We love bizarre outdated traditional vehicles, do not we people? This one comes from Audi—extra particularly, Auto Union. Internally referred to as the Kind 52, the so-called “Schnellsportwagen”—or “quick sports activities automotive”—was alleged to be a road-going model of the Kind 22 Grand Prix race automotive from the Thirties. It might have had a 16-cylinder engine with upwards of 200 horsepower, and a high velocity of 125 miles per hour, making it one of many quickest vehicles of the day.
Sadly, this superb supercar by no means made it previous the design section; The Auto Union Kind 52 challenge was scrapped by 1935 forward of World Conflict II. However Audi determined to mud off its historical past books and convey this particular car to life for the 2024 Goodwood Competition of Pace.
Audi
Audi commissioned Crosthwaite & Gardner—a historic race automotive manufacturing firm—to recreate the Auto Union Kind 52 from scratch. Utilizing authentic sketches and blueprints, the whole lot from the chassis and physique panels to the engine was custom-made for this one-of-a-kind idea. The challenge began early in 2023 and took greater than a yr to finish.
Beneath the hood—er, rear deck—is a mid-mounted, supercharged 16-cylinder engine just like the one that might have been used within the authentic automotive. This model makes use of a 6.0-liter motor as a substitute of the unique blueprint’s 4.4-liter engine. Audi additionally upped the ability output from an estimated 200 horsepower to a wholesome 512 horsepower. It is paired, in fact, to a handbook transmission.
However as a way to match the brand new engine and chassis beneath, Audi needed to stretch the size. The Kind 52 has a 130.5-inch wheelbase, as a substitute of the unique’s barely shorter 118.0-inch wheelbase, and weighs 3,196 kilos. The unique would have tipped the scales at 2,866 kilos.
Audi
Pop open the rear-hinged doorways and you will find a three-seat format inside, identical to the McLaren F1—solely 60 years earlier. And Audi made certain to maintain the inside trying retro with old-school fabric seats, lacquered wooden paneling, and large throwback gauges.
However do not suppose this beautiful one-off is only a storage queen. Audi will truly run the Kind 52 idea at this yr’s Goodwood Competition of Pace with Le Mans report winner Tom Kristensen and Hans-Joachim “Strietzel” Caught behind the wheel. We are able to’t wait to see this factor in motion.
