The luxury class

The V8


History Models Racing Special
New start Small Medium: B Large: C Extra large: D Concept_cars
V8   A8

V8 front
(2)

V8 papyrusmetallic rear view
(1)

Horch and Wanderer were both famous for their luxury cars powered by eightcylinders. In October 1988 Audi revived that heritage. However, the V8 had, in contrast to his ancestors, permanent all wheel drive. It was based on the Audi Type44, but was better equipped, had larger bumpers and a radiator-facing that was joined with the hood.. The flared fenders were even wider than those of the 200 20V.
The 250PS 3.6 litre V8, based on two 1.8litre 16V Golf engines was joined in 1992 by a 280PS 4.2, with 4 valve technology as well. As a gear box, automatic transmissions were popular. The manual shifters are rare and pretty sought after today, resulting in rather high prices. The V8 was Audi's first car with automatic transmission and all wheel drive, a combination then found rarely. Some American Softroaders of that time had automatic trans with non-permanent all wheel drive and no central differential. No comparison to Audi's high-tech solution with muti-disc center diff and Torsen rear diff.
A long version of the V8 was available, too, from 1989 on. This Limo was thought for representative uses. The roomy fond got even roomier:

Does this ever stop?!
(3)

 

Evo side view
(4)

A special thing is the Audi V8 Evo. It was the homologation model for the DTM. According to Sebastian it had the pretty 17" rims like the S4 C4 and of course front and rear spoilers. According to Sebastian it was available for 4000 DM (2000 Euros now) for all versions except the long version. My earlier source said it was only available with the big V8 and 6 speed manual transmission. As rare as the car is the brochure these pics are scanned from! Thanks to Mark Annette for the scanning!

Evo front view
(4)
Evo rear view
(4)

The V8 is called D11. So you ask, why isn't the V8 called D1, as it was the first car in the luxury class "D"? Fact is, there was a prototype called D1. It was based on a modified chassis of the Audi 100/200 (5k in the US) Type43, but never saw production, due to too high costs. So the V8 is called D11. Don't ask why not D1b or D2! The D11 splits into Type44 (!!) from '88 to '91 and 4C from '91 to '94.

 
(5)

The V8 was only available as sedan (except for a few funeral cars that were built in handwork by some manufacturers). Strange, if you consider that the V8 basis, the Type44 was quite successful as Avant. Understandable, if you know that almost all tries to establish something other than a sedan body in the luxury class failed. For that reason the V8 station wagon built by Audi is unique and probably never was meant for production. Today it parks in Audi's "museum mobile" in Ingoldstadt, where it found a place on a gigantic PatreNostre. Sebastian mentions that one other is/was driving through Neckarsulm and he's been told about two more. One of them with red taillights without a hole for the trunk lock(!).

V8 Avant Seite(5)

You should expect that Audi would mount red taillights on this one-of-a-kind car. But no! Like all Type44 Avants yellow-red taillights were chosen. You can clearly see the typical Type44 Avant hatchback, you can even see the small spoiler.

Click here for a do-it-yourself conversion!


History Models Racing Special
New start Small Medium: B Large: C Extra large: D Concept_cars
V8   A8

(1) Ingo Rautenberg
(2) To my knowledge official Audi photos
(3) Probably scanned from an Audi brochure.
(4) Scanned by Mark Annette from a rare Audi brochure.
(5) Hans Binder Jun.

Special thanks to the guys at the V8 forum on www.audiv8.com, especially to Benjamin Gawert.
Copyright 2000, 2001 Jens
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