10 Things You Didn't Know About Audi 100 Coupes

The Audi 100 was the early "home run" that established Audi in North America, and the Couple S is what made it special; and while lawsuits ultimately spelled the end for this venerable nameplate, the Spirit of the 100 lives on, and here are 10 Things You Probably Didn't Know about the Audi 100.

By Cory Johnson - March 7, 2017

1. Audi 100 by Volkswagen

The Audi 100 was the largest car produced by Audi since the Brand was re-launched by Volkswagen, the parent company, in 1965.

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2. Name that Powertrain

The number "100" was added to the name since the original Audi 100 LS came with a 100 horsepower engine. From April of 1970, the Audi 100 LS could also be ordered with an automatic (3-speed) transmission, sourced from Volkswagen.

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3. Three Versions of 100

The Audi 100 four-door sedan or "saloon" was first launched in November 1968; a two-door saloon followed in October of 1969, and the dynamic 100 Coupé S later in 1970.

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4. Bertone Design

The Audi 100 Coupe S was not designed in-house, by Audi designers. Instead, the design was given to Bertone, who also designed vehicles for Alpha Romeo, Aston Martin, and Ferrari to name a few.

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5. Wolfsburg 100

The original production facility for the Audi 100, Ingolstadt, was running at full capacity -- yet orders for the popular 100 kept piling up. A second production line for the Audi 100 was set up by Volkswagen, in Wolfsburg.

6. Pre-Quattro Quattro

Long before the first official launch of the Audi Quattro system, a four-wheel drive -- Audi 100 based -- prototype was built and first tested in 1976.

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7. By the Numbers

It was in March of 1971 that Audi had officially produced half-a-million vehicles. And the Audi 100 had become the most commercially-successful in Audi company history.By 1976, however, total vehicle production topped 2-million, including 800,000 unit sales for the Audi 100.

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8. Unintended Consequences

The Audi 100 and Coupe S were sold in the United States from 1970 until 1978. In 1977, the next generation of the Audi 100 was called the Audi 5000. But this was quickly changed back to the Audi 100 in 1998, following the unintended acceleration lawsuits. In 1995, the Audi 100 was re-badged as the Audi A6.

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9. Design Legacy

The Bertone-designed Audi 100 is still visible today, especially when you compare it with the c-pillar and sloping lines of the new Audi S7.

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10. Audi DNA

Lots of carmakers talk about their "DNA" ... but talk is cheap. This picture is proof that Audi can walk the talk when it comes to bloodlines, pedigree and automotive DNA.

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