Audi 100 5E (C3)
A large five-cylinder sedan shaped to slip through the air, helping Audi turn engineering into a premium identity.
Audi-100-C3.jpg · IFCAR · Public domain
Research pending
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More than a set of wheels.
Audi introduced the third-generation 100 in 1982 with an unusually smooth body and a record drag coefficient of 0.30. The C3 retained Audi's characteristic longitudinal front-engine, front-drive layout, while launch engines included the 2.1-litre injected five-cylinder used here. Later C3 milestones—Avant, quattro, full galvanization and TDI—matter to the family story but do not belong to this launch-spec car.
Look a little closer.
Its 0.30 drag coefficient was so striking in 1982 that Audi made aerodynamics part of the car's identity, not just a hidden engineering detail.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
The shape was engineering
Flush-looking surfaces, careful glass and body transitions and a tapered tail helped the C3 reach a 0.30 drag coefficient. Audi's own history credits the aerodynamic body with a record figure and treats the car as a turning point toward a technology-led premium brand.
Source: Audi · Ascent to the premium segment ↗Do not borrow later achievements
Full body galvanization arrived in 1985, quattro joined after launch, and the direct-injection TDI was a late C3 development. Those advances belong to the generation's arc, but an honest 1982 profile must not pretend its launch body was already fully galvanized or TDI-powered.
Source: Audi MediaCenter · Neckarsulm site history ↗Where these facts come from
- Audi · Ascent to the premium segment
- Audi · Audi 100 GL 5E heritage photo and engine history
- Audi · Powerhouses: five-cylinder engines at Audi
- Audi museum mobile · 50 years of Audi five-cylinder engines
- Audi MediaCenter · Neckarsulm site history
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.