Audi 200 - more expensive version «weaving», which featured higher quality finishes and materials, more options and more powerful 5-cylinder engines.
Engineer Ludwig Kraus developed the car in secret, despite the reign of Volkswagen in the person of Heinrich Nordhoff, who planned to use the production facilities to produce the popular at the time «Beetle». But «weaving» was developed very timely and allowed the Volkswagen group to flourish.
This model was very popular both around the world and in Russia in the 90s. After the collapse of the USSR, they were brought in huge quantities from Germany, the vast majority of them second-hand.
Audi C1 (1968—1976)
On November 26, 1968, the first Audi 100 was first shown in the press in the form of a four-door sedan on the Volkswagen Group C1 platform (F104). «100» meant the power of the motor in horsepower. It was the largest car of the revived Audi brand in 1965 and the first with a water-cooled engine. The following year, a two-door sedan appeared, and a year later, a two-door coupe.
The first Audi 100 was in great demand and could not satisfy it at first. In the summer of 1970, a new production line had to be introduced at the Volkswagen Wolfsburg factory to produce it. Over an 8-year period, 827 thousand cars were produced.
There were only two 1.8-liter petrol engines (80, 90 and 100 hp) and 1.9 liters (115 HP). In 1972, 80 and 90 hp engines. were replaced by a new one of the same volume and 85 hp, which ran on low-octane gasoline. The gearbox is only a 4-speed manual, but since 1970 it was possible to order a 3-speed automatic.
Audi C2 (1976—1982)
In 1976, the second generation Audi 100 was introduced on the Volkswagen Group C2 platform (Type 43) with a new and rare at that time 5-cylinder engine. The body design was similar to the contours of the NSU Ro 80 rotary piston engine car. About 1 million cars were produced over a 6-year period.
There are three types of body shapes left - 2-door and 4-door sedans, the coupe was abolished, a hatchback appeared instead (Avant). Mostly (90%) cars were 4-door sedans. Units of two-door sedans were sold. In 1979, a more expensive version of the car appeared - the Audi 200. In the USA, the car was called the Audi 5000.
Petrol engines are represented by the following models: 4-cylinders with a volume of 1.6 and 2.0 liters with a capacity of 84 and 113 hp, 5-cylinders with a volume of 1.9 liters (100 HP), 2.1 liters (115 HP), 2.1 liters fuel injected (134 HP) and 2.1 liters fuel injected and turbocharged (170 HP). For the first time, two 5-cylinder diesel engines with a volume of 2.0 liters appeared - atmospheric and turbocharged with a capacity of 70 and 84 hp. respectively. Two transmission options were available - a 3-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual.
Audi C3 (1982—1991)
In 1982, the world saw the third generation of the Audi 100 on the Volkswagen Group C3 platform (Type 44). This car had an aerodynamic look, delivering an outstanding drag coefficient of 0.3 for the base model, resulting in fuel savings and increased top speed. The rounded shape of the body influenced the American sedan in 1986 Ford Taurus and made a trend on the shape of cars in the 90s. For the first time, the Procon-ten safety system was used, which, in the event of a frontal impact, retracted the steering wheel forward and removed the slack in the seat belts.
Two-door sedans were completely removed, leaving only 4-door sedans and 5-door station wagons, which had the possibility of installing a third row of seats. In 1985, the body began to be completely galvanized and there were some experiments with aluminum alloy bodies. The more expensive Audi 200 model began to be produced in 1983. In total, about 1.08 million cars were produced.
In the USA, the car remained under the name Audi 5000. In 1991, there was a strong (6 times) drop in sales of Audi cars due to the scandal about «unintended acceleration» in the mid 1980s. Buyers complained that automatic cars started to move by themselves, which led to accidents with 6 deaths and more than 700 accidents. Most likely this was caused by the mistakes of drivers who mixed up the pedals, but the reputation was ruined. Sales recovered only after 15 years and the Audi 5000 name had to be abandoned and returned to European «100» And «200».
The third generation of the Audi 100 has a huge selection of engines. The only 4-cylinder 1.8-liter gasoline engine with 75 and 90 hp remained. The rest are all 5-cylinder engines with volumes of 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 liters, both carbureted and fuel-injected, with power from 100 to 165 hp. Diesel engines are also quite widely represented - with a volume of 2.0, 2.4 and 2.5 liters of both atmospheric and turbocharged power from 70 to 120 hp. On the Audi 200, only fuel-injected gasoline engines of 2.1 and 2.2 liters with a capacity of 136 to 220 hp were installed.
Choice of transmissions of one of four types: 4 or 5-speed manual and 3- or 4-speed automatic.
Audi C4 (1990—1994)
At the end of 1990, a heavily redesigned fourth modification of the Audi 100 was introduced on Volkswagen Group C4 platform (Type 4A). The bodies remained the same - only 4-door sedans and 5-door station wagons. The all-wheel drive option has become available for the entire model range. This is the latest modification with the name Audi 100. Since 1994, this model has been renamed Audi A6. Audi V8 on the C3 platform continued to develop in parallel until 1994 and was renamed Audi A8.
Gasoline engines are very widely represented. 4-cylinder 2.0-liter capacity from 99 to 138 hp, two 5-cylinder 2.2-liter (227 HP) and 2.3 liters (131 HP), two 6-cylinder V-engines with a volume of 2.6 liters (148 HP) and 2.8 liters (172 HP), and one 8-cylinder V-shaped engine with a volume of 4.2 liters and a power of 276 hp. Diesel engines two - 5-cylinder volume of 2.4 liters (80 HP) and 2.5 liters (114 HP). There are three transmissions to choose from - 4-speed automatic, 5-speed and 6-speed manual.