Austin Ambassador generations — what actually changed
All six: Gasoline, 4 cylinders, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, Front, transverse, Carburetor, compression 9, FWD. Gearboxes: Manual 4 on every MT; Automatic 3 on every AT.
1 generation (1982–1984), Hatchback 5-door, 6 versions. Production start is 1982-01-01 and stop is 1984-12-31. Four versions run the full window: 1.7 MT, 1.7 AT, 2.0 MT (92 hp), 2.0 AT (92 hp). Two more 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT appear from 1983-01-01 to 1984-12-31 at 100 hp. Same body, same FWD, same carburetor gasoline inline-4, same independent spring suspension front and rear, same Disc front / Drum rear brakes. The 1983 change is not a restyle in this dataset: it is +8 hp, +9 Nm, and +4 km/h on the 2.0 pair versus the 92 hp 2.0 pair. If the car must be a 1982 car, the 100 hp 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT are not in the list for that year.
Austin Ambassador engine and specs — six versions, two names that repeat
All six: Gasoline, 4 cylinders, Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, Front, transverse, Carburetor, compression 9, FWD. Gearboxes: Manual 4 on every MT; Automatic 3 on every AT.
| Version | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | cc | Fuel | Cyl. / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 MT (92 hp) | 92 (69 @ 4900) | 154 @ 2750 | 1994 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | No | Manual 4 | FWD |
| 2.0 AT (92 hp) | 92 (69 @ 4900) | 154 @ 2750 | 1994 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | No | Automatic 3 | FWD |
| 2.0 MT (100 hp) | 100 (75 @ 5250) | 163 @ 3250 | 1994 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | No | Manual 4 | FWD |
| 2.0 AT (100 hp) | 100 (75 @ 5250) | 163 @ 3250 | 1994 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | No | Automatic 3 | FWD |
| 1.7 MT | 83 (62 @ 5200) | 132 @ 3500 | 1695 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | No | Manual 4 | FWD |
| 1.7 AT | 83 (62 @ 5200) | 132 @ 3500 | 1695 | Gasoline | 4 Inline | No | Automatic 3 | FWD |
Bore × stroke: 84.5 × 88.9 on every 2.0; 84.5 × 75.8 on both 1.7. Same bore, 13.1 mm more stroke on the 2.0 — that is the entire displacement step (1994 − 1695 = 299 cc).
Specific output (hp per litre, from listed hp and cc):
- 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 92 hp: 92 / 1.994 ≈ 46.1 hp/L
- 1.7 MT / 1.7 AT 83 hp: 83 / 1.695 ≈ 49.0 hp/L
- 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 100 hp: 100 / 1.994 ≈ 50.2 hp/L
The 1.7 is not the “weak engine in a large car” by specific output: it is denser than the 92 hp 2.0. The 100 hp 2.0 is the densest of the three.
Performance and economy — top speed is measured; 0–100 and mpg are not
0–100: not measured on all six. City / highway / combined consumption: not measured. CO2 and eco class: not measured.
Top speed from the data:
- 1.7 MT and 1.7 AT: 158 km/h
- 2.0 MT (92 hp) and 2.0 AT (92 hp): 163 km/h (+5 km/h vs 1.7)
- 2.0 MT (100 hp) and 2.0 AT (100 hp): 167 km/h (+4 km/h vs 92 hp 2.0; +9 km/h vs 1.7)
Manual and Automatic of the same engine share the same listed top speed. Choosing Automatic 3 versus Manual 4 does not change the catalogue’s 158 / 163 / 167 km/h figures. Torque peaks earlier on the 92 hp 2.0 (2750 rpm) than on the 100 hp 2.0 (3250 rpm) or the 1.7 (3500 rpm). Peak power rpm: 4900 (92 hp 2.0), 5200 (1.7), 5250 (100 hp 2.0).
Power deltas: 92 − 83 = +9 hp for 92 hp 2.0 vs 1.7; 100 − 92 = +8 hp for 100 vs 92; 100 − 83 = +17 hp for 100 hp 2.0 vs 1.7. In kW: 69 − 62 = +7 kW; 75 − 69 = +6 kW; 75 − 62 = +13 kW. Torque: 154 − 132 = +22 Nm; 163 − 154 = +9 Nm; 163 − 132 = +31 Nm.
Dimensions and weight — kerb only on the 2.0; the rest is not measured
Kerb weight: 1263 kg on all four 2.0 versions (92 and 100 hp, MT and AT). 1.7 MT and 1.7 AT: kerb not measured. Gross weight: not measured on all six. Ground clearance: not measured. Tank: not measured. Wheels: not measured. Body for every version: Hatchback 5-door.
Weight per horsepower where kerb exists:
- 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 92 hp: 1263 / 92 ≈ 13.73 kg/hp
- 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 100 hp: 1263 / 100 = 12.63 kg/hp (about 1.1 kg/hp less mass per hp than the 92 hp 2.0, same 1263 kg)
You cannot compute kg/hp for the 1.7 because kerb is not measured. Automatic does not add listed mass on the 2.0: 1263 kg for both 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT.
Which Austin Ambassador version to choose
There is one generation. “Later generation” is not a choice here. The 1983–1984 2.0 MT (100 hp) and 2.0 AT (100 hp) are the only in-generation step.
If you want the strongest numbers in this list: 2.0 MT (100 hp). 100 hp, 75 kW, 163 Nm, 167 km/h, 50.2 hp/L, 12.63 kg/hp at 1263 kg, Manual 4, FWD. Versus 2.0 MT (92 hp): +8 hp, +6 kW, +9 Nm, +4 km/h, peak torque 500 rpm later (3250 vs 2750), peak power 350 rpm later (5250 vs 4900). Versus 1.7 MT: +17 hp, +13 kW, +31 Nm, +9 km/h, +299 cc. Years: 1983–1984 only.
If you want that engine with Automatic: 2.0 AT (100 hp). Same 100 hp, 163 Nm, 167 km/h, 1263 kg as the 100 hp 2.0 MT. The cost in the spec sheet is gears: Automatic 3 versus Manual 4. Top speed is not listed lower. Years: 1983–1984 only.
If the car must be 1982–capable and you still want 2.0: 2.0 MT (92 hp) or 2.0 AT (92 hp). These run 1982-01-01 to 1984-12-31. 92 hp, 154 Nm @ 2750, 163 km/h, 46.1 hp/L, 13.73 kg/hp. The 92 hp 2.0 has the earliest torque peak in the catalogue (2750 rpm). 2.0 MT (92 hp) is Manual 4; 2.0 AT (92 hp) is Automatic 3. Same 1263 kg.
If you want the smaller engine: 1.7 MT or 1.7 AT. 83 hp, 62 kW @ 5200, 132 Nm @ 3500, 1695 cc, 158 km/h, 49.0 hp/L — higher specific output than the 92 hp 2.0, lower than the 100 hp 2.0. Stroke 75.8 mm versus 88.9 mm on the 2.0. Full 1982–1984 span. Kerb not measured, so you cannot claim it is lighter than 1263 kg from this dataset. 1.7 MT = Manual 4; 1.7 AT = Automatic 3. Same 158 km/h on both.
Manual vs Automatic (same engine). On every pair, listed power, torque, top speed, displacement, and (on 2.0) kerb are identical. The measured difference is 4 speeds versus 3. If those two numbers are the only gearbox facts you have, Manual 4 is the wider ratio set in the table; Automatic 3 is the three-speed choice with no listed speed or weight penalty.
What the extra 2.0 litres “buy” versus 1.7 (arithmetic only). +299 cc, same 84.5 mm bore. 92 hp 2.0 vs 1.7: +9 hp, +22 Nm, +5 km/h. 100 hp 2.0 vs 1.7: +17 hp, +31 Nm, +9 km/h. You do not get a measured 0–100, mpg, tank, or clearance change — those are not measured.
What 1983 “buys” on the 2.0. Same 1994 cc, same 1263 kg, same Manual 4 or Automatic 3: +8 hp, +9 Nm, +4 km/h, higher specific output (50.2 vs 46.1 hp/L), better kg/hp (12.63 vs 13.73). Torque and power peaks move up the rev range. That is the whole generation-internal upgrade in the data.
Do not rank on economy, acceleration, size, or tank. All not measured. Do not rank 1.7 as lighter: kerb not measured. Vanden Plas, Princess, Y-reg lyrics, sale prices, and “how many left” are not in this dataset and are not used here.
Short pick list
1. Fastest listed speed and most hp: 2.0 MT (100 hp), then 2.0 AT (100 hp) — 167 km/h, 1983–1984. 2. Full 1982–1984 2.0 with earlier torque peak: 2.0 MT (92 hp) or 2.0 AT (92 hp) — 163 km/h, 154 Nm @ 2750. 3. Smaller engine, still 1982–1984: 1.7 MT or 1.7 AT — 83 hp, 158 km/h; kerb not measured. 4. Prefer Manual 4 over Automatic 3 when the rest of the row is equal.
One generation, Hatchback 5-door, six rows. The 100 hp 2.0 MT is the high-number buy; the 92 hp 2.0 MT is the early-torque 2.0 that exists from 1982; the 1.7 MT is the 1695 cc row. Pair each with AT if the table’s Automatic 3 is the requirement.