Audi Rosemeyer

Audi Rosemeyer
a model of the Audi Rosemeyer
Manufacturer	AUDI AG
Class	Concept vehicle
Body style	2-door Coupé
Layout	Mid engine, quattro permanent four-wheel drive
Engine	8 L W16
Transmission	6-speed manual
Wheelbase	2,911 mm (114.6 in)
Length	4,539 mm (178.7 in)
Width	1,920 mm (75.6 in)

The Audi Rosemeyer is a concept car built and shown initially at Autostadt by Audi during 2000, and at various auto shows throughout Europe. Although it was never intended for production, its striking design and highly sporting nature drew considerable attention to the brand, and many potential buyers highly anticipated a production version, to no avail. It does, however bear a striking resemblance to the Bugatti Veyron which uses the same type of W16 engine.

Information

The vehicle was designed to evoke emotion and garner attention, and was unique in that it combined elements of modern design with styling strongly resembling the former Auto Unions "Silver Arrows" Grand Prix racers, namely their 16 cylinder car driven by Bernd Rosemeyer, after which the car is named. The Rosemeyer concept is also highly reminiscent of the "Type 52" design study penned by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche and Dr. Erwin Komenda in the 1930's as a possible road going version of the Silver Arrows, which never saw production.

Powered by a large displacement, mid-mounted W16 engine, which develops 700horsepower (520 kW; 710 PS) and featuring Audi's quattro permanent four-wheel drivesystem, the vehicle promised high performance to match its appearance. It was ultimately deemed unfit for production, both because of extremely high projected production costs, and Audi's unwillingness to create in-house competition for models from Lamborghini, which Audi had purchased during the 1990s. In some ways, Audi's Gallardo-based R8 could be considered the Rosemeyer's successor.