There are cars that go down in history because they succeed in sales, others because of their level of reliability and others precisely for the opposite. He NSU Ro 80 It was a sedan that came out at the end of the 60s and that was always involved in controversy. The German manufacturer that was the forerunner of Audi wanted to do something truly revolutionary and at first managed to surprise the public. It was presented at the 1967 Frankfurt Motor Show with enormous expectation, although with the passage of time would end up being forgotten due to a series of misfortunes.
The NSU Ro 80 got its name from the combination of “rotary piston” and the product designation number. That is because it moved thanks to a wankel rotary engine dual-rotor engine that defined its existence. This block was characterized by its reduced size and weight, as well as exemplary refinement and greater simplicity (there are no cylinders, no pistons, no crankshaft…). However, that blessing ended up being his curse, since the reliability was the pending subject of the sedan.
Many of the engines mounted on the NSU Ro 80 presented early problems, on all those built in the first series. The brand was in charge of the mechanical replacement, but a lot of criticism was generated around it. Over time they managed to solve the engine issue, but its users continued to criticize the high consumption who had the sedan. Especially at a time when the oil crisis was beginning and greater efficiency was sought than in the past.
And that the NSU Ro 80 was practically a prototype with registration and that surprised by its technological advances. Because its aerodynamics was one of the best of the time with a coefficient of 0.35 Cx thanks to its wedge-shaped body, which allowed it to reach a maximum speed of 180 km/h. It also had details like the Disc brakes on all four wheels, a very prominent suspension and even advanced lighting for its time. Passive safety was another of the strengths of the model.
All these novelties made him win the award for Car of the Year in Europe in 1968, a year after its launch and before the controversy began with its mechanical breakdowns. Finally, the NSU Ro 80 was withdrawn from production in 1977, a decade after its release. Not too many sold total 37,204 units, but he is still remembered today for having tried to be at the forefront at any cost. It is also the reason that there was never an Audi with a rotary engine, because the lesson was learned with those mechanics and the circumstances never occurred again.
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