Audi 200 Avant Quattro is as Rare as it is Awesome
Slideshow: The Audi 200 Avant Quattro was a powerful and techy all-wheel-drive Audi that could produce over 200 horsepower back in the '80s. Spotting one of these in America is a rare opportunity.
A Rare Sight
The Audi 200 is one of the most difficult cars to spot in the U.S today. The Quattro-equipped 200 is even rarer. Audi first introduced it in 1985, at a time when not very many full-size wagons were sold. Before then, only Subaru and AMC had all-wheel-drive wagons. Mercedes-Benz and Volvo had also earned some profits from the niche, but neither provided all-wheel-drive. Sighting a 200 Avant Quattro takes an Audi enthusiast down memory lane.
Photos Courtesy of Fourtitude.com
Tricks Up Its Sleeves
The early 1990s were not exactly graced with lots of Audis. The automaker was still recovering from the 60 Minutes acceleration controversy. Sale volumes fell to four figures. Despite the downfall, the company was still preparing for its comeback after the departure of rivals like Renault and Peugeot. This could be seen in its best sellers like the 4000 sedan that flourished in the American import-friendly regional markets.
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The Quattro All-Wheel-Drive
The Audi 200 Avant Quattro preceded the 200 Avant. It was still a novelty in the U.S. thanks to its all-wheel-drive feature. The gearbox outlet came with additional power take-off. Audi also replaced the rigid axle with a sophisticated quadrilateral scheme that could be customized. The goal was to reduce the general transmission dimensions.
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A Muscle Car of The day
At 5,700 rpm, the 200 Avant 20V Quattro could churn out 217 horsepower and 228 pound-foot of torque. This was facilitated by a roaring turbocharged 2.2-liter inline-5, making this version one of the most powerful wagons. The 1989 variant could make 220 horses thanks to a new injection system. As outdated and compromised this may sound, the Quattro was basically a muscle car of its day.
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A Revamp
Audi made the first major change to the Quattro in 1988. The automaker equipped the car with new aerodynamics, recessed bodywork flush handles, and new windscreen wipers. The interior also received a new dashboard that included a tachometer, levelfuel, speedometer, digital clock, voltmeter, oil pressure and temperature, on-board computer and water temperature. These were surrounded by a valuable wooden molding that crossed all the way to the door panels.
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Technological Innovations
Perhaps one of the most innovative features adopted in the 200 Avant was its Procon-ten system that included a set of pre-tensioners. These allowed for backward movement of the steering column in case of frontal impact. The Torsen differential automatically divided the torque between the front and rear axles. A manually lockable differential was also included that could disengage automatically at speeds above 15 mph. The last cool innovative feature was the ABS, which could automatically deactivate when the lock was engaged.
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Adapted for Competition
The basic 20-valve turbo design used in the 200 has been adapted severally for Audi rally cars. In 1990, Hans Stuck won the IMSO GTO competition behind a 20-valve turbocharged Audi race car that boasted more than 600 horsepower.
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Reliability
The 200 was an unforgiving car back in the day. Its reliability depended on timely maintenance. The majority of the models hardly lasted beyond the 1990s. Very few exist today, owing to owners that were able to keep up with regular service maintenance.
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A Glimpse of Future Audi's
The Audi 200 Avant Quattro was one of the first models to showcase what future Audis would bring to the table. The ultimate 20V version was a far better and improved model compared the base variant that debuted in 1982 with a C3 body. The structure was replaced in 1992, revealing the potential of a future with very capable wagons.
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For help with service on your car, check out the how to section of AudiWorld.com.