The Audi 100 identify has a protracted and infrequently painful historical past in the US. The primary-generation 100 first appeared right here as a 1970 mannequin, when Audi’s official identify was nonetheless Audi NSU Auto Union, with U.S. gross sales persevering with by means of 1977. The second-generation 100 acquired the 5000 identify for North America when it confirmed up for the 1978 mannequin yr, and gross sales of it and its third-gen successor had been sturdy … till the “Unintended Acceleration” fiasco that started in 1986. It appeared like a good suggestion to deliver again the 100 designation after that (starting with 1989), and that identify caught with U.S.-market 100s by means of the shift into the fourth-generation vehicles. This is a well-preserved instance of the primary yr of the fourth-gen Audi 100 right here, present in a automotive graveyard in Phoenix, Arizona.
The C4 Audi 100 was basically an intensive facelift of the C3, however one main mechanical change happened: the introduction of Audi’s first V6 engine.
This can be a 2.8-liter rated at 172 horsepower and 184 pound-feet, driving the entrance wheels on this non-Quattro automotive.
Due to the Unintended Acceleration nightmare, which was nonetheless killing Audi gross sales right here when this automotive was within the showroom, all U.S.-market automatic-equipped 5000s and 100s acquired these warning stickers starting in 1987. 23 million 1966-1980 Ford automobiles constructed with faulty automated transmissions that always shifted from Park to Reverse on their very own acquired related stickers as a substitute of being recalled.
This automotive’s physique seems to be nice after 31 years, with neither dents nor rust. The odometer exhibits that it traveled only a bit into six-figure mileage throughout its life.
The fearsome Arizona solar took its toll on the seat leather-based, however in any other case the inside seems to be first rate.
Its proprietor or house owners took excellent care of it, we are able to see.
Observe the “Compact Cassette” textual content on the manufacturing unit radio; that was the official identify for what got here to be often known as simply the cassette tape. By 1992, Audi radios could have been the final place that designation was used.
The MSRP on the front-wheel-drive 1992 Audi 100 CS sedan was $34,400, or about $76,669 in 2023 {dollars}. That was a bit cheaper than its BMW 525i competitor, which listed at $35,600 (about $79,345 after inflation).
For the 1995 mannequin yr, Audi ditched the 100 identify and renamed this automotive the A6. The 90 turned the A4 right here the next yr.
Welcome to the Nineteen Nineties.
Of their homeland, the Audi 80 (often known as the Audi 90 on this facet of the Atlantic) and Audi 100 acquired suspiciously American-sounding music on this TV commercial. Vorsprung durch Technik.