In the late '80s, German automakers Audi found themselves in somewhat of a slump, with sales volume steadily declining as other European car manufacturers began to see success in the American market. In large part, this was because Audi’s vehicles were mated to unusual and unappealing five-cylinder engines that simply weren’t worth the money when compared to other competitors like Mercedes and BMW.
In an attempt to revert the situation, Audi released their most daring vehicle yet: the V8 Quattro. As its name suggests, the Quattro’s engine was larger, and it also offered new technology that truly made it worthy of a fighting chance alongside the best brands in the market.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 1989 Audi V8 Quattro.
Performance Of The 1980s Audi V8 Quattro
The V8 Quattro wasn’t designed to achieve head-rearing speeds, and instead its focus leaned more towards reliable and comfortable daily-driveability. That being said, the 8 cylinders beneath its hood were capable of putting out 240-hp and the same amount of torque. Those numbers weren’t anything to marvel at as it took the V8 Quattro nearly 10 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, but they certainly gave the vehicle a decent kick.
On a more interesting note, the V8 Quattro was the first Audi to ever offer an automatic transmission paired with the brand's famous Quattro All-wheel-drive system, which gave it impressive traction and precise handling. Driver’s could also choose between three different driving settings: sport, economy, and manual, which allowed for greater versatility and the ability to suit circumstantial driving needs.
Practicality And Design Of The 1980s Audi V8 Quattro
Any sedan that looks to compete has to offer a respectable grade of practicality, that statement is true today, and it was back in the day as well. The V8 Quattro offered a spacious interior both up front and in the rear, and the trunk was also large enough to pack a good amount of cargo. In terms of fuel economy, however, Audi’s flagship was slightly lacking with an EPA mileage of 14 city mpg and 18 highway mpg.
The V8 Quattro’s exterior was conservative yet handsome like most competitors, with only a few aggressive design cues such as mildly flared fenders and a sporty front grille. A large set of rear lights gave the car a modern look from behind, and the dual exhaust served as an outlet worthy of the car’s V8. On the inside, leather-laden seats and wood-trim dash panels made it look smart and luxurious. The gauge cluster offered tons of live driving information with a whopping total of seven different gauges, and outside visibility was quite formidable through the Quattro’s large windows and slim pillars.
Cost Of The V8 Quattro Today
How much would an Audi V8 Quattro cost you if you were to buy one today? Finding one isn’t the easiest of tasks, seeing as not too many were sold during the model’s five-year production run, and prices vary depending on the mileage and overall condition of each unit. Earlier production models can be found for around $6,000 with mileages well over 100,000, whereas models from the vehicle’s final production years hover somewhere around the $9,000 mark.
The V8 Quattro may not have lived up to what Audi expected of it, yet that doesn’t change the fact that it marked the beginning of an era, and many consider it to be the first ‘modern’ Audi of a large list of successors. It’s possible that some of the amazing Audi’s we know and love today wouldn’t even exist if it hadn’t been for Audi’s decision to innovate and take a risk with the Quattro.