THIS RETRO AUDI RACER LOOKS LIKE A BULLET ON WHEELS

Audi has taken the wraps off a revived Auto Union Lucca, a speed record-breaker from the era of 1935. Though the silver racer has vintage roots, it still looks futuristic, and resembles a bullet on wheels, with its stretched bonnet, sculpted bodywork, as well as, prominent pre-war Grand Prix proportions. It pays tribute to the original Lucca, which was the fastest road-racing car of its time. The car's spaceship-like silhouette and modern mid-engine layout offered a glimpse into how the modern racing car would look like. The resurrected Auto Union Lucca is a part of the project by Audi Tradition (the brand’s heritage division dedicated to preserving classic machines) and is now set to debut at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed. Sadly, the masterpiece by Audi is not for sale. For motorsport fans in India, the recreated Lucca seems like a fantasy brought to life, and fresh breathe of air in today's automotive world. Here's a quick look at its key details.

Audi Auto Union Lucca: A Look Into Past Win

The original Audi Auto Union Lucca etched its name into the history by delivering a record-breaking speed run in 1935 near the Italian city of Lucca. It was driven by famous German driver Hans Stuck, drove the machine to 326.975km/h, while also averaging over 320.267km/h during the stint. The achievement marked a major win for Auto Union in its intense rivalry with Mercedes-Benz, which had set a slightly slower speed record only months earlier.

Audi Auto Union Lucca: Design and Engine

The original Lucca disappeared during the turmoil of World War II, and currently can be remembered in old photographs, faded blueprints, and stories. Audi Tradition entrusted the reconstruction project to British experts Crosthwaite & Gardiner to bring back this record-breaking machine to life.

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While the 2026 Lucca seems a perfect twin of the original model, Audi has a made a few mechanical changes. Instead of a 5.0-litre engine (343-345hp) of its donor model, the recreated iteration of the Lucca has a 6.0-litre supercharged V16 with a maximum power of 520hp (taken from the Auto Union Type C).

The car has an drag coefficient of 0.43 Cd, thanks to features such as the enclosed cockpit, and aero-disc wheels. For the recreated Lucca, engineers have also upgraded the cooling and airflow systems.

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2026-05-09T11:31:25Z