Audi 80

The Audi 80 was an Audi automobile produced from 1972 to 1995. It initially shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat, and was available as a sedan, coupe and convertible, although the coupe and convertible models weren't badged as members of the range.

In North America, the 80 was sold briefly as the Audi Fox and then as the Audi 4000. The Audi 90 was an upmarket version of the Audi 80 sedan.

B1 (1972–1978)

The model debuted in Europe in 1972 as the 80 and in 1973 in the United States as the Fox, and was available as either a 2-door coupe or a 4-door sedan. It effectively took the place of several models that Audi had discontinued (the Audi 60/72/75/80/Super 90 series), and provided the company with a viable rival to the Opel Ascona and the Ford Taunus.

The Audi 80 was first equipped with a SOHC I4 engine rated at 60 hp. It had a MacPherson strut front suspension and a dead rear axle supported by coil springs, trailing arms and a Panhard rod.1 The Fox had a 1.5 L engine rated at 75 hp attached to a 4-speed manual transmission.2

Audi sold a station wagon variant of the vehicle in some countries, although it was virtually identical to the European Passat wagon. The B1 platform was dropped from the European market in 1978, although it was sold into the 1979 model year in North America.

B2 (1978–1987)

Audi redesigned the 80 on the B2 platform in 1978 (as a 1979 model) in Europe and in 1979 (as a 1980 model) in North America. Audi continued to use the 80 nameplate in Europe, but began badging it as the 4000 in North America. The body of the B2 Audi 80 was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro.

The B2 platform proved to be both quite versatile and quite profitable; Audi spun Quattro Coupe and Sport Quattro variants off of the B2 platform, which in the process helped to cement the company into the public eye after their four wheel drive Quattro system proved useful in various forms of racing.

The sedans were made until 1987 (as early 1988 models), but the Coupe lasted through 1988 (as an early 1989 model) before being changed.