The Neckarsulm-based car manufacturer presented a revolutionary vehicle concept with the NSU Ro 80. They provided more than 80 pages of informative material, including technical data, drawings, and a comprehensive description of the NSU/Wankel rotary-piston engine to support their claims. Even experts required detailed documentation to explain the new vehicle concept, particularly its engine. The NSU/Wankel engine had several advantages such as lightweight, small space requirement, low-vibration operation, and fewer components than conventional piston engines. In 1967, after five years of development, the NSU Ro 80 was unveiled at the Frankfurt exhibition halls as the world’s first production car with a twin-disc Wankel engine. The trade show audience was astonished and inspired by the new vehicle concept.
The sporty touring sedan set new standards in technology and aesthetics. Developed in a wind tunnel, the wedge-shaped body line with a flat front, a low, rising beltline, and a raised rear end enabled a drag coefficient of 0.35. It created an overall appearance that was futuristic by contemporaries. Advertising posters for the Ro 80 proclaimed confidently: “There are ‘Yesterday’ cars, and there are ‘Today’ cars, and then there are NSU cars.” This claim was reiterated in 1971 and has become the brand essence of Audi since the merger of Auto Union GmbH and NSU Motorenwerke AG in 1969.
The Neckarsulm-based company’s courage to launch a revolutionary car in many respects was rewarded. A year after its launch, trade journalists voted the NSU Ro “Car of the Year,” making it the first German car to earn this distinction. However, the car failed to achieve lasting commercial success. In 1973, the oil crisis drove gasoline prices up, causing customers to turn to more economical vehicles. This spelled the end of the rotary-piston engine and consequently the NSU Ro 80.
Even today, the NSU Ro 80 continues to have a loyal fanbase, as does the NSU brand in general. Numerous clubs meet regularly to revive the history of the traditional brand with rides and events. A fan day will be held on September 16 in Neckarsulm to celebrate the anniversary, organized by Audi Tradition, the Audi Forum Neckarsulm, the Audi Club International, and the Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum Neckarsulm – a museum of historic motorcycles and bicycles. The Wankel engine’s appearance and mode of operation are explained in an understandable manner.
All photos are the property of Audi and published with their permission and consent. All content, except that published by permission, is the property of myclassicnews.com. Reproduction, other than normal social media sharing, is strictly prohibited. Contact us at rick@groupduncan.com for reprint permission.
