Audi 5000S
Introduced as a 1984 model in May, 1983, this boldly styled, aerodynamic front-drive car literally reshaped the modern family sedan. Ford's enormously popular aerodynamic Taurus didn't arrive until 1986.
Audi used six wind tunnels to perfect the sleek contours of the $16,225 Audi 5000S. Its body took less energy to slice through the air than did most low-slung sports cars, with a .33 drag coefficient. It was the world's most aerodynamic sedan, with flush-mounted bumpers and side windows.
A steeply raked windshield and rear window were bonded in place to add to body strength while eliminating the usual recess that creates air turbulence, wind noise and interferes with water runoff. Deflectors directed airflow away from the underbody, which also was streamlined to cut air drag.
Contoured rubber boots even directed airflow around outside mirrors. The result was almost no wind noise, even at more than 80 m.p.h., and a 35 m.p.g. EPA-estimated highway fuel economy rating - amazing for a big, fast sedan.
Audi defends Audi 5000S against sudden acceleration charge
Audi of America, stressing nobody has found anything that would cause "unintentional acceleration" in its Audi 5000S model with an automatic transmission, has taken off the gloves in defending its reputation. Richard Mugg, vice president of Audi of America Inc., said here in an interview Wednesday that Audi is "leaning toward litigation" in defending itself against a class-action suit that charges Audi cars have lost resale value because of sudden-acceleration allegations.
A Chicago judge recently rejected an effort to settle the suit via cash payments from Audi. "Even attorneys for the plaintiffs have said no fault can be found with the car," said Mugg, Audi's top U.S. executive. "We've been smeared by groups such as the Center for Auto Safety and television show `60 Minutes.'"
An official for CBS's "60 Minutes" said it doesn't intend a follow-up show on alleged unintentional acceleration of Audis. The show and Center for Auto Safety charged Audi 5000S suddenly accelerated and couldn't be stopped with the brakes after being shifted into drive or reverse. Studies by Road & Track, Car and Driver and AutoWeek magazines have concluded driver error, not cars, caused so-called "unintentional acceleration."
Car experts and engineers say no engine in any car is powerful enough to override brakes that are in good condition. But Audi has been badly hurt. Mugg said it expects to sell 26,000 to 28,000 cars in the United States this year, compared with 74,239 in 1985 and 41,322 last year. That, despite introduction of new yuppie-oriented Audi 80 and 90 models. "The 80 and 90 are tainted by our unjustified bad image," Mugg said. "We'll gradually tell our story, clear our name, but I only hope to get up to 50,000 annual sales within three years." Audi's new 100 and 200 models have mechanical improvements over the Audi 5000S model they recently replaced. But, ironically, their styling is nearly identical to that of the Audi 5000S.
Chicago Sun-Times
August 18, 1988
Author: Dan Jedlicka