80 (B4)

The Audi 80 B4, produced from 1991 to 1996, was the last car to bear the Audi 80 nameplate before the transition to the A4 designation. It represented the culmination of decades of development of Audi's compact executive sedan, incorporating significant improvements in quality, technology, and engine options over its predecessor. The B4 was based on a heavily revised version of the B3 platform, with modifications to accommodate a wider range of powertrains.

The most significant engine addition was the 2.6-liter and 2.8-liter V6 units, which replaced the characterful but aging five-cylinder engines as the range-topping naturally aspirated options. These V6 engines, smooth and refined, gave the Audi 80 a level of powertrain sophistication that rivaled the BMW 3 Series. The range also included four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, as well as the turbocharged five-cylinder in the high-performance S2 variant, which produced 230 horsepower with quattro all-wheel drive.

The B4 generation also gave birth to the RS2 Avant, developed in collaboration with Porsche. This wagon featured a turbocharged 2.2-liter five-cylinder engine producing 315 horsepower, Porsche-sourced brakes, and Porsche Cup Design wheels. Capable of reaching 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, the RS2 was one of the fastest production cars in the world at the time of its launch and established the RS sub-brand that would become central to Audi's performance identity.

With over 960,000 units produced across sedan, Avant, and convertible body styles, the B4 was a major commercial success. Its fully galvanized body, which Audi guaranteed against rust perforation for 12 years, meant that many examples have survived in excellent condition. The B4 generation bridged the gap between the old-school Audi 80 era and the modern A4 era, carrying forward the best of Audi's engineering traditions while laying the groundwork for the technological and commercial leap that the B5 A4 would represent.