The history of Audi goes way further back than most people realize. This scrappy little company seems to get the short end of the stick when compared to it's bigger local rivals BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. The truth is that Audi has been around in one form or another for some 111 years and since that time it has pioneered one incredible automotive advancement after another. In fact, they use the slogan "Being Ahead Through Technology".

That technological focus has brought them out of the shadows more in the last 20 years than ever before. Today they're a regular part of the conversation for anyone looking at a German luxury vehicle. Fit and finish are outstanding, and more than anything, their interiors are shockingly good compared to Mercedes and BMW. Today we review the top ten cars they've ever produced, some for the road, some for the track, all for the good of mankind.

10 DKW Monza

The DKW Monza was one of the earliest examples of saving weight to go faster. It's well known for setting 5 international speed records in a single day back in 1956 but what most don't know is that the entire body was made from a blend of polyester and glass fibers.

This was a big advantage at the time over the rest of the DKW lineup that was heavier and less aerodynamic.

9 C5 RS6

Dark Blue 2003 Audi RS6
via Carbuzz

The C5 RS6 was the only RS6 we had ever received in America until recently. If we could've only picked one, this was a great one to choose.

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While all the cars had transmission issues, those issues were due to an incredibly powerful twin-turbocharged V8 that made 444 horsepower in 2003. That was more than a top of the line Corvette. And this thing had four doors.

8 Quattro

motor1.com

The name Quattro means something. That innovation we've talked about hangs a large portion of its hat on Quattro technology, a collaboration between Audi and Bosch that predicts and reacts to driver needs before the driver even knows it.

via: motoringresearch.com

This complex and now many generations old system was the impetus for naming this car the same thing. The 1985 Audi Quattro offered a powerful, sporty, and excellently handling car that could be used year-round.

7 TT

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While the TT is sitting on a VW Golf chassis, that didn't stop Audi from giving it some proper abilities. Quattro is very much available and multiple engine options were too.

The thing that makes the TT so special is that until the TT, nobody really cared much for Audi's styling. The TT changed all that and you can see its influence right on through to this day.

RELATED: The Audi TT Sports Car Is Expected To Go Electric

6 R8 LMP

A crocodile themed race car - audi r8
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There are few cars as iconic as the Audi R8 LMP car. For many of us it brings back memories of piloting this monster in the game Gran Turismo.

Via Business Insider

For the Audi faithful, they've not forgotten how in the real world it won 5 of 7 Le Mans races it entered, won every American Le Mans series from 2000-2006 and ultimately was victorious in 63 of the 79 races it entered.

5 R15 TDI LMP

If that wasn't enough, Audi seemed to handicap itself by using a diesel-powered LMP car a few years later. What the world didn't realize was that this was actually going to follow the same course as the R8. In fact, to this day it holds the record at Le Mans for the furthest distance traveled during the race ever during its 2010 victory.

Via Audi

It drove 3362.1 miles in that 24-hour time period. That's more distance than driving from New York City to Denver, Colorado, and back, in one day.

4 Sport Quattro S1

There's no way we could avoid talking about the S1, the car that made Quattro famous. Group B rally racing is perhaps the most unfettered racing series in history and Audi tool full advantage with their clever Quattro system.

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Not only was it reliable, but it housed a nearly 600 horsepower inline-5-cylinder engine in the back.

RELATED: 10 Crazy Facts About Group B Rallying

3 RS2

Audi RS2 Blue
via Drive Tribe

The RS2 is an icon both in Europe and here in America where we've never been able to have the car until recently. It's an excellent example of what Audi is great at today. Smart engineering, thoughtful passenger cabins, and great power.

1995 Audi RS2 Avant
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While the market for these is wildly high right now it's tough not to justify it as these set the bar for what Audi would refine and come to stand for today.

2 Auto Union C-Type

via Gordon Clader

What's this you ask? It's a 16 cylinder monster that was so tough to handle that it's said only one man could. The Type C is another demonstrator that Audi or at this time Auto Union, was always pushing the bounds of technology and innovation.

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Just check out those wild dually wheels on the back of this thing. They were happy to do some crazy stuff in the pursuit of speed.

1 B5 S4

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I'm not sure Audi has ever gotten it more right than the B5 S4. The C6 S6 nearly made it here for the wacky V10 they put under the hood but frankly, the S4 made it clear to Americans that Audi was here to play with the big boys.

Audi S4
via Stance Nation

When we didn't get the RS2 or the RS4, people started modifying this small four-door with a twin-turbo V6 and found that not only was it strong enough to handle more power but that it was a proper supercar killer when you turned up the boost. It cemented Audi's seat at the performance table in the minds of many Americans.

NEXT: Cross-Atlantic V10 Showdown: Dodge Viper Vs Audi R8