Audi · 1988–1993

Audi V8

The Audi V8 (Typ 4C) is a four-door, full-size luxury sedan, designed, manufactured and marketed by Audi in Germany from 1988 to 1993, as the company's flagship. As the first car from Audi to use a V8 engine, it also was the first Audi to combine a quattro system with an automatic transmission. Early cars used 3.6-litre V8s, while later cars featured a 4.2-litre version of the engine. The Audi V8 was replaced by the Audi A8 in 1994, although the A8 was not marketed in North America until 1996. The competition model of the Audi V8 won back-to-back Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft driver's titles in 1990 and 1991, with the championship winners being Hans-Joachim Stuck and Frank Biela respectively. Audi was the first company to win back-to-back DTM titles.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Audi A8

All Audi V8 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years → + Compare

Overview

Standard features for the Audi V8 included a 32-valve, double overhead camshaft (DOHC) V8 engine and a four-speed electronically controlled ZF 4HP24A automatic transmission providing Audi's quattro permanent four-wheel drive system. A five-speed (later in production six-speed) manual transmission was also available. The Audi V8 had a galvanized steel body, with a 10-year anti-perforation warranty (against corrosion). The Audi V8 was specifically designed to be a top of the range 'flagship' car and included a number of luxury features as standard equipment, including leather seating and Audi's quattro all wheel drive system (see standard features list). The Audi V8 created a new elevated image for the company, providing a viable alternative to established competitors such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. In this regard, the car was a cornerstone in developing the history of the Audi marque as it is today. Factory production commenced in October 1988, and ceased in November 1993, although sales of completed vehicles continued in 1994. It was replaced by the Audi A8 in 1994.

Body style

The Audi V8 used an enlarged version of the bodyshell from the Typ 44 Audi 100 and 200 models, and was based on a stretched version of their Volkswagen Group C3 automobile platform, known either as the D1 or D11 platform. The Audi V8 differed from the Audi 100/200 with a unique grille attached to the hood, new bumpers and headlights, all-red tail lamps, 12 mm extended wheelbase, wider track, pronounced fenders, and more wood trim in the interior. Furthermore, only alloy wheels were offered, ranging from 15 to 17 inches. In addition to the standard-length model, there was also a long wheelbase (LWB), ('Lang' in German) version of the V8 (refer to the infobox for differences in dimensions). It was assembled at Steyr-Daimler-Puch factory in Graz (see production figures). This tradition would continue with the A8, offered in "A8L" format (though only in year 2010 A8L reached the size of the V8L). A once-off experimental Avant (estate) version was built for the wife of former Audi CEO Ferdinand Piech. This car is no longer on display at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt, but in storage in Neckarsulm.

Powertrain

Powertrain detail of the Audi V8 featured one of two all-new, all-aluminium alloy engines – both petrol engines, and both in V8 configuration with 32 valves (four valves per cylinder) with dual valve springs, and four overhead camshafts (DOHC). The design set the pattern for future Audi-developed Volkswagen Group V8 engines. In addition to using an all-aluminum alloy cylinder block (when the established material was grey cast iron), the camshafts were driven using a hybrid method. A rubber/kevlar toothed timing belt, driven from the front of the crankshaft operated only the exhaust camshaft in each bank. The inlet camshafts were then operated via a simplex roller chain from the exhaust camshaft – the right bank, (cylinders 1–4) at the rear of the engine, and the left bank (cylinders 5–8) at the front of the engine, immediately behind the timing belt. This method reduced the complexity of the timing belt layout, and as a result, required fewer components, such as idler rollers and guides, and led to easier and less costly maintenance of the timing belt and associated components. The intervals for changing the timing belts varied; the 3.6 V8 (PT) required changing every 90,000 kilometres (60,000 mi), whereas the 4.2 V8 (ABH) had a longer interval at 120,000 kilometres (75,000 mi). A thermostatically controlled electric cooling fan also became standard, replacing the engine-driven viscous fans on earlier cars. This not only provided forced airflow for the engine coolant radiator, but also for the smaller engine oil cooler. Audi's 'trademark' quattro permanent (or semi-permanent, dependent on gearbox type) four-wheel drive system was the only offering for the drivetrain. This normally distributes the engine torque as a 'default' 50:50 between front and rear axles, but can a

Steering, brakes, wheels

The Audi V8 came equipped with rack and pinion power assisted steering (PAS) as standard. An electronically controlled variable assisted 'servotronic' version was also available. It was fitted with a high-performance brake system, which included radially ventilated disc brakes front and rear. The fronts were rather unusual – designed by Continental AG and sized at 310 millimetres (12.2 in) in diameter by 25 millimetres (0.98 in) thick, but the caliper was mounted inside the disc. The fronts also incorporated electronic brake pad wear sensors. The rears were 269 millimetres (10.6 in) by 20 millimetres (0.79 in), and incorporated a cable-operated parking brake. A Bosch anti-lock braking system (ABS) was also standard. Standard wheels were 7.5J x 15 H2 ET35 'aero' style light alloy wheels fitted with 215/60 R15 steel-belted radial tyres. Optional multi-spoke BBS-sourced (with Audi centre-cap badge) alloy wheels were also available, in either 8.0J x 16, or 8.0J x 17 sizes.

Features

The Audi V8 came standard with a range of features, including a BOSE audio system with eight speakers, walnut wood trim, leather interior, and heated seats. Some available colors included pearl white, lago blue (teal), blue mica, tornado red and black. All paint finishes were pearlescent or metallic. The lists below detail other standard and optional features. Standard. Standard features that came with the Audi V8. Optional. Optional features that were offered with the Audi V8.

Motorsport

Audi developed a Group A competition version of the Audi V8 for entry into the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) (German Touring Car Championship) auto racing series equipped with a 309 kW (420 PS; 414 bhp), later 340 kW (462 PS; 456 bhp), 3.6 V8 engine and 6-speed manual transmission, and began racing with it in 1990 with Schmidt MotorSport (SMS) running the operation, and Hans-Joachim Stuck, Walter Röhrl and Frank Jelinski driving. In the 1990 DTM season all of the three teams claimed together the entire podium (1st, 2nd and 3rd places) at Hockenheimring race. Stuck won the title, and the following year, Audi added a second team to the mix, Audi Zentrum Reutlingen (AZR). SMS continued with Stuck and Jelinski, while AZR raced with Frank Biela and Hubert Haupt. Biela gave Audi another crown in 1991, but was unable to defend the title in 1992. For the 1992 season, Audi had changed their engines to use a 180° flatplane crankshaft, which they said had been re-forged and bent from the original 90° crossplane part as used in production model. The DTM organisers found this highly modified crankshaft deviated from original homologated standard crankshaft, and therefore deemed it illegal. Audi subsequently withdrew from the championship. During its presence at DTM the Audi V8 competed with much smaller and about 300 kg (661 lb) lighter Mercedes 190, BMW M3, and slightly smaller Opel Omega 3000. None of those cars were equipped with V8 engines or 4-wheel drive.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Audi V8 (4C)

Manufacturer

Audi AG

Production

October 1988 – November 1993

Assembly

Neckarsulm, Germany

Related

Audi 100/200

Successor

Audi A8

Class

Full-size luxury car

Body style

4-door saloon (sedan)

Layout

Longitudinal front engine, Quattro permanent four-wheel drive

Platform

Volkswagen Group D1 (aka D11)

Engine

3.6 L PT V8, 4.2 L ABH V8

Transmission

4-speed ZF 4HP24A automatic, 5-speed manual (3.6 V8), 6-speed manual (4.2 V8)

Wheelbase

SWB: 2702 mm, LWB: 3020 mm

Length

SWB: 4861 mm, LWB: 5190 mm

Width

1814 mm

Height

1420 mm

Kerb weight

3.6: 1710 kg, 4.2: 1810 kg (Quattro), LWB: 1770 kg

Designer

Erwin Leo Himmel (1984)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q263434CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_V8CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1369353644 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audi_V8._VF.jpgPublic domain · Photo: Jan Møller · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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