Audi Coupé

Lore & Background

The first-generation Audi Coupé (B2, Typ 81/85) was introduced at the Paris Salon in 1980 as a less expensive version of the turbocharged, permanent four-wheel drive Audi Quattro, lacking the turbocharger and four-wheel drive. It featured a similar body shape but without the knife-edged fender flares. Mechanically, it used naturally aspirated engines ranging from a 1.6-litre inline-four to 2.3-litre inline-five, with front-wheel drive as standard; quattro became an option later (Typ 85). The Coupé was available in plain, GL, GT, and Coupé quattro trims. A facelift in autumn 1984 brought a sloped grille, wrap-around bumper, plastic sill covers, and the large rear spoiler from the Quattro, reducing drag to 0.36. Production of the B2 ended in late 1988.

The second-generation Coupé (B3, Typ 8B) debuted in October 1988, based on the Typ 89 saloon with modified rear suspension and a new front suspension previewing the B4 Audi 80. Initially offered with 2.3E ten- or twenty-valve engines, it later gained a 2.0E, a 2.8 V6, and the sporty S2 Coupé in September 1990. The S2 featured a 2.2-litre inline-five 20-valve turbo engine and standard quattro. The Coupé received updates similar to the B4 Audi 80 and remained in production until December 1996, with no direct replacement but effectively succeeded by the first-generation Audi TT.

Reader's Guide

The Audi Coupé occupies a significant place in Audi's history as the more accessible sibling to the legendary Quattro, sharing its distinctive bodywork while offering front-wheel drive and naturally aspirated engines. It demonstrated Audi's ability to produce a stylish, practical coupé that appealed to a broader market. The introduction of the Coupé quattro in 1984 brought permanent four-wheel drive to the model, blending the GT's comfort with all-weather capability. The second-generation B3 Coupé continued this lineage, eventually spawning the S2—the first of Audi's long-running 'S' series of sporting derivatives. The Coupé's production run of 16 years and its evolution from a budget Quattro alternative to a sophisticated grand tourer underscore its role in shaping Audi's modern identity. Its legacy is evident in the subsequent Audi TT, which inherited the Coupé's blend of style and performance.

Did You Know?

• The first-generation Coupé shared its bodywork with the Audi Quattro but lacked the Quattro's turbocharger and standard four-wheel drive.
• A 1.6-litre 'YN' 75 PS engine was available only for the first year of production and was the only Coupé without a black rear spoiler.
• The Coupé quattro used the Ur-Quattro rear windscreen with 'quattro' written into the heater elements.
• The B3 Coupé was sold in Italy only with a 2.0-litre 20-valve engine to avoid a high tax penalty on engines over two liters.