Audi 50

Vehicle Overview

The Audi 50 design proposal by Bertone, created in the early 1970s, is a fascinating chapter in the evolution of small car design. Developed as part of Audi’s preparations for the launch of the 50 model in 1974, the prototype was built on the platform that would later underpin the Volkswagen Polo. Featuring a front-wheel-drive layout and powered by a 1.1-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 50 hp at 5,800 rpm, the Audi 50 represented a new direction for the brand’s compact offerings. Bertone’s design for the Audi 50 was marked by a bold and distinctive aesthetic, emphasizing both functionality and visual appeal. The proposal featured innovative front and rear plastic shields that provided protection while enhancing the vehicle’s design, as well as striking graphic elements that incorporated Audi’s iconic four-ring logo in several locations, including the grille, rear shield, and fuel tank door. One of the standout features of Bertone’s proposal was the deeply recessed rear window, an element that helped to give the car a unique character. Despite these innovative and graphic touches, the final production version of the Audi 50, which remained in production until 1978, took a more practical approach. It retained a simpler, more cost-effective design that focused on functionality, leaving Bertone’s striking graphics and elements out of the final model. The history behind the Audi 50’s design is even more intriguing when considering the broader context of the 1970s. At the end of the 1960s, NSU’s design director, Ludwig Kraus, had initiated a project for a city car to replace the NSU Prinz, codenamed K50. However, after NSU’s merger with Auto Union GmbH, the project was halted. Once the merger was completed, the development of a supermini car was relaunched in 1971 under the new company structure, and the Audi 50 was born. The new project, internally codenamed A0 and later EA 329, was planned to expand Audi’s range and amortize costs, with the Audi 50 being accompanied by a more basic version known as the “VW Mini.” This decision was partly influenced by the fact that the Audi 50 was initially seen as an alternative solution to the Golf, in case the Golf project did not come to fruition. With new specifications in place, the task of styling the vehicle was entrusted to Team B, led by Claus Luthe, who had previously worked at NSU. The team generated two in-house proposals and also sought a third from Bertone. Marcello Gandini’s proposal for the Audi 50 was remarkable, combining sharp lines, highly graphic elements, and modern touches. Notably, the front of the car featured a grille made up of four rings, and the rear had four round lights that echoed the grille design. The car also featured a unique recessed rear window, which would later appear on the Italdesign Passat. One of the most distinctive aspects of Gandini’s proposal was the integrated polyester bumpers that enclosed the headlamps, along with the use of the same color for the underbody to visually link the front and rear sections of the car. This idea would later reappear on the Fiat Ritmo, but in the Audi 50 proposal, it also served to maximize space within the compact design. While Bertone’s design was well-received internally, there were reservations about the bumpers, which were seen as too unconventional for Audi’s formal design vocabulary. After some internal revisions, including replacing the bumpers with more traditional chrome steel versions and modifying the grille to match the Audi 80 B1’s family look, the final design was approved in 1972. Despite the strong influence of Bertone’s design, Audi deliberately downplayed Gandini’s authorship of the project. Unlike Volkswagen, which openly credited Giugiaro for the Golf’s design, Audi preferred to highlight its in-house designers, particularly Hartmut Warkuss. This decision, though, has been reconsidered in recent years, with many now acknowledging Gandini’s pivotal role in shaping the early design of the Audi 50. The Bertone proposal remains a fascinating example of the creativity and design innovation that shaped the small car segment during the 1970s.