Negative connotations? How about the entire series renaming thing resulting from the Audi 5000?
IIRC, they had always sold that car as the 100/200 in Europe. But I’m sure all the negative publicity from “unintended acceleration” didn’t help matters.
BTW, I used to own an Audi (an ‘82 Coupe, which was not affected by the recall) and the gas and brake pedals were VERY close together. I suspect all those 5000 owners who accidentally drove through the back wall of the garage were probably pressing the wrong pedal.
Was that mentioned in the article? If so, please point to it.