This is a new mid-engined Audi hypercar, and it’s powered by a supercharged 6.0-litre V16 engine. However, while Audi really did finish building it just a few weeks ago, the reality is that the Auto Union Lucca (to give it its full and official name) isn’t a new design, but a recreation of a 1930s legend. Commissioned by Audi's heritage department, Audi Tradition, it’s a replica of a pre-war spaceship, a record-breaker that went beyond 200mph to set the highest top speed ever achieved on the road. That was mind-blowing in 1935, but the story behind its original creation, its record-setting run, and why it exists again today is even more fascinating… 🚗 Auto Union Lucca 🎤 Ollie Kew 🎥 Subscribe to Top Gear YouTube: http://bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear ⏪ Subscribe to Top Gear Classic YouTube: http://bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear 📖 Subscribe to Top Gear Magazine: https://top-gear.visitlink.me/YeyndO 🎧 Top Gear Magazine Podcast: https://topgear.podlink.to/Podcast ✉️ Top Gear Newsletter: https://www.topgear.com/newsletter-signup 🛍️ Top Gear Shop: https://www.topgear.com/shop Follow Top Gear ⬇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topgear/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/topgear TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@topgear X/Twitter: https://x.com/BBC_TopGear This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios. Service & Feedback https://www.bbcstudios.com/contact/contact-us/ 00:00 Auto Union Lucca Introduction 01:18 1 Of 1 Replica 01:45 Who Is Auto Union? 02:17 State-Sponsored Motorsport 02:58 300mph Record-Setters 03:43 This Car’s Place in History 04:00 Aerodynamic Aluminium Bodywork 05:24 How Slippery Is It Really? 06:15 Historically Accurate, But Now Optimised… 06:52 Four Versions Of The V16 Engine 08:45 Audi’s Mind-Blowing Secret Warehouse 10:39 The 4 Auto Union Members 13:02 900+ Cars… And Growing! 13:46 SO LOUD! Starting The Supercharged 6.0-litre V16 14:44 How The Lucca Set Its Speed Record 16:11 Interior Explainer 17:12 A Useless Speedo & Weird Rev Counter 18:29 Why Does This (Million-Pound) Replica Exist? 19:52 Conclusion
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That 96 RS2 is perfection
Had no idea how many cool concepts Audi had over the decades!
Fun fact, the DKW layout is what made the Quattro and Subaru AWD so unique. It is a longitudinal mounted engine in front of its diff and gearbox. Since it was two stroke it was very compact and three cylinders of a two stroke was similar to a six cylinder four stroke. 3=6. I am also amazed that they have the Group S racecar there.
Masterpiece of engineering.
ah, finally a good grocery getter from Audi, enough with the wild hybrid estates and sedans, this is proper old school
Happy you referenced Crossthwaite and Gardiner ...
welcome back Auto Union
absolutely love their dedication to history. kudos.
Man.... Really REALLY wish that my dad was still around to see this. The TLDR: is that he was German and used to build race cars for Holman and Moody back in the mid 60's to the early 70's.
Amazing. Also you can tell it influenced the designers of the original Audi TT and the Concept C.
This but with modern tyres, interior, engine would be absolutely insane
Thank You and AUDI Team for making this possible to enjoy!
sounds awesome like the straight 8 race cars of old
4:52 I still don't belive it has a massive engine. I can't picture it. This looks small AF.
2:20 amazing! They were really fast!
Talk about a deliberate throwback!! Charming.
This looks like a time travelling trip to the 1930s.
Keeps being astounding just how advanced these old school engineers already were 100+ years ago!
The original Silver Arrow. Auto Union is back baby.
This is exactly what I have imagined a real car to be since I was a child.