Whereas BMW first put V8 engines in manufacturing automobiles again in 1954 and Mercedes-Benz adopted with its personal V8 in 1968, Audi did not start constructing new V8-powered automobiles till 1988 (sorry, V8 automobiles constructed by Audi company ancestors do not rely). Lastly including a V8 to their engine secure should have made Audi’s entrepreneurs so excited that they determined to call the automotive that used it after the engine: the Audi V8, bought in america for the 1989 via 1994 mannequin years. The V8 was respectably huge, impressively quick, and very costly, and I’ve discovered a uncommon instance of the breed in a Denver-area automotive graveyard.
Audi wasn’t doing so properly in america on the time this automotive was bought, due to the “unintended acceleration” debacle that crushed American gross sales for all Audis (not simply automatic-equipped 5000s) for at the very least a half-dozen years after the infamous “60 Minutes” piece that aired in late 1986. Bringing over a technological masterpiece like this automotive despatched a message that Audi wasn’t giving up on our continent.
The engine is a 3.6-liter quad-cam rated at 240 horsepower and 245 pound-feet. The bottom 1990 Corvette solely managed 245 horses from its 5.7-liter V8 (although the wild DOHC 5.7 within the ZR1 made 375 that yr).
A five-speed handbook was obtainable in U.S.-market V8s with the three.6, however not many have been purchased that manner right here. This one has the four-speed computerized. Quattro all-wheel-drive was commonplace tools. Word the Unintended Acceleration warning sticker subsequent to the gear indicator.
The inside is filled with high-quality leather-based and wooden.
The worth tag was intimidating: $47,450, which involves about $114,361 in 2023 {dollars}. The 1990 BMW 735i listed at $49,000 ($118,097 in the present day) and the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 420 SEL value $62,500 ($150,633 in in the present day’s cash); neither of these automobiles have been obtainable with all-wheel-drive, which should have made the V8 Quattro a tempting selection for well-heeled automotive consumers on the lookout for a giant German sedan.
The mannequin identify was complicated, although there weren’t any badges proclaiming it. When the V8’s successor confirmed up (primarily based on a totally completely different platform), it was designated the A8 and went on sale in america as a 1997 mannequin.
Audi adopted up its first V8 engine with its first V6 engine, for the 1992 mannequin yr in america.
It drove near 200,000 miles throughout its profession.
How might such a uncommon automotive find yourself right here? The V8 simply is not value very a lot these days, regardless of its rarity and historic significance, and potential patrons are typically intimidated by the meticulous upkeep that these automobiles want to remain alive.
This home-market business seems to have been filmed on this facet of the Atlantic.
With Quattro, you will not want to fret about hitting steamrollers or cats.