When Daimler Benz sold Auto Union in 1965 to VW, it became the revival of the Audi brand. Auto Union products were sold as DKW and one of the last models under that name was the F102, still fitted with a 3 cylinder two-stroke engine. VW immediately started to work on a successor, and although internally named F103, the car was launched in 1965 as the Audi, with a new four cylinder four stroke engine of initially 1496 cc. Audi made a lot out of the relatively high compression ratio of the engine (in the order of 12 to 1) and introduced the concept as the “Mitteldruck motor” (Middlepressure engine), making it look like the efficiency was somewhere in between a diesel and a petrol engine.
Over time compression ratios went down to normal values and the concept was never heard of again.
In the mean time the Audi proved to be popular car and many versions appeared, ranging from the 60 (the original 1500 cc) the 75 with a 1700 cc engine and the very potent Super 90, with 1770 cc and 90 BHP. The latter was capable of reaching 165 kph, and was already a real competitor for the BMW 1800.
The model range continued until 1972, when the first generation Audi 80 was presented. Almost 417000 cars were produced.
Shown is an Audi 60, exhibited (in an awkward position ) at the Sinsheim Museum in Germany
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
) at the Sinsheim Museum in Germany
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