Volkswagen isn't performing up to past standards, but the company's Audi luxury brand is keeping profits high for the German automaker.

Despite being significantly smaller than the main Volkswagen brand, Audi accounted for nearly half of the company's total profits in the first nine months of 2010, with $3.1 billion of a total $6.6 billion. That's a significant turnaround from just $1.6 billion in 2009. The luxury automaker is currently on track for its best year ever in the U.S., on pace to break the 100,000 sales mark for the first time.

"All indications continue to point toward 2010 winding up as the best year Audi has ever enjoyed in the U.S. market," said Audi U.S. President Johan de Nysschen.

Unfortunately, the automaker got disappointing news this week when a Consumer Reports survey listed many cars in the fleet as having "below average" reliability. Audi had previously been enjoying a big year for awards, with the Audi S4 winning Esquire's Car of the Year award.

The next launch for the company is the A8, a redesign of the company's flagship sedan that's due in November.

Drivers may want to wait until they can buy a used Audi, as they'll be significantly more affordable a few years from now.