C3 100

With superb attention to aerodynamic detail, the cigar-shaped 1982 C3 Audi 100 proved to be a landmark design, as well as a particularly fine highway cruiser.

Only front-wheel drive five-cylinder sedan and – from November 1986 – Avant wagon variants arrived locally, in three-speed automatic or five-speed manual guises.

A 100kW/180Nm 2.1-litre unit gave way to a larger 101kW/188Nm 2.2 motor from February 1985 until the (late) arrival of a 100kW/190Nm 2.3 unleaded petrol engine in January 1988.

April 1989 brought a small facelift identified by new door handles, a redesigned cabin and much higher equipment levels.

Meanwhile, Audi’s local distributors attempted (and failed) to take on higher-spec BMW and Mercedes models with the hopelessly overpriced 200 Sedan from October 1986 to December 1990.

Power actually fell from the previous generation 200T, from 125 to 118kW, as did torque outputs (265 versus 225Nm).