Popularly known as the Four Rings, the Audi badge is attached to beautiful, powerful, and mostly luxury cars. Founded in Germany in 1910; it is a member of the VW Group and shares a lot of technology with the group. Previously known as Auto Union, VW acquired the brand from fellow German luxury brand Daimler Benz in 1960, and set it on a path that sets it among the best-selling luxury automobile brands in the world.

Arguably the third most luxurious and desired German brand in Zimbabwe, but surprisingly it doesn't seem to be as desired or sought after as the other two. The vehicles are readily available in the grey market, imported from Asia and Europe.

The Audi badge, whilst relatively well known in Zimbabwe, seems to have struggled to really take off. Perhaps it has been under-marketed; perhaps too expensive to maintain; or perhaps, perceptions, or reality, of high fuel consumption. Perhaps, it has been heavily impacted by the lack of a serious dealer.

The most common in Zimbabwe has been and still is, the Audi A4, although for those with a keen interest in the badge, the top-of-the-range Audi A8 W12, with a 4.2L engine, can be spotted on Zimbabwean roads.

In terms of engines and layout, Audi tends to go against the trend by having its powerful heavy engines mounted longitudinally, rather than transversely. This allows them to either have front-wheel, or all-wheel drive, as opposed to rear-wheel drive adopted by its close adversaries BMW and Mercedes Benz.

The modern Audis are distinctive for LED daytime running lights (DRL), first introduced in 2005 on the Audi A8 W12 model.

The modern Audis also feature Fuel Stratified Injection in the petrol engines, a fuel-saving technology. Engine sizes are up to 6.3L for the top-of-the-range models.

Audis also feature the Multi Media Interface (MMI), which is a centralized interface for all information and entertainment systems on the vehicle.  

Audi offers a full range of models that include the A1 to A8 range of saloons and hatchbacks, the Q3 to Q8 range of luxury SUVs, the S Sport road performance models, and the powerful RS Racing Sport models.

The cars are beautiful and trendy, offering some of the best in technology, especially the engines, to an extent where they can be considered too complicated for your ordinary mechanic! The Quattro all-wheel drive was as innovative as it was famous, as the technology helped to establish the Four Rings in motorsport, especially rallying. If cash is not a problem for you, there is an Audi for you to enjoy with family, or alone on the open road. Whilst at it, be sure that there is a mechanic that loves and understands your car.