Throughout the Seventies and Eighties Audi had gradually cemented its reputation for stylish understatement, bulletproof quality and technological ingenuity with successive generations of core models like the 80 and 100. At the turn of the next decade the third generation of its more compact 80 saloon helped to ingrain that image even more deeply.
The model which preceded this 1991 edition of the 80 was already notable for being among the first to feature a fully galvanised steel body structure, and therefore to be covered by a ten-year anti-corrosion warranty. That sleekly sculpted body and the innovative flush-fitting windows within it also worked in favour of efficiency and refinement, slipping cleanly through the air with an exceptionally low 0.29 Cd drag coefficient. It also housed the first ever installation of the innovative Audi Procon-ten safety system, which used cables and pulleys to draw the steering wheel forward and away from the driver in the event of a severe accident, predating airbag technology by several years. As a further advanced safety measure that was still relatively rare at the time, ABS anti-lock braking was a standard feature as well.
In third generation form the 80 combined all these benefits with the design and technology updates necessary to ensure it could remain among the frontrunners in in its class, one of these being our car‘s new 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with motronic fuel injection and 115PS. The B3 was also appreciably more spacious than its precedessor, particularly where luggaage room was concerned, and the new addition of folding rear seats increased that versatility further still.
Technical information
- Cylinders – four in-line
- Displacement – 1984cc
- Power – 115PS @ 5,400rpm
- Torque – 165Nm @ 3,200rpm
- Max speed 118mph
- 0-62mph in 11.8 secs
- Transmission – five-speed manual
- Front-wheel-drive
- Weight – 1,230kg
Audi 80 SE (B3) – Overview
- Production: Typically between 1988–1991
- Platform: Volkswagen B3 (Typ 89)
- Market: Primarily UK and select European countries
- SE meaning: “Special Equipment” or “Special Edition”
Key Features (SE Trim Specific)
The SE trim added extra equipment over the base or CL/GL trims, and often included:
- Alloy wheels
- Sunroof (manual or electric)
- Uprated interior trim (velour or better fabrics)
- Central locking
- Electric front windows
- Heated door mirrors
- Front fog lights
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel (in some variants)
Engines Available
Depending on the year and market, SE versions could be paired with several engines:
- 1.6L or 1.8L 4-cylinder (carbureted or fuel-injected)
- 2.0L 4-cylinder (injection)
- 1.6L or 1.9L diesel / turbo diesel
- Occasionally, 5-cylinder petrol engines (2.0L or 2.3L), especially in higher trims
B3 Platform Highlights
- Fully galvanized body – excellent rust resistance
- FWD layout (quattro AWD optional on higher trims)
- Rounded, aerodynamic design – drag coefficient ~0.29
- Front MacPherson strut suspension, rear torsion beam
You must be logged in to post a comment.