Audi Tradition Unveils Recreated 1935 Auto Union Lucca Record Car

Audi Tradition has completed the recreation of the Auto Union Lucca, a historic record-breaking car from 1935. This vehicle, known as a "Rennlimousine" or racing sedan, achieved a flying-start mile record near Lucca, Italy, reaching a calculated average speed of 320.267 km/h and a measured top speed of 326.975 km/h on February 15, 1935. The recreated car will be unveiled in Lucca in early May 2026 and will subsequently join AUDI AG’s historic vehicle collection, known as the Silver Arrows family.

Revival of a Speed Icon

The original Auto Union Lucca emerged from a period of intense competition in the 1930s, where manufacturers vied for speed records. Auto Union AG, formed in 1932 from the merger of Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer, was a key player. The company's 1934 Type A, with 295 PS, had already set multiple world records. However, competition from Daimler-Benz and driver Rudolf Caracciola pushed Auto Union to develop an even faster vehicle for 1935.

Engineers at Auto Union incorporated wind tunnel testing into the design of the record-breaking car, a method considered advanced for European racing car construction at the time. The result was an elongated, aerodynamic silhouette featuring a fin-like rear end and teardrop-shaped wheel arches. This design, combined with a 16-cylinder engine, allowed the car to achieve its record-setting performance. The recreated Audi Auto Union Lucca embodies this pursuit of speed and engineering innovation.

Engineering and Reconstruction

The recreation of the Auto Union Lucca was undertaken by British restoration specialists Crosthwaite & Gardiner, taking just over three years to complete in early 2026. The project involved handcrafting all components, with particular attention paid to the streamlined bodywork, including the cockpit canopy and tapered tail. During testing, the recreated car achieved a drag coefficient of 0.43 in the Audi wind tunnel.

Timo Witt, Head of Audi Tradition's historic vehicle collection and project manager for the reconstruction, noted the agility with which the original team responded to competitive pressures. For the recreated model, Audi Tradition opted to use a 16-cylinder engine from the Auto Union Type C, which has a displacement of 6,005 cc and produces 520 PS (382 kW) at 4,500 rpm. This engine is visually similar to the original 5-liter unit. Modifications, such as an updated ventilation system, were integrated to ensure the vehicle's durability during future demonstration runs, allowing it to be safely operated in both its Lucca and Avus configurations.

Specifications and Public Debut

The recreated 2026 Audi Auto Union Lucca features a 16-cylinder engine with a compressor, running on a specialized fuel blend of 50% methanol, 40% premium unleaded, and 10% toluene. Its dimensions are 4,570 mm in length, 1,200 mm in height, and 1,700 mm in width, with a wheelbase of 2,800 mm. The car has a curb weight of 960 kg and is finished in cellulose silver. This one-off recreation will be publicly displayed for the first time in motion at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, scheduled from July 9 to 12.

The unveiling of the Auto Union Lucca marks the addition of a significant piece of motorsport history to Audi's collection. It highlights the brand's heritage in pushing automotive boundaries, particularly in aerodynamics and engine performance during the pre-war era.