Audi F103
| Audi F103 | |
|---|---|
Audi 75
|
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer |
Auto Union GmbH, Audi NSU Auto Union AG (1969–1972) |
| Production | September 1965 – July 1972 416,853 built of which: Sedan/Saloon: 386,361 Variant (station wagon/estate): 27,492 |
| Assembly | Ingolstadt, Germany |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact executive car (D) |
| Body style | 2- or 4-door saloon 3-door estate |
| Layout | Longitudinal front engine, front-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.5–1.8 L inline-4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,490 mm (98 in) |
| Length | 4,380 mm (172 in) |
| Width | 1,626 mm (64.0 in) |
| Curb weight | 960 kg (2,120 lb)−1,065 kg (2,348 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | DKW F102 |
| Successor | Audi 80 |
F103 is the internal designation for a series of car models produced by Auto Union GmbH (after merger with NSU Motorenwerke in 1969: Audi NSU Auto Union) in West Germany from 1965 to 1972, derived from the earlier DKW F102. To signify the change from a two-stroke to four-stroke engine, the DKW marque was dropped in favour of Audi, a name dormant since before the Second World War.
The first model was launched simply as the Audi, later being renamed the Audi 72 (72 being the nominal power output of the engine in Pferdestärke), also known as hp/m.
The more powerful Audi 80 and Audi Super 90 sports saloons appeared in 1966: in 1968 the arrival of the less powerful Audi 60 completed the range.
The Audi 75 replaced both the Audi 72 and the Audi 80 from 1969 onwards.
In 1972 the F103 series was discontinued in favour of the "B1" Audi 80.
The F103 series were equipped exclusively with four-cylinder four-stroke engines. These were longitudinally mounted. This combination of front-wheel drive, which Auto Union's DKW brand had pioneered during the 1930s, and the longitudinal positioning of a four-cylinder engine would provide the basic template for Volkswagen's successful new Passat as well as the Audi models Audi 80 and Audi 100 after Volkswagenwerk AG acquired the Auto Union from Daimler-Benz late in 1964. Since the chassis on the F103 was taken from the DKW F102 with a 3-cylinder two-stroke engine, the longer engine meant that the cooling system had to be offset to the left of the engine instead of the normal position in front of it. Because of the radiator’s location, the front cylinder of the engine had a tendency to run cooler than the other three and as a consequence the spark plug tended to foul up, particularly if the engine was often used in city traffic. To avoid this, it was often recommended to run a hotter spark plug (with a lower heat range) in the front cylinder than in the other three.
...
Wikipedia