Audi Tradition Recreates Auto Union Lucca Record Car
Audi Tradition has rebuilt the Auto Union Lucca record-breaking car, originally setting a speed record in 1935. The car makes its debut in Lucca, Italy.
Audi Tradition has successfully recreated the historic Auto Union Lucca record-breaking car, which achieved a speed record in 1935. This "Rennlimousine," a period term for a racing sedan, will be unveiled for the first time in the Italian city of Lucca in early May.
On February 15, 1935, the Auto Union Lucca set a flying-start mile record on a straight section of the autostrada near Lucca. It achieved an average speed of 320.267 km/h and a measured top speed of 326.975 km/h, earning it the title of "the fastest road racing car in the world" at the time.
The recreation of the car took just over three years to complete, finishing in early 2026. The rebuilt vehicle now joins AUDI AG's historic vehicle collection, becoming part of the legendary "Silver Arrows" lineage.
The 1930s were a period of intense competition for speed records. Auto Union AG, formed in 1932 from a merger of Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer, engaged in fierce rivalries with manufacturers like Daimler-Benz. The development of the Lucca highlights the era's focus on technical innovation and aerodynamic advancements in racing car design.