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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox automobile
|name           = Audi 50 (86)
|image          = Audi-50-GL.jpg
|caption        = 09/1974 Audi 50 GL gold-metallic press-car
|aka            =
|manufacturer   = [[Audi|Audi NSU Auto Union AG]]
|production     = 1974–1978<br/>180,812 built<ref>Werner Oswald: ''Deutsche Autos 1945-1990'', vol. 4, {{ISBN|3-613-02131-5}}, p. 263</ref>
|predecessor    = [[NSU Prinz]]<br>[[NSU 1200]]
|successor      = [[Audi A1]]<ref name="The Audi 50's Successor">{{cite web|url=http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/255220/audi_a1_vs_audi_50.html|title=Audi A1 vs Audi 50|work=Auto Express|access-date=26 February 2011}}</ref><br />[[Audi A2]]
|class          = [[Supermini car|Supermini]] ([[B-segment|B]])
|layout         = [[transverse engine|transverse]] [[Front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout|front engine]],<br>[[front-wheel drive]]
|platform       = [[Volkswagen Group A0 platform#A01|Volkswagen Group A01]]
|body_style     = 3-door [[hatchback]]
|engine         = {{ubl | 1.1&nbsp;L [[Overhead camshaft|OHC]] [[Straight-four engine|I4]] | 1.3&nbsp;L OHC I4 }}
|transmission   = 4-speed [[manual transmission|manual]]
|wheelbase      = {{convert|2335|mm|1|abbr=on}}
|length         = {{convert|3510|mm|1|abbr=on}}
|width          = {{convert|1560|mm|1|abbr=on}}
|height         = {{convert|1340|mm|1|abbr=on}}
|weight         =
|related        = [[Volkswagen Polo Mk1]]
|designer = [[Marcello Gandini]] at [[Gruppo Bertone|Bertone]]<br />[[Claus Luthe]] (final design)
|sp             = uk
|assembly       = Germany: [[Neckarsulm]]{{Original research inline|date=December 2010}}
}}
The '''Audi 50''' (known internally as ''Typ 86'') is a small [[supermini car]] produced by German automaker [[Audi]] from 1974 to 1978, and sold only in [[Europe]]. Introduced two and three years after the French [[Renault 5]] and the Italian [[Fiat 127]] respectively, the Audi&nbsp;50 and its [[Volkswagen Polo Mk1|VW Polo]] twin were seen at the time as Germany's first home-grown entrant in Europe's emerging class of "supermini" [[hatchback]]s, supplanting a generation of small and often rear-engined [[economy car]]s.<ref name=OldtimerKatalogNr23/>

==History==
===Development and design===
Audi had noticed the fast growth in popularity of small, [[front-wheel drive]] cars with a large, upward swinging rear hatch, top-hinged at the rear edge of the roof, and a maximised rear space that could be flexibly used. In the 1960s, [[hatchback]]s were still an innovative vehicle concept, and Audi began thinking of such a car in 1968.<ref name=LuxOld50/> When [[NSU Motorenwerke|NSU]] folded into the [[Volkswagen group]], and was initially merged into "Audi NSU Auto Union AG", plans became firmer.

Audi NSU's design and development center in [[Ingolstadt]] was opened, and project K50 (''Kolben''{{efn|name=a|''Kolben'' meaning "[[piston]]" in German}} 50), was started, initially intended to replace NSU's line-up of small, rear-engined sedans.<ref name=LuxOld50>{{cite web | title=Audi 50: De Eerste Duitse Luxueuze Supermini Onder de Oldtimers |language= nl |trans-title=Audi 50: The First German Luxurious Supermini Amongst Oldtimers |url=https://AMKlassiek.nl/Audi-50-De-Eerste-Duitse-Luxueuze-Supermini-Onder-de-Oldtimers/ |website=Auto Motor Klassiek |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230928174928/https://amklassiek.nl/audi-50-de-eerste-duitse-luxueuze-supermini-onder-de-oldtimers/2023/06/15/ | archive-date=28 September 2023 |date=2023-06-15}}</ref> Project K50 was developed in a very short time of just 21 months.

Supervised by Audi boss and chief-engineer Ludwig Kraus, the Audi/NSU 50 was designed by [[Gruppo Bertone|Bertone's]] chief designer [[Marcello Gandini]], while Audi's own [[Claus Luthe]] finalised the design of the car's modern, stylish [[Unibody|unitary bodywork]].<ref name=LuxOld50/>

Within the Volkswagen Audi NSU group, it was initially preferred to market the K50 as an Audi, because the NSU brand, with their daring, [[aerodynamic]], [[rotary engine]] powered [[NSU Ro80]] saloon, was viewed too extravagant to fit well in Volkswagen's house – plus: since 1965, Audi had made an impressive come-back under Ludwig Kraus' lead, with fresh cars, in tune with the late sixties European automobile [[Zeitgeist]].<ref name=LuxOld50/>
[[File:Audi 50 a Strasbourg.jpg|thumb|left|Early Audi 50 – July 1975 photo]]
[[File:Audi-50.jpg|thumb|left|Audi 50 side profile]][[File:Audi50hoecker.JPG|thumb|left|Rear view]]
The 50 aligned with, and would extend, Audi's line-up of up-to-date, modern technology cars – in contrast to Volkswagen's line-up of almost entirely old-school, [[rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout]] cars. Only the NSU-developed, ''[[Volkswagen K70]]'' badged compact sedan (originally intended to bridge the gap between NSU's small cars and their upper middle-class Ro80), added a modern, front-wheel drive, boxy and stylish mid-market sedan to top VW's range, from 1970.

===Technology and models===
The Audi 50 offered a single, three-door [[hatchback]] body-style with a folding rear seat for maximum space utilisation and flexibility. A single transversely front-mounted {{convert|1093|cc|0|abbr=on|lk=on}} water-cooled, overhead camshaft [[petrol engine]] produced either a base {{convert|37|kW|PS bhp|0|abbr=on}}, or a higher {{convert|44|kW|PS bhp|0|abbr=on}} output for the LS and GL versions. [[Metallic paint]] could be selected, and the GL trim had a more plushly appointed interior, and extra chrome details.<ref name="LuxOld50" />

The Audi's front [[Car suspension|suspension]] is independent, by [[MacPherson strut]]s, using telescopic [[Coilover|coil over shocks]], and single, transverse lower A-arms. The [[twist-beam rear suspension]] was simple yet advanced for its day, using a semi-independent, C- or H{{nbh}}shaped combination of longitudinal [[Trailing-arm suspension|(semi-)trailing arms]], welded together with a transverse [[anti-roll bar]], also completed by [[coil spring]]s and shock absorbers.<ref name="LuxOld50" /> The Audi 50 had standard [[disc brake]]s up front, and redundant (split) hydraulic brake circuits.<ref name="LuxOld50" />

Model updates starting in 1976, further improving the car's aerodynamics. The GLS replaced the GL, with more standard equipment, including adjustable headrests, and even more chrome on the hubcaps. In 1977, a bigger {{cvt|1272|cc|cuin|0}} engine became a GLS option.<ref name="LuxOld50" />

===Production===
The Audi 50 was built by [[Audi|Audi NSU Auto Union AG]] at the former [[NSU Motorenwerke AG|NSU]] factory in [[Neckarsulm]], Germany, and at the giant [[Wolfsburg]] plant by [[Volkswagen]].<ref name="audi-1970s">{{Cite web|url=http://www.audi.co.uk/content/dam/audi/production/RestOfSite/FleetSales/03_2010/PDF/History/AudiHistory_70s_161009.pdf|title=A History of Audi: The 1970s|access-date=2010-11-23|work=audi.co.uk|publisher=Audi|archive-date=7 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107062947/http://www.audi.co.uk/content/dam/audi/production/RestOfSite/FleetSales/03_2010/PDF/History/AudiHistory_70s_161009.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Rebadging as Volkswagen Polo===
The car was also turned into a [[Volkswagen]] just six weeks later, [[Rebadging|rebadged]] as the [[Volkswagen Polo]], and offered with more choice of engines and other options.<ref name="Autocar1974">{{cite magazine |title = News: Audi 50|magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] | volume =  141 (nbr4065) |page=29| date = 21 September 1974}}</ref> The [[Volkswagen Polo]] was launched in the home market in September 1974<ref name="OldtimerKatalogNr23" /> but appeared in export markets, including the United Kingdom, several months later – in the [[Netherlands]], in March 1975.

The VW Polo twin was cheaper, and marketed a bit more as an [[economy car]].

===Audi 50 discontinued, while VW Polo continues===
The model was popular in [[Europe]], both because of its generous specifications for a car of the time, and on account of its relatively low price. The [[Volkswagen]] and [[Audi]] badged models were sold alongside each other for three years until 1978, but the cheaper [[Volkswagen Polo]] outsold the Audi 50 almost immediately, and Audi discontinued the Audi 50 in 1978, after a total production of 180,812 units.<ref name="OldtimerKatalogNr23">{{cite book| title =Oldtimer Katalog| volume = 23| pages = Seite 44 u. 358|year = 2009|isbn = 978-3-86852-067-5|publisher=HEEL Verlag GmbH|location=Königswinter }}</ref> A planned facelift, which would have given the Audi 50 a look closer to that of the [[Audi 100]] and [[Audi 80]] was never implemented, because of a holding company board decision that the [[Audi]] brand should concentrate on larger, more expensive cars.

The [[Volkswagen Polo]] range continued to evolve, with the [[Volkswagen Derby]] [[notchback]] version, despite being developed by Audi at [[Ingolstadt]], branded as a [[Volkswagen]] and launched in 1977.  Subsequently, the [[Volkswagen Polo]] has evolved through numerous generations to the present day.

===Successor===
The Audi 50 had no replacement in the [[supermini]] class, until the launch of the significantly larger [[Audi A2]] in November 1999, which was also discontinued in August 2005.

In August 2010, the car was spiritually succeeded by the [[Audi A1]],<ref name="The Audi 50's Successor" /> although, 35 years after the Audi 50 launch, the "supermini" B-segment had grown so much that the first A1 was as big as a 1980s ''C-segment'' [[Volkswagen Golf Mk2]].[[File:Audi A1 rear.jpg|thumb|2010 Audi A1 (rear left)]]
{{clear left}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Commons category|Audi 50}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Audi}}
{{Audi (Europe) timeline 1970 to date}}

[[Category:Audi vehicles|50]]
[[Category:Subcompact cars]]
[[Category:Front-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1974]]
[[Category:Cars discontinued in 1978]]