The Audi V8 Story

The V8 is an almost forgotten luxury car from Audi’s late 1980’s line-up, like the Audi 200 before it. It’s easy to get it confused with the A8 that came after it – a car that drove Audi to new levels of opulence that allowed it to compete with the likes of BMW’s 7-series and Mercedes’ S-Class. But why was the V8 only in production for 5 years, and for such a short-lived car, was it a success?

0:00 Introduction
0:39 Auto Union History
02:33 Audi 100
04:48 Audi 200
06:51 Audi V8 Development
09:24 Audi V8 Launch
13:34 Audi V8 LWB

Sources:
A History of Progress – Audi AG ISBN-13: 978-0837610368 ISBN-10: 0837610362

#bigcar

[BigCar]

Errata: Mercedes used an inline 6 engine, not a V6.
It's the DTM German Touring Car Championship, not DTW.
The mk1 Audi 100 was known as the 100 in North America. It was the mk2 that switched to be called the Audi 5000.

[tuanbe]

The V8’s brochure also was a thing of luxury. It was a matte black holder with 2 booklets. One for the common main features and one smaller one with real color samples painted on small pieces of paper glued to the pages. I was a 12 yo. boy frequenting the local VAG dealership and the sales representative gave me a copy. It was the greatest thing on earth. I cherished it dreaming that one day I could afford such a fine car myself. I haven’t owned one but a few years ago I saw my first real life V8 parked on the street and fellt 30 years younger for a few moments. In my childish nostalgia it still was the greatest car ever made.

[ah]

Liked this story on the V8. Very under rated car from the late 80's early 90's. I have a '93 V8 Quattro 4.2. One of approximately 175 units sold in the USA in 1993. At the time it cost more than the top of the range MB or BMW. This also makes the car rare and unique at car shows. My car still runs flawlessly and has a timeless style, even though some find it plain in todays, some what over wrought cookie cutter style. I also have a '84 Audi 4000 S Quattro. The V8 had/has mile eating power (275 std/ 310 chipped) and comfort. Cruise at 80 to 100 mph as if you were going 55. Yes parts if needed can be difficult to source and can be expensive. Also finding competent service is also challenging, so I end up doing the basics myself. Even Audi dealerships here in the USA don't know about the car. Still when at the local cars and coffee, I always get compliments from car people who know the V8 is different and unique from another era that can still roll out nicely today.

[antraxxslingshots]

I remember a colleague bought one of those when it was a few years old. I think they had two belts to drive the camshafts and the moment those service was due you could buy them for the price of a used golf. He did so and took me for a ride and i was so impressed that it sticks to me till today. Back then heated rear seats were like out of this world to me and i remember the wires of the rear window defroster forming the word "Quattro" which appeared for following cars when the wires were heated...amazing.
Strange how some things stay in the brain like a tatoo.
Thank your for this trip down memory lane!

[markotrieste]

Audi director: "You need to differentiate between 100, 200 and V8. Use your fantasy!"
Audi designers: "According to which DIN standard, sir?"

[martiniv]

And the Audi 5 cylinder is legendary, I love the offbeat rumble

[mustsilm]

The original A8 was one of the slickest looking cars.

[seahawker]

I had owned a 1992 200 Turbo Quattro, one of the best cars I ever owned! It was beautiful how the car would cruise through Upstate NY snow storms

[compu]

I had an 87 5000 Quattro. The panning "Quattro" badge you show at 11:25 is actually the rear defroster grid. On a snowy day you could melt Quattro into snow sitting on the glass. I really liked that touch. Well, that and the locking differentials!

[WeeFreeMan]

Now this is a car from a golden Era. Cars of this generation were the perfect combination of design, engineering and technology in my humble opinion.
Thanks for another wonderful presentation!

[robinsentance]

A Big car video on a Friday = Best Weekend

[ReddoFreddo]

One note: the name Audi came before the Volkswagen acquisition. Auto Union was a merger of a bunch of car companies, including Audi. Audi was named after August Horch, audi being the Latin word for horch, which is German for "hear, " his son came up with the idea to call it Audi. His company was initially named Horch but he had to change the name because of a legal dispute.

[svenlabots]

A friend of mine's dad used to own one. Still one of the most impressive cars ever. A monster, seriously. The world wasn't ready for such Audis yet. A legend with cultstatus...👍

[joannaatkins]

I'm sure you've already added it to the list, but I'd really love it if you could do the Jaguar XJ story. I can't help but love these less than perfect luxury cars

[rorymacve]

Another superb video! :D

Audis of the past I feel fell into an unfortunate middle-ground against their German rivals, not having the refinement or status of Mercedes-Benz and it's S-Class, but at the same time (aside from the Quattro) not having the same sporting edge as BMW and its original M5. Nowadays, all three companies have become largely the same as they've followed BMW's lead and created performance-orientated sports saloons and hatchbacks, to which I think something has been lost with regard to simple luxury saloon cars like the Audi V8 with a touch of performance, but not specifically pursuing it to the point that comfort (forgive the pun) takes a back seat. :)

[richardsheppard]

Brilliant to see the long forgotten v8 remembered. Great work. I look forward to all your work, it’s top quality

[bobbob-wfho]

just bought 1991 audi 100 with only 84k miles and it runs like new. it was a true barn find.

[ekim]

Your videos get better and better. Really enjoy the level they are pitched at, i.e. below anorak but above wikipedia, and your delivery of the content.

[garygriffiths]

I once had a third generation Audi 100 - with the 2.0 five cylinder engine. Truth to tell It wasn't that quick or the last word in reliability for that matter but I loved it anyway. I can recall distinctly that it made me feel proud to have such a beautiful car at last after having owned many run of the mill motors before. One of those cars a driver wishes he still had.

[tunceaux]

I have an Audi A8 2010 4.2tdi with 90k miles and i’m in love with the sound and the fact that its really reliable even after 12 years