Based on the Audi 80, the 'Coupe' (no other designation was used for the Audi model) was introduced only a few months after the revolutionary four-wheel drive
'Quattro' for which it had served as a development basis.
Not quite as square-cut as its 4WD stable-mate, the Audi Coupe was still chunky, featuring four rectangular headlights, and utilised an idenntical front-drive layout and suspension as the normal
Audi 80. The wheellbase too was identical at 8.33 ft (2.45 metres), but the power-unit was yet another variation on Audi's adaptable five-cylinder petrol motor.
For the Coupe, the cubic capacity was reduced from 2144 cc to 1921 cc by using a shorter-throw crankshaft (reduced 9 mm to 77.40 mm). Bore and stroke dimensions were therefore 79.5 by 77.40 mm, bore size staying identical to the various 2.1-liter five-cylinder Audi engines.
No doubt the VW/Audi board decided that Coupe buyers mustn't be presented with anything like the perforrmilnce of the (much more expensive) 'Quattro', for not only did they ordain the two-wheel drive car should have a smaller engine, but carburetter rather than fuel-injection! And no turbocharger!
Nevertheless, with the compression ratio at 10:1 the 1.9-liter 'five' developed a useful 115 bhp (85 kW) DIN at 5900 rpm, as well as 113.51 lb ft of torque (15.7 mkg/152.21 Nm) at 3700 rpm - equivalent outputs to the 2.1-liter five-cylinder motor of the 5S saloon model.
Surprisingly, although shorter than the four-door saloon models at 14.27 ft, the Coupe was substantially heavier at 2249 Ib (1020 kg). With five-speed gearbox as standard (an automatic transmission is opptional) the Coupe was capable of 114 mph (183 km/h) according to the manufacturer, and claimed 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration was 10.3 seconds.
