About the Audi 80

The Audi 80 was an entry-level luxury car sold between 1966 and 1995 by German automaker Audi. The A80 was not produced continually, and the "A80" name was applied to several different vehicles over the years. The originally A80 was Audi's version of the Volkswagen Passat, with which it shared many components as well as a parent company.

Nomenclature

The original Audi A80 was manufactured between 1966 and 1969. It was part of the Audi F103 series, in which each model was named for its horsepower rating. Thus, the first A80 model features an 80-horsepower engine.
Audi also produced an A90 model, which was essentially an upscale version of the A80. Depending upon which engine was offered in the A80, a suffix was added to the "A80" name. "E" referred to a fuel injected model, while "S" was used to denote models with a carburetor. Audi also offered two diesel engines in the A80, designating "D" (diesel), "TD" (turbo diesel) and "TDI" (turbo direct injection) models. Audi offered the A80 as a sedan as well as a wagon, called the Avant. The A80 was also made into a coupe and convertible, but these had unique badging and cars did not bear the A80 name.
Other names were used for the A80 in specific markets, such as North America where it was known as the Audi fox between 1973 and 1979. The A80 sold in the United States between 1980 and 1987 was called the Audi 4000.

Early History

The A80 model that was part of the F104 series was discontinued in 1969, and the entire F103 line disappeared for 1972. In 1972 Audi introduced an all new A80 based on its B1 platform, borrowed from parent company Volkswagen. Between 1972 and 1978, the A80 was available with several inline four-cylinder gasoline engines. "S," "L" and "GL" trim levels were available. In the mid-1970s Audi began to offer the A80 as the A80 Avant, which was a Volkswagen Passat wagon with several Audi design features incorporated.

Evolution

Audi discontinued production of its B1 platform in 1978, replacing it with the B2. The new A80 was based on this platform, which was slightly longer and wider than its predecessor. For the first time Audi offered the A80 with a diesel engine. Audi also introduced its Quattro all-wheel drive system on the B2-based A80. In 1983 Audi revealed the A80 Sport which was sold exclusively in Britain and included a rear spoiler, racing stripes and alloy racing wheels.
In 1986 Audi introduced yet another new platform, the B3, as a basis for the A80. The new model was similar in size to the B2 version but featured new aerodynamic styling and rust-resistant zinc coated body panels. Audi also offered a new slate of engines, including a turbodiesel.

Later History

For 1992 the B3 platform was upgraded and redubbed the B4. New A80s built on the B4 were slightly longer but once again featured a thoroughly modern design as Audi worked to cut into the European market share of automakers Mercedes and BMW.
This edition of the A80 was drastically different in appearance for models spold in the United States. New federal safety legislation required the addition of crash absorbing bumpers which necessitated a redesigned headlight scheme.
In the European models, Audi began offering an inline five-cylinder engine and two V-6 options, rated as high as 172 horsepower. Turbocharged five-cylinder engines were available as well, topping out at 311 horsepower.

Features

The B4-based A80 was sold through the 1995 model year. One of the last special editions of the A80 was known as Europa and included power interior options (mirrors and windows), alloy wheels, exclusive body color options and a power sunroof.
In the mid-1990s Audi began phasing out the B4 platform and the A80 nameplate was dropped. The market segments previously held by the various editions of the A80 would eventually be filled by models such as the Audi A4, A5 and the Audi TT.

Resources

• Edmunds.com Audi 80 Review