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- The Auto Union created a 16-cylinder sport luxury car that was never brought to life
- Audi, the successor of the automotive company, has recently assembled it
- The Auto Union Type 52 was unveiled at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed
In the 1930s, Auto Union, the predecessor of Audi, devised a 16-cylinder luxury sports car, yet never put it into production. After ninety years, the vehicle will finally have its debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The Auto Union Type 52, also referred to as the Schnellsportwagen, aimed to be a high-performance road vehicle from the company, which was established in 1932 after merging Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer. It inspired Audi’s iconic four-ring logo, symbolizing the four merging brands.
Auto Union, alongside Mercedes-Benz, dominated (before Formula 1) grand prix racing during the 1930s. The two German automakers outperformed competitors with their Silver Arrows, named for racing with exposed metal bodies to reduce weight. History indicates that the success of the Silver Arrows was a significant accomplishment for the Nazi regime—which rose to power during that time—although it didn’t translate into production vehicles.
Auto Union Type 52 Schnellsportwagen
However, circumstances could have been different. The Porsche design studio (Ferdinand Porsche collaborated with Auto Union before establishing his own automobile company post-World War II) began designing the Type 33 in late 1933 with plans to offer it to customers for endurance races like the Mille Miglia or the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite a prototype being in the works, the project was terminated in 1935.
This led to the world missing out on an exceptionally groundbreaking machine. Beneath the luxury car design, the Type 52 incorporated a mid-mounted supercharged V-16 engine from an Auto Union Type A race car. With a 4.3-liter displacement, the engine was designed to operate with lower compression (to run on standard gasoline) and reduced boost compared to the racing model, yet it was anticipated to propel the Type 52 to a maximum speed of 124 mph, as estimated by Audi.
The blueprint included a 5-speed gearbox sourced from the race car, although the transverse leaf springs and friction dampers of the car were substituted with longitudinal torsion spring suspension and hydraulic shock absorbers.
Auto Union Type 52 Schnellsportwagen
Audi enlisted the U.K. company Crosthwaite & Gardner, responsible for maintaining the automaker’s historic fleet of Silver Arrow race cars, to construct the contemporary replica. Several changes were implemented, such as installing a 6.0-liter supercharged V-16 similar to that of the 1936 Auto Union Type C race car, and fueling it with a blend of 50% methanol, 40% premium unleaded petrol, and 10% toluene, boosting the output from the original 197 hp to 512 hp.
A longer wheelbase was also demanded by Audi, deemed essential for the drivetrain and suspension. The finalized vehicle exceeds a length of 16 feet, yet accommodates three individuals (with the driver seated centrally, akin to the McLaren F1), two spare tires, and luggage within its sleek structure. The vehicle will be driven at Goodwood by nine-time Le Mans champion Tom Kristensen and seasoned racer Hans-Joachim Stuck, whose father, Hans Stuck, piloted Auto Union grand prix cars during the 1930s.
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