Audi Asso di Picche (ace of spades) concept

Presentation Year:	1973
Design	Karmann
Class :	Concept car
Body design :	Coupé
Engine:	Petrol 1.5 liters

The Audi Asso di Picche was a concept car that Audi had realized together with coachbuilder Karmann from Osnabrück. Karmann commissioned the prototype from Italdesign with the approval of Audi . In 1973, the car was presented at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt am Main. All in all, three different versions of the Ace concept were created until 1982. In addition to the ace of spades Italdesign produced in 1976 the diamond ace on the basis of a BMW 320i . In 1982, followed by the Asso di Fiore the last representative of the study series. 

Karmann produced for Volkswagen the Karmann Ghia and the convertible of the VW Beetle series. To use the capacity of the production lines in the future as well, the company commissioned Italdesign in Turin to design a new model. The plan was to work with Audi to develop a small series of compact sports cars that Karmann could produce. The result was the Audi "Asso di Picche" based on an Audi 80 B1 . In addition to the underbody, the entire mechanics of the Audi 80 GT, whose 1.5-liter engine provided 85 hp, were used. The overhangs of the sedanwere shortened at the back for a sporty look and lengthened to the front, resulting in a total length of just over four meters. Only the twin headlights and the four rings still reminded of the base vehicle. The interior was also completely redesigned. Among other things, he was dressed in brown leather , the door bags could be removed and used as shopping bags. 

According to the specifications of Karmann Italdesign produced the "ace of spades" as a four-seat sports coupe , which should drive Audi as a small series. However, small quantities did not fit into the sales program of the car manufacturer. At the beginning of the 1970s, Audi was conquering higher end with the mass market, which is why the model range was increasingly oriented towards the middle class. Although the draft in the group management was considered successful, the car did not go into production. Another reason was that Volkswagen also planned to bring a cheap sports coupe on the market.

Since Giorgio Giugiaro as a designer at the same time Italdesign at the new VW based on the Golf I he could use many elements of "ace" study for the Scirocco . A year after the presentation of the Audi "ace of spades" went the VW Scirocco in series, which had some similarities with the Audi study in terms of the body .Technology and floor assembly came from VW. According to Italdesign, the prototype also had a major impact on the design of the Lancia Delta , which was introduced in 1979. 

Technical details:

Body design: Coupé
Performance power: 85 hp
Chassis: Audi 80
Coachbuilder: Karmann
Engine: Petrol engine :1.5 liters (62 kW)
Width: 1640 mm
Height: 1205 mm
Wheelbase: 2470 mm