Audi hasn't always been the iconic sports and luxury brand as we know it today. In the first 50-60 years of its existence, the models that they made were forgettable and far from opulent or sporty.
Everything changed in the '80s thanks to one of the greatest rally cars in history, along with a few other models that completely changed the public perception of this brand. In the late '90s however, the brand truly established itself on the same level as the other German giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
In the past 30 years, the company has become legendary for its high-performance cars that have captured the hearts of fans around the world.
10 Audi V8
This Audi's name suggests it was a low-key beast. The performance sedan was in production from 1988 until 1993 and was powered by a 4.2-liter V8 that produced 276 horsepower and could push this beauty to a top speed of 155 mph.
This amazing Audi was the homologated version of the car that dominated the DTM competitions in the early '90s. The V8 was created to give a new image to the company and established it as a brand that was at the same level as BMW and Mercedes.
9 Audi S2
This high-performance Audi was in production from 1991 until 1995. It was manufactured by the former Quattro division which is now known as Audi Sport. The car was a beast as it was powered by a turbocharged 2.2-liter inline-five cylinder engine that produced 227 horsepower and could push the car to a top speed of 155 mph.
The German automaker decided to spice up its lineup in the '90s and started with an absolute home run. The S2 is the first Audi 'S' ever manufactured by the company and completely turned things around for the company.
8 Audi TT RS
Everyone is aware that if an Audi has an RS badge, it is better not to challenge it as it will have a monstrous engine under the hood. In fact, the TT is no exception as it is powered by a twin-turbo 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine.
It produces an incredible 394 horsepower and can push this Audi to an electronically- limited top speed of 174 mph and accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Forget the bland base TT, the RS version is a true warrior that has an engine of a supercar.
7 Audi RS Q8
The RS Q8 is one of the latest examples showcasing that the market is moving towards ultra-fast SUVs. After the likes of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q4 and the Lamborghini Urus, Audi decided to produce its own performance SUV.
Since Audi and Lamborghini are both owned by the Volkswagen Group, the RS Q8 shares the same engine as the Urus. This certified beast is powered by a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that produces 591 horsepower and can push the car to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
6 Audi Sport Quattro S1
The Quattro is considered one of the most incredible cars of the legendary rally Group B. This car was revolutionary as its four-wheel-drive system was no match for the Lancia. This monster was powered by a turbocharged 2.1-liter inline-five cylinder engine that Audi said produced 470 horsepower but it was believed to be in excess of 500 horsepower.
The car was able to go from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.1 seconds. The street-legal version was also a great car but not nearly as powerful and iconic as the Quattro S1.
5 Audi S8
The Audi S8 succeeded the Audi V8 in 1996, and since then, it has been one of the coolest cars ever made by the German automaker. The fourth and latest generation is the epitome of what Audi is all about: immense power combined with infinite class.
The S8 is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that produces 563 horsepower that can push it to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.7 seconds. All this power comes with the luxury of the interiors and the comfort that only an Audi knows how to offer.
4 Audi B5 S4
The B5 S4 was in production only for a brief period of time from 1997 until 2001. However, it was enough time to become an absolute icon thanks to its fantastic engine.
The B5 was powered by a roaring twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 that produced 445 horsepower and could push the sedan to a top speed of 155 mph and accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 5 seconds. This car when it came out in 97 was the fastest road-legal Audi that the company had ever made.
3 Audi RS7
The latest generation of the RS7 is one of the most aggressive cars that the company had ever manufactured. The beautiful lines are equipped with a huge twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that produces 591 horsepower and can reach the amazing top speed of 191 mph.
The RS7 is such a powerful sedan that it can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.6 seconds. This car is truly a work of art by Ingolstadt as very few cars in the world can be as fun to drive as the RS7.
2 Audi R8 V10 Performance
The sound that comes out of that V10 is truly special. The perfect symphony produced by the exhausts comes courtesy of a 614-hp 5.3-liter V10 that can push the R8 to a top speed of 205 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.5 seconds.
This supercar shares the same platform as the Lamborghini Gallardo and now the Huracan. Although Audi's lineup is full of performance cars, the R8 is the only one that can be considered a hardcore supercar.
1 Audi RS2
The RS2 is the perfect car if during the week you have to go pick up the kids at school and on the weekend hit the track. It's also probably the most iconic Audi ever made. This limited-edition high-performance wagon was in production for barely a year, from 1994 until 1995.
The engine, which was co-developed with Porsche, was a turbocharged 2.2-liter inline-five cylinder that produced 332 horsepower and could push the RS2 to a top speed of 165 mph. This is the first "RS" model ever made by the company, the best start for what would become a dynasty of incredible vehicles. The car was not only incredibly powerful but it was also able to navigate any sort of terrain thanks to its four-wheel-drive Quattro system.