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5 May 2017

Design through the decades: 1980s

By Vivek ShahVivek Shah
The 80s were full of angular designs and technical advancements.

We take a walk through seven decades of the most interesting automotive designs. This week - the '80s.

Check out the other parts in this series:

Design through the decades: 1970s
Design through the decades: 1960s
Design through the decades: 1950s

DeLorean DMC-12 (1981)

Gullwing doors, classic. Gullwing doors, classic.

The 1980s was the start of a new digital age. Computers became available for home use, and movies such as Back To The Future exploited this newfound fascination by tying computers in with the familiar theme of time travel.

The infamous DeLorean DMC-12 used in the film was an ideal automotive expression of this digital age.

Wedge shaped, but looking to the future. Wedge shaped, but looking to the future.

The long nose and trapezoidal rear deck combined with the trademark gullwing doors to give the DMC-12 a futuristic, sci-fi character.

Audi Quattro (1980)

Boxy design that would define Audi aesthetic for years to come. Boxy design that would define Audi aesthetic for years to come.

Introduced in 1980, the Audi quattro was technically advanced with uncommon features for the time such as a turbocharged engine, ABS brakes and one of the first implementations of all-wheel-drive on a production road car. These characteristics also made it ideal as a rallying vehicle.

The Quattro was technically advanced in order to be a rally champ. The Quattro was technically advanced in order to be a rally champ.

Style wise, the quattro followed the typical '80s trend of replacing curves with a more geometric, boxy look that lent the car a more contemporary appearance.

Porsche 959 (1986)

The 959 took the 911's design aesthetic to the extreme. The 959 took the 911's design aesthetic to the extreme.

Intended to satisfy Group B rally rules which made it compulsory for manufacturers to homologate street legal versions of their race cars, the Porsche 959 took the fundamental design and driveline of the iconic 911 and turned it into a world-beating supercar.

Rear-engined Kamm tail still pride of place at the back of the 959. Rear-engined Kamm tail still pride of place at the back of the 959.

The 959 coupled the 911’s rear-engined Kamm tail with automatic computer controlled adjustable suspension and four-wheel drive to become the world’s fastest production car at launch.

Ferrari F40 (1987)

A statement of performance through design. A statement of performance through design.

Famously the last vehicle to be personally approved by founder Enzo Ferrari himself, the F40 featured an extremely lightweight body made from (revolutionary at the time) carbon-fibre, Kevlar and aluminium panels.

The F40 was made with extreme materials and had the bodywork to reflect it. The F40 was made with extreme materials and had the bodywork to reflect it.

Whilst perhaps not as elegant as the Dino and Daytona from the 60s that preceded it, the oversized rear spoiler and angular body shape was a statement that this was a vehicle of remarkable performance.

BMW 8-series coupe (1989)

The 8 Series incorporated BMW signatures while also breaking from '80s trends. The 8 Series incorporated BMW signatures while also breaking from '80s trends.

BMW’s flagship vehicle at launch, the 8 Series was perhaps the first ‘contemporarily styled’ BMW.

Subtle curves over the rear haunches. Subtle curves over the rear haunches.

Whilst incorporating trademark BMW design features such as the 'kidney grille' and 'Hoffmeister kink', the 8 Series used a clean design that incorporated subtle curves over the front wheelarches and rear haunches. This represented a major break from the typically rigid, square designs that typified the '80s.

Do you have a favorite piece of automotive deisgn from the 1980s? Let us know in the comments below.