Audi Type A and Suzuki Power Free.
IGNITION
Audi: Founded in July 1909 by a clever engineer, August Horch.
Suzuki: Founded in October 1909 by a clever carpenter, Michio Suzuki.
BEHIND THE BADGE
Audi: The four interlocked rings represent the historical Auto Union quartet of Audi, Horch, DKW and Wanderer.
Suzuki: The stylised S simply stands for Suzuki, that’s it.
FIRST MOTOR
Audi: The Type A, a luxurious four-seat convertible launched in 1910.
Suzuki: The Power Free, an ingenious motorised bicycle launched in 1952.
FINEST HOUR
Audi: Its rally-bred original Quattro put the jive in four-wheel-drive.
Suzuki: Its Cappuccino was one of the sweetest roadsters ever. (And the Swift is one of the sweetest hatchbacks around.)
Audi Quattro and Suzuki Cappuccino.
FASTEST ROAD RIDE
Audi: The V10-powered R8 supercar – nought to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds and top speed of 316km/h. (Second-generation R8 reviewed here.)
Suzuki: The Hayabusa GSX1300R superbike – nought to 100km/h in 2.6 seconds and top speed 300km/h.
Suzuki Hayabusa and Audi R8 V10.
MOST HYPED PROTOTYPE
Audi: The Rosemeyer, a provocative 16-cylinder tribute to Auto Union’s glorious Grand Prix racecars.
Suzuki: The LC, a retro-themed runabout that pays homage to the firm’s first car, the 1955 Suzulight.
Audi Rosemeyer and Suzuki LC.
WORST FLOP
Audi: The A2 aluminium supermini, because it was ahead of its time.
Suzuki: The X-90 steel SUV, because it was utterly pointless.
Audi A2 and Suzuki X-90.
