Audi Recreates Bonkers 1935 V-16-Powered Speed-Record Machine
Key takeaways
- The Rennlimousine, a speed-record car that hit 203 mph in 1935, has been rebuilt and will drive up the hill climb at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed.
- In 2026, the headlines tend to be dominated by three-row SUVs and electric vehicles, so it is with great pleasure that we bring you the debut of a new Audi supercar packing a 6.0-liter V-16 engine.
- Like the Lucca, the Type 52 also featured a 16-cylinder engine and streamlined silver bodywork.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
The Rennlimousine, a speed-record car that hit 203 mph in 1935, has been rebuilt and will drive up the hill climb at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Audi Audi has recreated the Auto Union Lucca, a speed-record car from the 1930s; it was also known as the Rennlimousine.The Lucca was based on a Type A Grand Prix racing car, and its V-16 engine propelled it to 203 mph in 1935.The revived Rennlimousine will be shown off in motion at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. In 2026, the headlines tend to be dominated by three-row SUVs and electric vehicles, so it is with great pleasure that we bring you the debut of a new Audi supercar packing a 6.0-liter V-16 engine. Sadly, there's a catch—the Auto Union Lucca is a one-off, and it is actually a recreation of a record-breaking car developed by Audi's parent company in the 1930s, brought back to life ahead of an on-track debut at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The revival of the Lucca—also called the Rennlimousine, for "racing sedan"—follows the Type 52, a forgotten Auto Union prototype that never made it off the designer's page, which Audi built in 2024 based on original documents and drove at Goodwood. Like the Lucca, the Type 52 also featured a 16-cylinder engine and streamlined silver bodywork.