The focus of Audi Tradition's appearance at this year's Techno Classica in Essen is on "rarities" from the company's history. The highlights on the brand's stand are the Audi quattro Spyder and the Audi Avus quattro. The company presented both prototypes for the first time in 1991. Other unique and rarely exhibited models round off the show. For example, the Audi Group S rally prototype with mid-engine and the only existing Audi motorcycle will be on the Audi stand.
Sensational vehicles
The Audi quattro Spyder with mid-engine concept was a sensation for the public at the IAA 1991 in Frankfurt. With its aluminum body, it weighed only 1,100 kilograms. Speculation about small-scale production brought thousands of pre-orders to Audi dealers. However, the envisaged price of 100,000 German marks could not be realized. It remained a prototype.
Just one month later, Audi went one better at the Tokyo Motor Show and presented the even more radical Avus quattro sports car study. Its highly polished aluminum body was further proof of Audi's consistent lightweight construction. The development engineers also chose the mid-engine concept for the "Avus", but this time with twice the number of cylinders: they planned a 509 hp twelve-cylinder engine in a W arrangement for spectacular propulsion.
The Audi Group S developed for rallying is largely unknown. The one-off exhibited in Essen was due to start in 1987, but was never used. For safety reasons, Audi decided to withdraw from the World Rally Championship during the 1986 season. A serious accident at the 1986 Portugal Rally - not involving an Audi - ultimately prompted the International Sports Authority (FIA) to discontinue the Group B rally and the planned Group S for the 1987 season. The technical features of the prototype shown: Lattice tube frame, plastic body and four-valve turbo engine in a mid-engine arrangement.
Historical rarities
The oldest exhibit is a Slaby-Beringer from 1924. The filigree vehicle is equipped with a single-cylinder, two-stroke DKW engine.
The Framo three-wheeler TV 300, built in 1929, also has a DKW drive unit. The exhibited transport vehicle with platform body has an output of 7 hp.
A real rarity is the DKW F 9, built in 1941, which can be seen at the Audi stand. The newly developed 28 hp three-cylinder two-stroke engine promised excellent running characteristics. The bodywork impressed with its aerodynamic design. The outbreak of war prevented series production. Only ten were built.
The historical department of AUDI AG presents its "rarities" on around 700 square meters in Hall 7, where enthusiasts and collectors of miniatures can also purchase the annual model of Audi Tradition: an Audi Sport quattro Rallye limited to 333 units in the color orange, scale 1:43. Members of the ACI (Audi Club International) will be exhibiting further classics from the company's history in Hall 7.1.
