ro 80 is significant because it was the first production car to use the Wankel rotary engine. Compared to the NSU’s other offerings, the aerodynamic styling looked futuristic. The rotary engine was powerful by NSU’s standards, making 113 hp from 995 cc’s of displacement. This output, with the combination of aerodynamics and a lightweight body, gave the Ro 80 a top speed of 112 mph.

The Ro 80 enchanted people with its styling and roomy interior. Unfortunately, the Wankel rotary engine was not ready for prime time. It burned a lot of oil and suffered from premature apex seal failures. These problems pushed NSU to the edge of bankruptcy, causing the company to abandon the Wankel and license it to Mazda. Had NSU straightened out these issues or gone with a conventional piston engine, the Ro 80 might be revered today like the Citroen DS. Instead, only 37,398 units from 1967 to 1977.

Mark Webb is fascinated by anything automotive and particularly loves cars that are unusual or have a good story. He’s owned a variety of cars from 60’s muscle, Japanese imports, and oddities like a VW Thing and Porsche 924. After 20 years in the automotive and tech industries, he’s a walking encyclopedia of car info and is always on the lookout for his next project or a good road trip.