AUDI FORUM NECKARSULM TO DISPLAY AUDI 100 AND A6 HISTORY FOR AUDI TRADITION
The Audi Forum Neckarsulm is playing host to a special chapter in Audi’s storied history, as Audi Tradition presents an exhibition dedicated to the Audi 100 and its successor, the Audi A6. Running until April 30, visitors can witness the evolution of one of Audi’s most significant model series, featuring 17 handpicked exhibits spanning eight generations, from the groundbreaking Audi 100 of 1968 to the high-performance Audi RS 6 Avant GT of 2024. This exhibition takes place at Audi Forum Neckarsulm, a facility that has been an integral part of the brand experience since it opened in 2005. More than just a showroom, the Audi Forum serves as a hub for enthusiasts and customers alike, offering vehicle deliveries, factory tours, and heritage exhibitions that celebrate the brand’s engineering prowess. Nestled in the heart of Neckarsulm - a key site for Audi production since 1969 - it connects the brand’s legacy with its future. The Audi 100 was the car that catapulted Audi into the upper mid-range segment. But its development wasn’t just about engineering; it was a bold act of defiance. In the mid-1960s, Volkswagenwerk AG had taken over Auto Union and ordered the Ingolstadt-based company to halt all new model development. But Ludwig Kraus, Audi’s Technical Director at the time, had other ideas. Believing that a mid-range model was crucial for the brand’s survival, he went rogue - developing the Audi 100 in secret. When VW’s top brass finally saw the prototype, they were so impressed that they greenlit production in 1968.
The gamble paid off spectacularly. The first-generation Audi 100 quickly became a runaway success, selling 800,000 units. Demand was so high that production expanded from Ingolstadt to Neckarsulm in 1970, marking the beginning of Audi’s long-standing presence in the region. Over its four generations, the Audi 100 won multiple industry awards, including five Golden Steering Wheels and two Car of the Year titles, cementing its reputation as a leader in innovation. By 1994, the Audi 100 evolved into the Audi A6, ushering in a new era of advanced technology and refinement. The model series continued Audi’s Vorsprung durch Technik philosophy with groundbreaking innovations, such as fully galvanized bodies, aerodynamic advancements, and highly efficient powertrains.
The Neckarsulm exhibition features nine Audi 100 models and eight Audi A6 variants, each with its own unique story. Curator Stefan Felber has given each car a title reflecting its defining characteristic:
The First One – The 1968 Audi 100 that started it all.
The Globetrotter – A high-mileage example that’s seen the world.
The Supreme One – The 2024 Audi RS 6 Avant GT, is the ultimate high-performance wagon.
The exhibition will also serve as a prelude to Audi’s future, as the ninth-generation Audi A6 Avant is set to be unveiled on March 4.
Take a look at the YouTube video that doesn't show off the upcoming display focused on the Audi 100 and Audi A6, but it does show off the awesome facilities where the display will be taking place - and it's awesome: Ausstellung „40 Jahre Audi Sport GmbH – Fascination meets performance“ | Audi Germany
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