Introduced in 1982, the third-generation Audi 100 marked a milestone in European automotive engineering. Its drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.30 remains remarkable even today. This outstanding aerodynamic performance was achieved through meticulous engineering details, including flush-bonded front and rear windscreens, flush-fitting side windows and carefully optimised underbody panelling.
As part of Audi’s internally named Quality Initiative, the Audi 100 received a fully galvanised body from autumn 1985 onwards. From 1986, all petrol engine variants were also available with a regulated three-way catalytic converter.
The Audi 100 introduced numerous advances in engineering, design and manufacturing, setting new benchmarks not only in aerodynamics but also in active and passive safety, as well as in body durability and production quality.
At the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in September 1989, AUDI AG unveiled the revolutionary 2.5-litre five-cylinder TDI engine in the Audi 100. Initially producing 88 kW (120 PS), it combined exceptional fuel efficiency with high torque at low engine speeds and a level of performance previously unknown in a diesel passenger car. The result of thirteen years of development, the Audi 100 TDI fundamentally changed perceptions of diesel technology and revolutionised the use of diesel engines in passenger cars.