All Audi cars were right-hand-drive until 1921, It was at this time that they first publicly introduced a left-hand-drive, 16 years before Germany officially legislated for it in 1938.

It wasn’t until 1922 that left-hand-drive began to get going in Germany, and even at the time the new configuration was a feature of just 10% of Germany’s cars. This total had risen to 25%, just one year later.

The Audi Type K, which was built between 1921 and 1926, took the Berlin Motor Show by storm when it made its world debut with left-hand-drive.

The Type K was the first car in Germany to go on sale with a left-mounted steering wheel, and featured a conventional floor mounted gear shift which was centrally located alongside the car’s handbrake.

In total, 74 countries around the World now drive on the left in right-hand-drive cars. Globally almost all nations began by driving on the left, and there was a gradual transition to driving on the right in left-hand-drive vehicles.

Interestingly, one of the first nations to move from the left to the right hand side of the road was the United States, which, as early as 1792, first passed new laws in Pennsylvania.

Audi has one the most complete fleet of vehicles, from the sportive Audi A3 hatchbacks to the ultra luxurious Audi A8 saloons, to help you choose an Audi Company Car that best suit your company, we at Audi Nationwide compiled a list of Audi’s best models to ease your decision process.

Audi A3 – Everyday Luxury

The Audi A3 is a model with endless options from Cabriolets to Hatchbacks, the A3 has all the practical benefits of a sports car together with advanced technologies and the classic refinement from Audi. Its design combines the muscularity of a sports car with the practicality of a hatchback and flared panels help deliver sporty driving dynamics and looks.

Audi A3 Leasing for Company Cars and Audi A3 Specifications

Audi A4 – Evolution

The new Audi A4 is beautifully built and flawlessly engineered. The Audi A4 Saloon boasts modern, ultra-stylish looks and advanced technology. Audi’s traditions of perfect performance, luxurious interiors and high safety levels are all here. Satisfying to own and drive, it’s clear why the Audi A4 Saloon sits proudly at the top of its class.

Audi A4 Leasing for Company Cars and Audi A4 Specifications

Audi A5 – Intelligent

The New Audi A5 is special from the first sight of it; the first time you accelerate the first corner and the first long journey. For this special feeling there are now three very special Audis: the new Audi A5, its Sporty big brother, the Audi S5 and the recently launched Audi A5 and Audi S5 Cabriolet.

Audi A5 Leasing for Company Cars and Audi A5 Specifications

Audi A6 – Executive

The Audi A6 offers unrivalled beauty, power and cutting edge technology. In all areas, from styling, performance and handling to value, safety and environmental responsibility, it simply excels. Superior technology and refinement make the Audi A6 one of the most desirable models in the prestige market.

Audi A6 Leasing for Company Cars and Audi A6 Specifications

We want to hear from you, out of these four Audi Models which is your favourite or the one the best suits your company’s needs? Leave your thoughts in our comments section and don’t forget to check back for next week’s post

The new Audi R8 V10 has been given a fantastic review by Motors-Merseyside.co.uk

They say:

‘This is the epitome of sophistication on four wheels and with just 150 examples coming to the UK every year the R8 5.2 FSI quattro will be as exclusive as they come.

The acceleration is mind blowing at 3.9 seconds and, if it’s relevant, the max is a claimed 196mph.’

Motors-Merseyside also go on to say:

‘Other supercars can feel heavy, twitchy and fussy – not this Audi. It is beautifully balanced, simple to keep under control yet astonishing when it comes to letting its hair down.

No other car has such a blend of performance making it a supercar which can be used in any condition. For many this will be the ultimate dream of automotive sophistication. This is going to be one sought after car.’

For a full specification please visit our Audi R8 page.

So far it has been a great year for Audi, on the year of its 100th birthday the German company can’t stop winning awards, this time it from renowned German magazine “Auto Bild” since 2006 the publication has been doing the “Auto Bild Design Award” and Audi has been a constant in the short list of winners ever since.

This year, Audi grabbed two first places and a second place in the vehicle design poll. The Audi A4 allroad quattro took the top spot in the category SUVs, Vans and All-wheel Drive Vehicles with a smashing 44.7 percent of readers voting for it.

Another number one pick by readers, this time in the category Study and Concept Cars, was Audi’s Sportback Concept which was recently unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show early this year, and complementing the Audi’s success the newly launched Audi A5 Cabriolet came in second place in the Coupes and Convertibles category.

Top Audi Sportback Concept, Bottom Audi A5 Cabriolet

A total of 100,000 readers took part in the poll, in total there were 83 vehicles in three different categories, so I think it’s fair to say, Audi is having fabulous centennial year.

On the occasion of the Audi brand’s 100th anniversary, the company is launching an apprenticeships campaign.

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG said:

‘With this campaign, we are strengthening the sustainability of our company and confirming our strategic plan to become the most attractive employer in the automotive industry.’

For years the Audi has been conducting specialist worker qualification programs in response to the company’s requirements, so that once their training is complete all participants have the possibility of employment at Audi.

By 2015 the company will have expanded its product range to 42 models. The additional training positions especially take into account the greater variety of products, changes in production methods, improved lightweight construction technologies are going to create promising occupational fields.

Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council at Audi, said: ‘For years Audi has been among the companies with the highest share of apprenticeships in the automotive industry. At five percent, the share of apprentices among the entire work force has reached an especially high level in past years.’

Audi offers training in over 20 fields at its German locations. They include commercial, logistic and IT lines of industry, as well as automotive engineering, automation and production engineering.

In addition, young people can complete training as technical product designers, automotive interior designers or in various gastronomic fields.

The new permanent four-wheel drive Audi S4 is now available in the UK. Audi elevates the road dynamics of the new Audi S4 quattro to a new level.

Audi has brought together a sequence of engineering and design advances for the first time in the new S4 using unique technology to effect a transformation in the car’s approach to high speed handling.

Audi also adds its unique and advanced drive select system enabling the driver to select comfort-oriented or more dynamic settings influencing throttle, steering and suspension response to suit widely varying individual preferences.

When the car is being parked, the steering is extremely direct, whereas when driving in a straight line at high motorway speeds a more indirect steering ratio and reduced power assistance help to optimise the car’s directional stability.

The head of Technical Development at AUDI AG, says:

‘By integrating this four-wheel-drive technology into the Audi drive select system, which itself delivers refinement and dynamism in a totally new way, we have created a unique road dynamics system that for the first time can be perfectly matched to the driver’s individual wishes.’

It has a brand new 3.0-litre engine, the V6 power unit producing 333PS is thanks to a supercharger generating a seamless flow of power from 440Nm of torque. This unit replaces the V8 engine of the previous S4 and so delivers a 26% cut in fuel consumption and CO2 without any impact on performance.

The advanced fuelling system uses the proven FSI direct injection already established across the Audi petrol engine range combined with Audi valve lift technology to create one of the most efficient high performance engines of its kind.

As we all know, since last Friday 1 May, the new car tax rate and VED applied on vehicles registered on or after 1 March 2001.

The new vehicle tax rates only applies to cars that have been type approved in category M1 and registered on the basis of CO2 emissions measured in g/km driven, in other words the lower the car’s CO2 emissions the lower the tax payable on it.

This means that cars with extremely low CO2 emissions will be exempt from taxes, while gas guzzlers could be paying fees as high as £405. For 2009, no one will have to pay more than £5 extra for their car tax but from April 2010 the highest polluters will paying extra £30.

While polluters get an increase on their car tax rates, greener car owners will see no change or a possible £30 reduction on April 2010 and alternative fuels cars will continue to receive a small discount with these price changes. The government hopes to incite people to think more about the CO2 emissions than on power when buying a car.

You can find detailed information on how much car tax you’ll have to pay on Audi Nationwide Company Car Tax Page.