Audi is the luxury division of German-based Volkswagen and has fought hard over the past several years to catch up to the other German luxury makes. It offers a diverse lineup of cars, from the diminutive A3 hatchback to a large seven-seat crossover, the Q7. For 2012, the A6 has been completely redesigned and a brand new model, the A7, is also being introducted.

(Note: Audi offers its all-wheel drive system, called Quattro, on every model it makes.)

Starting with the smallest car Audi makes, the A3 is a four-door hatchback that despite its small stature, offers wagon-like flexibility and storage space. There are two engines available, one of them being a hyper-efficient diesel which gets 42 mpg on the highway.

Audi makes two variants of its compact A4, the A4 and the more powerful S4 (sedan only). The A4 is available as a sedan or a wagon (called Avant) and is Audi’s answer to the BMW 3-Series. Under the hood is a 200-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder, while the S4 gets all-wheel drive standard and a more powerful 333-hp V-6.

The sporty A5 coupe/cabriolet combines a luxurious interior with a striking exterior and is one of the more recognizable cars Audi makes. It uses the same engine found in the A4, while the more-powerful S5 allows you to choose between the S4’s engine and a larger 354-hp V-8.

Completely redesigned for 2012 was Audi’s midsize A6 sedan (the wagon version is not available in the US). The styling is still very Audi; symmetric proportions, plunging grille with the Audi rings prominently displayed, and LED headlamps. Although the A6’s dimensions have grown it’s interesting to note that the new A6 is actually lighter than the previous version improving efficiency. Initially, only a 310-hp, supercharged V-6 will be available with a diesel engine option potentially on the horizon.

The all-new A7 offers a weird mash-up of styles, combining coupe styling with a sedan’s four-doors and a hatchback like trunk, which somehow comes together in one of the most attractive designs Audi has to offer. Quattro comes standard and the interior is extremely stylish and comfortable. Heated leather upholstery, a moonroof, and three-zone automatic climate control are all standard.

Audi’s flagship A8 full-size sedan comes in regular- and long-wheelbase versions, with either a 372-hp V-8 or a massive 500-hp W-12 under the hood. Its powered seats are adjustable 22-ways and also offers technology like a Google Earth integrated navigation system and Wi-Fi hotspot capability standard.

For the more performance inclined, there are three available versions of the TT sports-car: the TT, TTS, and new for 2012 TTRS. The TT and TTS are available as hardtop coupes or convertible roadsters, with the TTS being the more performance oriented of the two. The TTRS represents the return of the high-performance RS line to the US, and gets a 360-hp inline-five and more aggressive body work.

The R8 is Audi’s halo performance machine and is available as both a coupe and convertible, and as a limited-edition GT model.

Audi also offers a pair of crossovers in the Q5 and Q7. The Q5 is the smaller of the two, and the luxury compact crossover offers seating for five across two rows with standard Quattro all-wheel drive. There are two engine options: an efficient turbocharged four-cylinder or a more powerful 270-hp V-6.

The Q7 looks similar to the Q5 and is the largest vehicle in Audi’s lineup and offers a diesel version  of its V-6 for improved efficiency. It seats up to seven passengers across three rows and can tow up to 6,600 pounds. An adaptive air suspension is optional, as is a navigation system that offers Wi-Fi hotspot capability like the one found in the A8.