“Boxy sedans. Carburetors. Leaded petrol.”
The 1981 model year spans 432 documented variants — most commonly Sedan (41%), with a powertrain mix led by Petrol.
Distribution of 432 1981 variants by body type.
Petrol still dominates in absolute volume in 1981, but the share is sliding to electric and hybrid year over year.
Quickest, most powerful, most efficient — from variants documented with a 1981 model year.
Variants with a 1981 model year currently in the catalog.
Before catalytic converters were mandatory. Before electronic fuel injection became universal. The 1980s belonged to the wedge, the three-box sedan, the steel bumper. The Audi 100 broke aero records at 0.30 Cd in 1982; almost nobody else cared yet. The hot hatch arrived (Golf GTI, Peugeot 205 GTI, Renault 5 Turbo), and so did the European turbo diesel.