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Audi 80 GTE - the spark that ignites?

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Created on December 23, 2021

Text:

Sven Juerisch

Photos:

Kai-Uwe Knoth

28

Audi

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Archiv

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Kai-Uwe Knoth

28

Audi

4

Archiv

6

Audi 80 GTE (1975) - Strong performance

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - unfortunately, the mid-range sports car is rare today.

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - initially only two-door and available in two colors

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - does this even hint at a Hofmeister kink?

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - angular and with rally stripes in keeping with the era

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - painted in upbeat Cadiz orange

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - classic three-volume silhouette

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - soberly designed rear end

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - the black hood is part of the optional rally package.

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - a real eye-catcher

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - Audi's highlight at the IAA of the same year

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - at the time the only car in its category with Bosch's K-Jetronic fuel injection system

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - a sun substitute for rainy days, so to speak

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - with its 110 hp, it gave BMW and co. a run for their money.

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - fast and yet always controllable

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - a look inside the sporty interior

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - the seat covers stand out from the rest in terms of color.

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - the bright orange and black contrast also continues in the interior.

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - the three-spoke steering wheel

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - Illuminated instrument indicators

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - Additional instruments in the center console

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - the 1.6-liter engine was adopted for the Golf GTI.

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - Black is intended to symbolize sportiness.

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - the twin headlights had to make way for rectangular lights the following year.

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - the model designation of the sports sedan

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - unmistakable manufacturer identification on the wheel rim

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A design study of the Audi 80 is already very similar to the production version.

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Audi 80 (1973) - The trade press was enthusiastic about the new Audi 80 right from the start.

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Audi 80 (1973) - The Audi 80 was born with lightweight construction in mind.

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Audi 80 L (1973) - the Audi four-cylinder, the basis for many Audi and Volkswagen engines in the years to come

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Audi 80 L (1974) - the passenger safety cabin

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Audi 80 LS (1973) - four-door version, premiere in Geneva, from 10,920 francs - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

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Audi 80 GL (1973) - the GL model had twin headlights and improved equipment

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Audi 80 GT (1973) - new top model with 100 hp and a top speed of 175 km/h - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1973

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Audi 80 GTE (1976) - with 1.6-liter injection engine - 0 to 100 km/h in 9.2 s - Geneva Motor Show 1976

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Audi 80 GTE (1975) - The Heron cylinder head was one of the innovations on the 1.6-liter engine.

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Summary

With the Audi 80 GTE, the Volkswagen subsidiary had a hot iron in the fire from 1975 and really fired up the competition from Munich and Milan. 110 injection horsepower ensured brisk driving performance and, together with the gaudy war paint, gave a foretaste of Audi's later success in motorsport. This driving report tells the story of the fuel-injected Audi 80 and shows it in current and historical images.

This article contains the following chapters

One for all
All beginnings are difficult
Injection brings the turning point
Biedermann in sportswear
Advantage through lightweight construction
Short life
Conclusion

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

At the IAA 1975, Audi was very modest; sensations were sought in vain on the stand. The shape of the Audi 80, which had already been presented in 1972, was familiar, the RO 80 was considered a discontinued model despite its visual refreshment, as was the first Audi 100, whose baroque curves looked like something from a different car era next to the angular Audi 80. The only real surprise at the time was an Audi 80 in a sports suit called the GTE. Three years after the launch of the new model series, it was the sporty spearhead of Ingolstadt's mid-size class. The basis was the Audi 80 B1, which heralded the new generation of vehicles in the Volkswagen Group. Constructed in just three and a half years, the model was not only designed by Audi as a notchback saloon for its own range, but was also to form the basis for the Volkswagen Group's new mid-size model family in the form of various derivatives.

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