Audi “resurrects” the dream car of the 30s that could be considered its “grandfather” Porsche 911 and Audi R8 & McLaren F1 with a beastly 16 cylinder engine.

In the 1930s, with the world on the brink of war, a group of visionary engineers at Auto Union (then Audi) conceived the Type 52 Schnellsportwagen – a 16-cylinder futuristic supercar mid-engine decades ahead of its time. With a 4.4-liter engine producing 200 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque, the aerodynamic Type 52 was a marvel of the pre-war era.

The driver would sit in the center (like the McLaren F1 60 years later), with seats for a passenger on each side. Top speed would be 125 mph (201 kilometers – in fifth gear) and the sleek Type 52 would accelerate from 0-60 mph in around 8.5 seconds – a first for the era.⁠

Unfortunately, the reality of 1930s Germany meant that this technological feat he never got over it the design stage. Adolf Hitler had other priorities, and the Nazi war effort left the dream unfulfilled. Until now. More than 90 years after it was first envisioned, Audi Tradition has brought the Type 52 to life in exquisite detail.⁠

Over 5 meters long, extended wheelbase and stunning silver paint, this car is a sight to behold. Every part was painstakingly built to 1934 specifications, from the aircraft-style panel to the driver-focused 3-seat cockpit. The only change? The engine – a 520 hp 6.0L 16-cylinder with methanol.⁠

More than just a historical ‘exercise’, the Type 52 is a window into an alternate universe of pre-war performance. A universe where Auto Union’s most extreme engineering visions often hit the road – foreshadowing the current design language of Audi and the high performance models.⁠

Audi Tradition bringing this lost legend to life reminded us that the boldest dreams are sometimes the ones that take the longest to come true. We can’t wait to see the Type 52 Schnellsportwagen make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed ​​in 2025!