the grandfather of the famous VW Polo is celebrating its 50th anniversary

It was founded in 1974 like the first small car from the German manufacturer, theAudi 50 served as a model for the VW Polo almost structurally identical, taking advantage of the synergies within the volkswagen group. back to the brief, but oh so important, the history of “Little Audi”.

Audi 50: the key to its success? Crossover engine

Modern and powerfulThe new Audi 50 was to complete Audi 80 and 100 range. Starting in 1970, the company’s engineers Audi NSU and Auto Union AG began work on the project, under the direction of Ludwig Kraus.
They were looking for a successor small solid car NSU, whose production was coming to an end. Developers have always had the following goals: ” A modern car must be the right size for today’s needs”, as stated in the Audi 50 design manifesto.
The the key to success it’s a crossover engine. It enabled Ingolstadt engineers to design a car with relatively spacious interior, despite the total length of 3.49 meters. Two versions of the “mini Audi”, which only weighs 685 kglaunched: the 50 LS and 50 horsepower and 50 GL and 60 horsesall with a 1.1 liter engine.
The Audi 50 LS had a maximum speed – 142 km / h; while the Audi 50 GL arrives 152. The 50 version used regular gasoline and ethanol, but the more powerful 60 required premium gasoline.
In 1977, this last variant was replaced by a new 1,300 cc engine run on regular gasoline. Design of the appearance of the Audi 50 was entrusted Hartmut Warkusswho had already created 80. Warkuß createde delicate and timeless look near the set built by Ludwig Kraus.

Audi 50: a short career that gave birth to the Polo

The Ingolstadt team presented the Audi 50 to the international press at Sardinia in the summer of 1974. On October 26, it went on sale for the first time at a price of Deutschmarks 8,195 and the Audi 50 GL is priced at 8,510 Deutschmarks.
The “small Audi” was designed and developed first in Neckarsulm, then in the technical development department in Ingolstadt, and was manufactured at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg. On March 31, 1975. 43,002 articles left the assembly lines of Wolfsburg, during which the production of the almost identical VW Polo also began.
Production of the Audi 50 ceased in the summer of 1978, by which time 180,828 examples had been built. Since then, the brand has focused more on mid-range and high-end cars.

Although the Audi 50 flourished for only a few years, it established the small car segment in the Volkswagen Group. Later, Millions of Polos have been built in its various generations.

Source: Audi