Audi 80 versus VW K70 - Group competition in the mid-size class

Premium

Audi 80 versus VW K70 - Group competition in the mid-size class

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on December 22, 2020

Text:

Sven Jürisch

Photos:

Sven Jürisch

54

Audi AG

1

Audi Pressedienst

1

Archiv

14

70

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - Similar front

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - Two letters against four rings

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - Simple designs

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - Inconspicuous

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - Trip to the restaurant

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - In blue and gold

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - Detail of the Audi lettering

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - Similar front

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - Classic three-box design

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - bread-and-butter

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - Four lights, four rings

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - The hoods open the other way round

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - iFamily car in front of family business

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - Almost the same as the Audi

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The rear lights have four squares in a large rectangle

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - Relatively long exhaust pipe

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - But a really interesting color. In this light it looks more bronze than gold

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - All good things come in threes (Boxes)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - All good things come in threes (Boxes)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - In front of the mushroom

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - In front of the mushroom

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - Also four lights

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - Door handle in chrome

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The rear lights have an interesting pattern

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The rear lights have an interesting pattern

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - Deutsche Vergaser GmbH

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The interior without any decorative elements

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The steering wheel looks grippy

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The ashtray is even illuminated

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The ventilation looks bigger than in the Audi

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - Blue and gold is a beautiful combination

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The luggage compartment is covered, not like on the Audi

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The fuel filler cap

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Audi 80 (1975) - Also with air conditioning

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Audi 80 (1975) - The trunk was uncovered

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - Process view drawing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

VW K 70 (1971) - the simpler model with the rectangular headlights

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

VW K 70 (1974) - top model with 1.8-liter engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

VW K 70 (1970) - remarkably good ventilation and a rev counter for the 90 hp version

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The engine as a drawing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) - The engine as a drawing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

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

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

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

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Audi 80 (1972) - won "Car of the Year" award in 1972

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Audi 80 GT - 100 hp from a displacement of 1.5 liters - at the 1974 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

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

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Audi 80 staged in advertising of the time

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen Passat (1975) - Phantom drawing Volkswagen Passat

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Volkswagen K70 (1972) & Audi 80 (1975) - Two German sedans

You have only

1 out of 70

images seen in high resolution

Summary

A bourgeois today, one might exclaim in view of the Volkswagen K70 and Audi 80 LS. But the two notchback saloons stand for much more than conservative mid-range fare. They heralded a new beginning for the Volkswagen Group at the start of the 1970s. But two competing car designs could not be a good idea for a group that was not bedded on roses. Only one could survive. This article compares the two mid-range saloons and shows them in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Totally normal
Simply dignified
Sad fate
The dawn of a new era
Noticeable generational difference
Author's comment
Technical comparison

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

If you are thinking about buying a classic car, the choice is endless. From small cars to chic convertibles and American limousines, there are suitable offers in every price range. Many of them have interesting technology on board, impress with their remarkable driving performance or are simply sexy. None of this applies to the Audi 80 and Volkswagen K 70. So why should you be interested in these two boring cars from the realm of the Volkswagen Group? For most people, it was probably personal preference that led them to take the wheel of one of the two bourgeois cars. Perhaps grandpa had a K 70, the elementary school teacher drove an Audi 80 or one of the two was the driving school car. There seemed to be few other reasons for buying one of the two saloons. But on closer inspection, the Volkswagen K 70 and Audi 80 have an almost epochal character and were milestones in the brand's history.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: