Four with things in common
06/25/2023
550 units of the Audi two-liter engine were produced every day in 1977. Of course, it was found in the Audi 100 (with 115 hp at 5500 rpm), but also in the Porsche 924 (125 hp at 5800 rpm), the VW LT Transporter (75 hp at 4300 rpm) and the AMC Gremlin (84 hp at 5000 rpm). The basic engine was always the same, but the ingredients, e.g. carburetor or injection, were adapted to the intended use. Only a few engines were installed in such different cars.
Audi was proud of this engine at the time and noted in the press release:
"The basic components of this engine are naturally designed for the highest power output, i.e. 125 hp, so that there are extraordinarily large safety reserves at a lower load. The camshaft in the Audi 100 and Porsche 924 was trimmed more for power, while that of the LT Transporter was trimmed more for a favorable torque curve. The LT camshaft is also used in the American Gremlin because in the USA, with a legal top speed of 55 miles = approx. 90 km/h, the final power is irrelevant, but the torque in the lower speed range should be very high. The valve timing and compression ratio, in conjunction with a carburettor or fuel injection system, make it easy to achieve very different performance requirements."
Here is the technical data of the Audi variant from the 1977 AR catalog:
Four cylinders in line, (86.5 x 84.4 mm), 1984 cm3, compression 9.3:1, 115 hp (84.5 kW) at 5500 rpm, 16.8 mkp (164.8 Nm) at 3500 rpm, octane requirement super gasoline
Overhead valves, overhead camshaft (timing belt); light alloy cylinder head; 5-bearing crankshaft; oil filter in the main flow, downdraft register carburetor, dry air filter. Battery 12 V 45 or 54 Ah (or 63 Ah), alternator 35 (automatic 55) a.w. 65 A; water cooling, 7 liter capacity, thermostatically controlled electric fan.
