The Audi Forschungsauto, unveiled at the 1981 Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), was an experimental research vehicle developed as part of a German federal initiative to advance automotive efficiency, materials innovation and environmental compatibility.
Developed initially as an entry-level product for the Audi brand, Volkswagen also moved to produce their own version as the Polo, and as a notchback coupe called Derby.
The Audi 80 (B1) four-door sedan, produced from 1972 to 1976, marked Audi’s entry into the modern compact-sedan segment and laid the foundation for what would become the brand’s long-running B-series.