The mid-sizers

The type-designations 81 and 85 are used here as a distinction between pre- and post-facelift models. It could, however be possible that 81 is for front wheel drive and 85 for quattro models. Fans you can confirm either one or the other: Please send a mail! And please no "I think..." mails.)

Introduced in fall '78, the Type81 was optically not that revolutionary compared to its predecessor after its facelift. Apart from the optics, everything was new. The Audi 80/4000 was now further away from the close cousin Passat/Quantum, a station wagon was no longer offered in any country.

What we today would regard as nice, but edgy design, was back then called aerodynamically optimized.

After 1980 saw the introduction of the quattro, the Audi 80 had the honour to be the first sedan with the permanent all wheel drive.

As the B1, the Type81 was exported to the USA. However, no longer as "Fox", but as 4000, a designation that would be kept until the B4. Typical are the thick bumpers, while Europe still had the standard plastic bumpers. But, when comparing the bumpers to those of the first exports like C1 and B1, they are already less disturbing.

An Audi quattro in the US version. Soon the name Urquattro should be common, even in English-speaking countries. Nowadays, the US-Americans call the C4 S4 UrS4, to make a distinction from the S4 with A4 base. In March 1980 the quattro was introduced for the first time at the Geneva Auto Show. It saw production together with the normal Coupé (introduced in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show) in November 1980. Its 10V 5-cylinder Turbo made 200hp available. The car was based on the Audi 80 but had a lot of unique parts and specialities. The Urquattro was not only successful in Rallye racing, but also as a normal production car. This is pretty astonishing, as at first only a limited production run was planned and the car had pretty high price tag.

By 8/81 the first Coupés were introduced, here an early German Coupé with the characteristic twin headlights. At least in Europe this twin headlights were Coupé-specific, including the Urquattro. In the US also sedans were available with them.

An early US Coupé. The bumpers are a bit thicker than in Europe, and -hard to see- have the turning signals like the Urquattro above not in the corners as German Coupés have, but further inwards. In order to still be able to see the signals, small side indicators are positioned on the fenders.

This precious piece belongs to Ferry from the Audi Coupe Club Holland. The wide headlights replaced the twin headlights which looked more aggressive but also gave baaad light.

200hp in the Urquattro didn't even make the quattro sweat. The Sportquattro, introduced in 1983 was a civilized version of the Rallye car. It put out 306hp and accelerated in less than 5 seconds from 0 to 100km/h (0 to 60mph). Despite its aerodynamic like a wall (or a paracute) it reached 250km/h (around 156mph). It accelerated faster than the Porsche Turbo of this time and only lost 10km/h (6,25mph) in topspeed. It was 10 inches shorter than the normal quattros, making it one of the most extreme cars worldwide. Somehow, it is still today. If an owner of the once 219 (200 were necessary for Groupe B homologation) decides to sell his, he won't do under 50.000 Euro. The sale lasted pretty long, probably as Audi had set the price very high. To my knowledge, sales lasted from 1984 till 1985.

As Coupé and Urquattro share many parts across various years and the facelift, it is relatively easy that some owners convert their late Coupé to an early one and vice versa.

This is a Type85, the facelifted Type 81, introduced in July 1984. As the intern modifications were not that huge, the internal designation stayed B2. The Type85 has another interiour a generally calmer appearing body and rear lights thatv resemble those of the Type44, the outer quaters are to my knowledge even identical. The Urquattro was called Type85 from the beginning on.
And everybody can see for themselves that Type85 look great in intensive colours:
[red] [yellow] [blue]

The urquattro was not only uncommon in its technic, its marketing was also pretty unconventional. It is normal that at first the lower models get introduced to the market and better equipped and stronger models follow. Not so with the UrQ. His small derivates Audi Coupe and Coupe quattro were presented later but reached the sale rooms nearly at the same time. Despite this seldom seen strategy, the market was friendly for all the cars.
Das Coupé to the left has a fantastic paint job that is hard to see because of the bad weather. Furthermore, the orange turning signals are replaced with white ones.

The Coupé was also facelifted in the USA. Now, the US versions are virtually indistinguishable from the European ones.
The main optical difference between Coupé and Urquattro are -apart from the front and rear fascia- of course the characteristically widened fenders of the Uri. And those of the Sortquattro are another step "fatter" ;)

The Audi 90 was introduced in September 1984. There was an Audi Super 90 before, which had nothing in common with the new one. In the Audi 90 that can be described as the luxury version of the Audi 80, only fivecylinders were available. Audi already used a similar strategy with the Audi 100/299 since late 1983.

This Audi 90 quattro is interesting. It is registered in New Zealand but apparently was imported from Japan. Japanese license plates are so arrow, that you can use the US-American centre piece for the rear lights. New Zealand plates are a bit wider so that you have to force them into position. Audis that were specifically bult for New Zealand therfore have the wide German centre piece, what also looks awkward, as the German plate is way wider than the New Zealand one.
Also visible is the sought-after Audi 90 spoiler, which I have seen on at least one Type44's trunk, too. ;)