Audi Front

Audi Front UW 220
Audi Front UW 225

Manufacturer	Audi-Werke
Production	1933–1934 (UW 220) 1935–1938 (UW 225)
Assembly	Zwickau, Germany (Horch plant)
Successor	Audi 920
Wheelbase	3,050 mm (120 in) - 3,100 mm (120 in)
Length	4,375 mm (172.2 in) - 4,500 mm (180 in)
Width	1,650 mm (65 in)
Height	1,575 mm (62.0 in)
Related	Wanderer W22

Initially presented early in 1933, the Audi Front UW 220 was Europe’s first car to combine front-wheel drive with a six-cylinder engine. It remained in production for slightly under two years before being replaced by the Audi Front UW 225 featuring a larger 2.25-litre engine. The larger-engined car introduced in 1935 continued to be offered until 1939.

At launch the Front UW 220 featured a straight-six-cylinder ohv engine of 1,950 cc. Claimed maximum power output was 40 PS (29 kW; 39 hp) at 3,500 rpm. The two-litre engine was shared with the Auto Union group’s Wanderer W22 introduced at the same time. The letters "UW" in the car's name stood for "Umgekehrter Wanderer" and referred to the fact that it featured a Wanderer engine that had been "umgekehrt" (turned around)through 180 degrees in order to drive wheels which, on this application, were actually ahead of the engine.

In common with many performance cars of the period, the Front UW 220 provided a claimed top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph): presumably actual performance data would have varied according to the weight and wind-cheating qualities of each individual car body. Various body styles were offered, including four-door sports limousines and two-door cabriolets / roadsters.

For the UW 225 produced from 1935, engine size was increased to 2,257 cc, and reported maximum power rose to 50 PS (37 kW; 49 hp) or 55 PS (40 kW; 54 hp), respectively at 3,300 or 3,800 rpm: increased power was reflected by a modest increase in the claimed top speed to 105 km/h (65 mph). The ohv engine came, again, from fellow Auto Union group member Wanderer, being shared with the Wanderer W245 and its successor models.

Despite the relative novelty of the front-wheel-drive configuration, the manufacturers quoted the car's turning circle as 12.5 metres (41 ft) which was not greatly above the norm for cars of this size. The rear-wheel-drive Wanderer with which the Audi shared its engine featured an advertised turning circle of 12 meters.

The car was assembled at the plant of Horch, which by this time was also a Auto Union group company.

Approximately 4,500 Audi Fronts were produced, including 1,817 of the earlier UW 220 model built between April 1933 and November 1934. By 1938 when the car was replaced by the Audi 920, 2,591 of the successor UW 225 model had been produced.