Audi’s V16-powered Auto Union Type 52 was never completed in the 1930s. Auto Union abandoned the street-car project in 1935 before a test car was built; Audi Tradition later commissioned a one-off reconstruction from surviving plans and sketches, completed in 2023 and shown publicly at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The reconstruction is a modern interpretation of the proposal, not a 90-year-old car that survived intact.
What is the Audi V16 sedan?
The Type 52, also called the Schnellsportwagen, was a proposed road-going sports car conceived by Auto Union and the Ferdinand Porsche design office while Auto Union’s Grand Prix cars were in development. It was intended to adapt racing technology for long-distance road competition and sports-car events, rather than simply duplicate a Grand Prix racer.
The layout was unusual for a road car: a mid-mounted, supercharged 16-cylinder engine in a ladder-frame chassis, with a roof, headlights, luggage capacity and seating for three. Audi says the intended events included the Mille Miglia, Spa-Francorchamps and Le Mans; a factory racing role was also discussed.
Was the Auto Union Type 52 ever made?
No original Type 52 test car is known to have been built. Early sketches date to late 1933, with the plans becoming more concrete in 1934. Auto Union abandoned the project in 1935. Audi says there is no verified final configuration, so the car presented decades later necessarily interprets the surviving documentation rather than reproducing a completed original.
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Auto Union AG had been formed in 1932 through the merger of Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. The Type 52 drew on the Type 22/Grand Prix drivetrain, but its reduced planned engine output and more practical body were meant to make it suitable for road use as well as competition.
Did Audi really build it 90 years later?
Audi Tradition commissioned British specialist Crosthwaite & Gardner to build a one-off reconstruction using surviving archive documents, plans and sketches. Completed in 2023, it made its public debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Audi describes it as a one-of-a-kind model; its components were custom-made.
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The project involved interpretation, not a simple build from complete factory specifications. For example, surviving plans did not specify an exterior color, so Audi chose Cellulose Silver. Audi also says the reconstruction’s wheelbase had to be lengthened to package the front suspension, engine, steering and transmission together.
How much horsepower does the Auto Union Type 52 have?
The answer depends on which Type 52 you mean: the 1930s proposal or Audi’s modern reconstruction. Audi’s published figures distinguish the two configurations. They are manufacturer specifications, not results from an independent performance test.
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- [SPECIFICATION]: 1 segment: 1/4oz, 1 strip: 12 segments, 1 box: 4 strips; 4 segments, 12oz in total
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| Specification | 1934 planned Type 52 | 2023 reconstructed one-off |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Supercharged, mid-mounted 4,358 cc V16 | 6,005 cc V16; Audi says it used the Type C engine |
| Output | 200 PS (147 kW) at 3,650 rpm | 520 PS (382 kW) at 4,500 rpm |
| Fuel | Regular gasoline | Special mixture: 50% methanol, 40% super unleaded and 10% toluene |
| Unladen weight | 1,300 kg | 1,450 kg |
| Wheelbase | 3,000 mm | 3,315 mm |
| Top speed | 200 km/h design target | Not stated by Audi |
| Length | Not stated in Audi’s comparison | 5,390 mm |
Audi says the proposed road-car engine was to have lower compression and a reduced Roots supercharger gear ratio than the Grand Prix drivetrain. In the reconstruction, Audi did not limit the Type C engine to the original planned Type 52 output; the special fuel mixture is part of that different, modern configuration. The 520 PS figure therefore describes the one-off, not the car Auto Union planned in 1934.
Why is the reconstructed Type 52 different from the original plan?
Surviving material did not establish a final build specification, and the reconstruction had to work as an assembled vehicle. Audi reports that component constraints required a longer wheelbase: 3,315 mm rather than the planned 3,000 mm. The engine choice and output also differ from the reduced specification envisioned for the road-going car.
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- [WIDE APPLICABILITY]: Tire balance weights offer secure and balanced driving experience for cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs. These wheel weights stick on perfectly for balancing. Ideal for hobbies, crafts, and other daily life uses. Tire weights stick on ensure versatility across multiple applications
- [SUPERIOR QUALITY]: Precise wheel weights with strong adhesive ensure firm attachment. Four-season tape with wide paper backing provides easy peeling and perfect sticking. Low profile wheel weights design contours to any wheel shape for optimal fitment. Eco-friendly powder-coated steel delivers durability
- [COMMITMENT]: Sposuit tire balance weights come with comprehensive warranty and dedicated customer support. Our tire weights undergo rigorous quality testing. If you have any concerns about missing components or product quality, contact us for prompt resolution
Those changes matter when interpreting the figures. The planned car’s 200 km/h was a design target, not a recorded speed from a completed Type 52. Audi lists no top speed for the reconstruction. Neither figure should be presented as an independently verified test result.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the Type 52 the same car as Auto Union’s Lucca V16?
No. The Lucca “Racing Limousine” was a separate Auto Union record car from 1934, not another name for the Type 52. Audi Tradition’s 2025 anniversary publication lists the Lucca with a 4,951 cc V16 producing 343 hp at 4,700 rpm and a top speed of 320 km/h. Those figures belong to the Lucca, not the Type 52.
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- [ANTI-CORROSION]: Electro-galvanization and multi-layer omnidirectional plastic spraying prevent rust and corrosion. Lead-free zinc coating ensures wheel weights withstand harsh weather for long-lasting durability
- [WIDE APPLICABILITY]: Tire balance weights offer secure and balanced driving experience for cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs. These wheel weights stick on perfectly for balancing. Ideal for hobbies, crafts, and other daily life uses. Tire weights stick on ensure versatility across multiple applications
- [SUPERIOR QUALITY]: Precise wheel weights with strong adhesive ensure firm attachment. Four-season tape with wide paper backing provides easy peeling and perfect sticking. Low profile wheel weights design contours to any wheel shape for optimal fitment. Eco-friendly powder-coated steel delivers durability
- [COMMITMENT]: Sposuit tire balance weights come with comprehensive warranty and dedicated customer support. Our tire weights undergo rigorous quality testing. If you have any concerns about missing components or product quality, contact us for prompt resolution
What Audi’s account does—and does not—establish
Audi’s July 11, 2024 account documents the Type 52’s proposed purpose, the surviving plans and sketches, and the specifications Audi assigns to the planned car and its reconstruction. It does not establish independent verification of every historical interpretation, road registration, current operating condition, present display location or public access schedule. The modern car is best understood as Audi Tradition’s historically informed, one-off reconstruction of a project that never reached its original test-car stage.
Sources: Audi AG, “Imagined over 90 years ago, now brought to life: Audi Tradition presents the Auto Union Type 52,” July 11, 2024; Audi Tradition, “Anniversary Dates 2025”.
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