Four Rings To Rule Them All

The lineup Audi has currently unleashed upon the earth could very nearly be argued as the best the world has ever seen. Top of their class in every category (overall) — appearance, ergonomics, exterior/interior design, build quality, power, handling, driving enjoyment . . . the list goes on.

Think about it (and also see post below): only Mercedes offers a range with more power (the S/SL65 AMG models top the current RS6 by about 40hp), the exterior and interior design are more striking than almost every BMW, and Audi offer a much more expansive lineup than Aston Martin, Jaguar, or Maserati — which, when compared on an individual-model basis might trump an Audi one-on-one.  Audi has, in the last 10 years, become a major market dominating force.

Ignoring the older and more obvious historical highlights (such as the runaway success of the Quattro in rally competition), we jump to 1989, and the first step into the upmarket arena Audi occupies today — the Audi V8.  Although we have mentioned it in a preview post, it absolutely warrants another look, if for no other reason than the fact that it was overlooked by so many.  Competitors in the full-size luxury market may have outflashed and outsold it, but it was — and remains — a diamond in the rough.

Today a 1992-1994 Audi V8 will run you from $3,000 up for an example in good shape.  What that will get you is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  You absolutely want the larger 4.2L V8 engine for a car this size, especially to push it off the line in city driving.  And while you can’t get one with a manual, as you can with the earlier 3.6L V8, the shove from all 275hp will make up the difference.  To make the power of every horse count, Audi shod its hooves with All-Wheel-Drive for grip.  Take that, rivals!

Power-wise, it took a V12 to best the Audi (that of the BMW 750iL and the new-for-91 Mercedes S-Class), and other V8 competitors such as the Lexus LS400 didn’t surpass it until the late 90s — several years after the Audi V8 was replaced with the A8.  None of its peers, however, possessed the innate sporting-ness of the Audi, as evidenced particularly with a pair of  back-to-back DTM Championships in ‘90 and ‘91.  You can’t get a manual transmission in virtually any flagship of this era except a BMW 7-Series or Acura Legend, and then you’re into a front-wheel-drive car.

The interior is every bit as luxurious as its contemporaries, and while it may not glaze your eyes over with things like chilled champagne flutes or rocket launchers, it came very well optioned to begin with.  Leather was standard, as were dual airbags, ABS, a premium Bose sound system, and — irrelevantly today — a cellular car phone.

Our approach?  Take a 1992-94 model, swap in the European-exclusive 6-speed manual transmission, and if your thirst for power is unquenched, throw on a supercharger, which will take you up over 400hp.  Swapping in a later 40v V8 will add another 50hp on top.  Obviously, brakes and chassis components will need to be upgraded to match.

With the V8, Audi had created a brand-defining supersedan, and a new prestige image to boot.  The original Quattro may have sparked the racing pedigree of Audi, but it was the V8 that laid the groundwork for the striking models you see today.