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.

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.[1]

Powertrain

Powertrain[6] 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).[13] 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 90000 km,[13] whereas the 4.2 V8 (ABH) had a longer interval at 120000 km.[13] 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.[4]

Audi's 'trademark' quattro permanent (or semi-permanent, dependent on gearbox type) four-wheel drive system was the only offering for the drivetrain.[1] This normally distributes the engine torque as a 'default' 50:50 between front and rear axles, but can automatically dynamically apportion up to a bias of 20:80 to 80:20 front and rear.[1] The automatic transmission utilizes a hydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch to apportion drive between front and rear axles,[1][10] whereas the manual transmission variants utilize a Torsen type 1 Torque Sensing center differential.[1] The rear axle final drive unit contains a Torsen type 1 Torque Sensing differential, instead of the more common hypoid open differential.[1][10]

Engines

Both available engines used a Bosch Motronic [8][13][14] fully electronic engine control unit (ECU), with cylinder bank selective knock control,[13] dual-barrel throttle valve, lambda mixture control via intake air volume metering and exhaust gas temperature sensor, and required unleaded petrol. Fuel was delivered to the combustion chambers via eight intake manifold-sited electronic fuel injectors, fed from two common fuel rails (one per cylinder bank), and were sequentially 'fired' or activated in accordance with the engine's firing order. Whilst the 3.6 V8 was able to use 95 RON (91 AKI) fuel, for the 4.2 V8, the more expensive 98 RON (93 AKI) 'SuperPlus' unleaded was required in order to achieve the quoted power output.

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
weight	3.6: 1710 kg 4.2: 1810 kg (Quattro) LWB: 1770 kg
designer	Erwin Leo Himmel (1984)

Overview

Body style

Powertrain

Engines

Steering, brakes, wheels

Features

Standard

Optional

Motorsport

Sales

External links

References

Details and performance

Details and performance

Transmissions

Details

Details