Streamlined innovation: Audi Type C Jaray in the August Horch Museum!

Streamlined innovation: Audi Type C Jaray in the August Horch Museum!

A very special piece of automotive history is now being presented in the August Horch Museum in Zwickau. A foam model of the Audi Type C Jaray from 1923 now adorns the permanent exhibition, impressively documenting the beginnings of aerodynamics. As Radio Zwickau reports, this model was developed for the special exhibition “Windschnittig” in collaboration with the West Saxon University and shows the key concepts that shape aerodynamics to this day.

The Audi Type C Jaray is equipped with a 4-cylinder engine that offers a displacement of 3,564 cm³ and achieves 35 hp at 1,700 rpm. What is remarkable is the speed of 130 km/h, which is clearly different from the 90 km/h of the series models. The drag coefficient, a measure of air resistance, is estimated at 0.3 to 0.36.

Pioneers of aerodynamics

As early as the beginning of the 20th century, engineers such as Paul Jaray, Edmund Rumpler and Baron Reinhard von Koenig-Fachsenfeld were working on adapting body shapes to the air flow. The first considerations about aerodynamics were initially aimed at reducing the whirling up of road dirt. But it soon became clear that better flow design could also have a positive impact on speed and fuel consumption, as KFZ-betrieb states.

The “Windschnittig” exhibition in the Audi Museum Mobile will shed light on the development of aerodynamics up to 1945 and offers over a dozen impressive exhibits. The highlights include the model of the Audi Type C Jaray, which shows how the design of the vehicles has been further developed in the context of efficiency, sustainability and design.

Review and outlook

Wind tunnel research methods have contributed significantly to the acceptance of aerodynamic designs. While development temporarily lost importance after the Second World War, aerodynamics experienced a comeback in the 1970s due to the oil crisis. Vehicle manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and VW invested in their own wind tunnel centers to minimize the air resistance of their vehicles. Intensive research into these topics was also carried out in the GDR, but economic difficulties often meant that the findings could not be implemented.

In 1982, Audi introduced the Audi 100, which was considered one of the most aerodynamic cars of its time with a drag coefficient of 0.31. Historical milestones such as the Citroën DS or the Porsche 356 are further examples of how important aerodynamics have always been in automotive history, according to Auto Bild.

From December 1, 2023, the August Horch Museum will host the exhibition “Form Completed” on the occasion of the aerodynamic innovations of the post-war period. Visitors can look forward to over 20 large exhibits and interactive displays that document the development until June 30, 2024.

The current transformation to electromobility once again highlights the importance of aerodynamics, as reducing air resistance is crucial for range and efficiency. This means that the history of aerodynamics remains exciting and relevant for the future of the automobile.