Audi 5000

Audi 5000
Production period:	1978-1991
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , stretch limousine , station wagon
Successor:	Audi 100 / 200

The Audi 5000 was the version of the Audi 100 C2 and Audi 200 C2 (1976–1982) and its successor, the Audi 100 C3 (1982–1990), specially tailored to the requirements of the North American market .

Audi 5000 C2 (Type 43)

C2 (type 43)
Production period:	1978-1982
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engines : 2.1 liters (80–98 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0 liters (51–64 kW)
Length:	4811 mm
Width:	1763 mm
Height:	1389 mm
Wheelbase :	2677 mm
Empty weight :	1300 kg

General

The Type 43 was launched on the US market as the 5000 in August 1977, and in contrast to other markets only with the newly developed five-cylinder engines. This is where the new type designation 5000 came from, the appearance of which was based on the Audi rings and referred to the number of cylinders. The model replaced the Audi 100 C1 .

The C2 was adapted to the US market through local legal requirements: This affected both emissions and safety legislation. The five-cylinder had lower compression for the USA and could therefore also be operated with poorer fuel quality. As a result, however, a loss of performance had to be accepted; compared to the ECE version, the engine was throttled to 80 kW (108 PS). The injection engine with K-Jetronic was already equipped with a catalytic converter and, thanks to the modified transmission set-up, significantly more torque is now available in the lower speed range. A cruise control completes the package in order to take into account the US driving behavior (at a comparatively low and constant cruising speed over long distances). The bumpers had to withstand an impact of up to 5 mph undamaged and are therefore provided with deformation elements, but are also significantly larger. Side markers (amber lights in orange instead of the flashing light) and the side in the rear were prescribed for the US market in addition to the round sealed-beam lights. Instead of the three-point belts common in Europe, lap belts were installed in the rear. The color palette was less bright than in Europe and the equipment of the 5000 from model year 1978 corresponded roughly to the European GL version, which was poorly equipped for the US standards at the time. Audi never offered the 5000 as a station wagon (Avant) or two-door.

For model year 1979 there was the higher-quality Audi 5000 S with comfort-oriented equipment, including air conditioning as standard and leather upholstery was available. The "S" version quickly manifested itself as the most popular equipment variant, which soon took up around 90% of sales. A short time later, from the beginning of 1979, the five-cylinder diesel engine was also available in the USA; at the end of the 1970s, diesel engines were briefly popular in cars in the USA. It was available in both equipment versions (Audi 5000 Diesel and 5000 S Diesel), but could not be ordered in California because it could not comply with the local emissions regulations.

For the 1980 model year, the C2 was slightly revised: the rear lights were enlarged, which now incorporated the side position lights. The double headlights were now angular, they roughly corresponded to those of the European Audi 200 . The instruments were adapted to those of the Porsche 928 . The instrument panel and door panels have been changed, with better materials and fabrics. The massive bumpers were pulled around the corners of the vehicle. A turbo version "5000 S Turbo" was also offered; it was throttled to 98 kW (133 hp) in the USA model and only available with an automatic transmission. A turbo diesel was added to the range for the 1982 model year.

The Audi 5000 was initially quite successful in the USA and 133,512 units were sold. The vehicles were marketed through the joint sales channel Porsche + Audi .

In 1982 an Audi 5000 S was seen in the film ET - The Extra Terrestrial and in the television series Magnum .

Model years

Since the model change to the C3 in the US market was only planned for the model year 1984, all vehicles of the Audi 5000 C2 for the next US model year were manufactured in August to September 1982 shortly before the changeover to the C3. Their VIN identifies them as a 1983 model year (code letter "D"). The entire 1983 model year of the C2 was thus pre-produced for the US market. The parallel production of both model series (as with the predecessor) was to be avoided for logistical reasons. The C3 was not available in the USA until 1984.

Model year	from	to	FIN
1978	Aug 77	Jul 78	8th
1979	Aug 78	Jul 79	9
1980	Aug 79	Jul 80	A.
1981	Aug 80	Jul 81	B.
1982	Aug 81	Jul 82	C.
1983	Aug 82	Sep 82	D.

Model variants

Type	Audi 5000 Fuel Injection	Audi 5000 diesel	Audi 5000 Turbo	Audi 5000 Turbo Diesel
Engine code	WD (California: WE)	CN	WK	DE
Cubic capacity in cm 3	2144	1986	2144	1986
cylinder	5	5	5	5
Performance in HP / KW	108/80	70/51	133/98	87/64
Mixture preparation	Bosch K-Jetronic	Distributor injection pump	Bosch K-Jetronic with turbocharging	Distributor injection pump m. Turbocharging
Dimensions Lim. (L / W / H) in mm	4813/1768/1390	4813/1768/1390	4813/1768/1390	4813/1768/1390
Tires	185 / 70SR14	185 / 70SR14	205 / 60HR15	185 / 70SR14
Empty weight in kg	1210	1150	1260	1150
V-max in mph (Autom.)	103 (100)	93 (-)	109 (105)
construction time	1977-1982	1978-1982	1980-1982	1981-1982
Production number	160,650

Audi 5000 C3 (Type 44)

C3 (type 44)
Audi 100 (USA, 1989–1991)
Production period:	1983-1991
Body versions :	Limousine , stretch limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Otto engines : 2.1–2.3 liters (100–162 kW)
Length:	4807 mm
Width:	1814 mm
Height:	1422 mm
Wheelbase :	2687 mm
Empty weight :	1260-1520 kg

General

In the summer of 1983 the C3 (Type 44) was officially introduced in the USA . It had one of the most aerodynamic bodies of the time and was fully galvanized from model year 1986. He also wore massive bumpers and received angular double headlights, which were abandoned from the beginning of 1986. The new model immediately became a great sales success.

An inglorious chapter was a wave of lawsuits from Audi 5000 customers with automatic transmissions in the mid-1980s. It was triggered by a report on 60 minutes on CBS . Allegedly the car started by itself ("unintended acceleration"), which resulted in deaths. The alleged design flaw finally turned out to be an operating error ; some inexperienced customers had mixed up the gas and brake pedals. In addition, CBS had manipulated the report, but the image damage weakened Audi's US exports for many years. Ferdinand Piëch exacerbated this incident considerably in advance by commenting on it in a rather amused manner, which caused outrage in the USA. The Audi 5000 was now preceded by the reputation of an unsafe vehicle, and parking garages were sometimes blocked for this type.

For the 1989 model year, Audi even felt compelled to use the European nomenclature Audi 100 and Audi 200 instead of the designation “5000”. This model received a new dashboard and door handles. In order to maintain its position in the important US market, Audi entered the US racing business with the Audi 200 TransAM and the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO . After all, it would take 16 years for Audi to regain its earlier numbers in the USA. Years later , Toyota also faced a similar problem in the US market.

In 1986 an Audi 5000 C3 was featured in the film Ferris makes blue .

Against this background, the terms “I'm Audi 5000” or “I'm 5000!” ( Ice Cube , Eminem ) have established themselves in American hip-hop , which means something like “move quickly away”.

In 1991, the C3 model series in North America was replaced by the successor model Audi 100 C4 .

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  Audi 5000 S.

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  Audi 5000 S rear view

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  Audi 5000 Avant

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  Unique piece manufactured by an American body shop

Web links

Commons : Audi 5000  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• 5000 items for Audi (English)
• THE WALL STREET JOURNAL MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1989

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The Audi 5000 S from Mrs. Parry California Dreaming, at www.auto-motor-und-sport.de , accessed on July 30, 2015
2. ↑ Audi 5000 - Urban Dictionary