NSU Ro 80
| NSU Ro 80 | |
|---|---|
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|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer |
NSU Motorenwerke (1967–1969) Audi NSU Auto Union AG (1969–1977) |
| Production | 1967–1977 |
| Assembly | Germany: Neckarsulm |
| Designer | Claus Luthe |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Executive car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 995 cc two-rotor Wankel engine, 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) |
| Transmission | 3-speed Fichtel & Sachs all-synchromesh manual connected with automatic clutch and F & S torque converter |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,860 mm (112.6 in) |
| Length | 4,780 mm (188.2 in) |
| Width | 1,760 mm (69.3 in) |
| Height | 1,410 mm (55.5 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,251–1,292 kg (2,759–2,848 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | NSU Spider |
The NSU Ro 80 is a four-door, front-engine sedan manufactured and marketed by the West German firm NSU from 1967 until 1977.
Noted for innovative, aerodynamic styling by Claus Luthe and a technologically advanced powertrain, the Ro 80 featured a 84 kW (113 bhp), 995 cc twin-rotor Wankel engine driving the front wheels through a semi-automatic transmission with an innovative vacuum system.
The Ro 80 was voted Car of the Year for 1968 and 37,398 units were manufactured over a ten-year production run, all in a single generation.
Other technological features of the Ro 80, aside from the powertrain, were the four wheel ATE Dunlop disc brakes, which for some time were generally only featured on expensive sports or luxury saloon cars. The front brakes were mounted inboard, reducing the unsprung weight. The suspension was independent on all four wheels, with MacPherson struts at the front and semi-trailing arm suspension at the rear, both of which are space-saving designs commonly used today. Power assisted ZF rack and pinion steering was used, again foreshadowing more recent designs.
The car featured an automatic clutch which was commonly described as a three-speed semi-automatic gearbox: there was no clutch pedal, but instead, touching the gear lever knob operated an internal electric switch that operated a vacuum system which disengaged the clutch. The gear lever itself then could be moved through a standard 'H pattern' gate.
The styling, by Claus Luthe who was head of design at NSU and later BMW, was considered very modern at the time; the Ro 80 has been part of many gallery exhibits of modern industrial design. The large glass area foreshadowed 1970s designs such as Citroën's. The shape was also slippery, with a drag coefficient of 0.355 (very good for the era). This allowed for a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h). Indeed, comparisons have been drawn between the design of the Ro80 and the aerodynamic 1982 Audi 100 built in the same factory some 15 years later.
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Wikipedia