DKW Auto-Union Project: August Horch Museum Exhibition: Perfect Form?

Thursday 21 December 2023

August Horch Museum Exhibition: Perfect Form?

Fresh from the successful special exhibition on prewar aerodynamics and streamlining (which has moved to the Audi Tradition Museum Mobile in Ingolstadt), the August Horch Museum in Zwickau has opened a new exhibition of post-war streamlining - Perfect Form? The new exhibition is open now until 30 June 2024 and includes 20 full-scale vehicles and numerous models and other presentations.

The exhibition is described thus: "After the Second World War, automobile production slowly resumed in Germany. The aerodynamics of vehicles play a minor role in the first few years. Rather, the fenders and headlights, which were often attached separately in the 1930s, are now integrated into the body, and the transitions between the three body volumes are harmoniously rounded off. The entire outer body skin becomes smoother. This creates the pontoon shape that becomes the creed of the 1950s. With a few exceptions, body development remained based on this basic principle until the end of the 1960s. Even in the micro and small car segment, customers usually only accept the aerodynamically difficult notchback shape. The only exceptions are the lightweight vehicles of former aviation engineers/designers with streamlined bodies inspired by aircraft. The average drag coefficient of this body shape is 0.45 – 0.5. Aerodynamics only became increasingly important again as a result of the oil crisis in the 1970s and became an integral part of vehicle development. As an efficient means of reducing consumption, the topic of aerodynamics is gaining attention across Europe, including from state governments, some of which finance research programs. Numerous vehicle manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and VW are building their own wind tunnel centers in these years. Intensive research in the field of aerodynamics is also being carried out in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). However, the implementation in modern vehicles is not successful due to the existing economic problems.

At the same time, breathtaking concept vehicles from well-known design offices such as Pininfarina, Bertone and Italdesign / Giugiaro ensured that the wedge shape became the defining car fashion of the 1970s and 1980s. The wedge shape is also aerodynamically effective, with its flat front and high rear creating contact pressure between the vehicle and the road like a spoiler. This is particularly important in motorsport, as a race track consists not only of long straights, but also of tight and sometimes fast corners.

As part of the current transformation to electromobility, reducing air resistance is once again taking on an important role in vehicle development. The focus is on saving drive energy.

And it is precisely this development over the last 70 years that the follow-up special exhibition is dedicated to, regardless of the brand. Unique and rare vehicles illustrate the connection between shape and air resistance in various facets. Treat yourself to the rare and time-limited sights and insights."