Audi revives an icon: 16‑cylinder auto union type 52 hits the road

Goodwood Festival of Speed is a major celebration of automotive culture and an opportunity for manufacturers to showcase extraordinary cars. In this regard, Audi is a strong contender for first place in the hearts of visitors in 2024. The company decided to build a car that was never produced. The Auto Union Type 52 is a 16-cylinder car with four-door bodywork that originated on the drawing board as the "civilian" version of a sports model.

In 1932, Auto Union asked Ferdinand Porsche for help in designing a sports car to fit into a new formula announced to start in 1934. The main rule was that the car should not exceed 1,653 pounds. This resulted in the Auto Union Type A, also known as the Porsche Type 22. It became the first of the brand's highly successful sports cars. Auto Union had other plans, though, and began creating a larger car based on the experiences with the Type A.

This led to the creation of the Auto Union Type 52 – at least theoretically. The car never entered the production phase, and now Audi has decided to change that. Engineers took old plans to the workshop, but implementing them required some modifications.

Originally, the car was powered by a 16-cylinder, centrally located engine with a capacity of 4.4 liters and approximately 200 horsepower. This was supposed to allow it to reach 124 mph. Ultimately, a 16-cylinder engine with a capacity of 6.0 liters was used. The unit achieved a power of 520 horsepower, much more than the Type 52's designers had anticipated years ago.

The car's dimensions were also changed. Initially, the car was to have a wheelbase of exactly 9 feet 10 inches. This value was increased to 10 feet 10 inches, and the entire car reached a length of 17 feet 8 inches, a width of 5 feet 10 inches, and a height of 5 feet 5 inches. The car was built and finished with tremendous attention to detail. Of course, it was given a classic silver color. The project undeniably makes an impression.