Classic NSU Prinz 4 electrified

Trainees at Audi’s historic Neckarsulm plant have unveiled a new all-electric NSU Prinz 4 retromod dubbed ‘EP4’ to celebrate 150 years of continuous manufacturing at the production site in northern Germany.

The commemorative retromod is based on the NSU Prinz 4L, which rolled out of the Neckarsulm factory – that first produced knitting machines as long ago as 1873 – back in 1971.

After work was completed on restoring the body and addressing various rust spots, the apprentices began work on adapting the all-electric powertrain to fit the small sports sedan.

Where once a rear-mounted two-cylinder 22kW petrol engine lived, the team of 12 Audi trainees added a powerful 176kW electric motor from a 2020 Audi e-tron. The battery pack, meanwhile, is borrowed from the plug-in hybrid Audi Q7 TFSI e quattro SUV.

Engineers mounted the small battery under the restomod’s carbon-fibre front bonnet, where the Prinz once had a fuel tank. To keep the powertrain cool, a new wider air-intake has been added on the lower half of the bumper.

The tailgate can also be fixed in a half-open position, as with the competition-spec 1966 Abarth 696 SS, for extra cooling of the powerful EV motor.

To cope with the huge boost in performance, the NSU Prinz 4 features a modified floorpan from an Audi A1, plus bigger brakes and stronger axles.

And to accommodate wider rubber, the Prinz 4 gets a broader body with wheel-arch extenders.

Painted in Audi Suzuka Grey and Brilliant Black, the born-again NSU features large 150 decals on its lower body and lime-green accents on the door mirrors, front air-intakes and tyre sidewalls.

At the rear, there’s a huge lower spoiler and a larger-still roof-level spoiler that’s mounted directly to the internal roll cage. Designers have also updated the triple circular headlights.

Inside, occupants sit in carbon-fibre Recaro Podium bucket seats, while ahead of the driver is a single screen that incorporates the speedo and onboard computer.

Commenting on the new one-off, Audi apprentice Dean Scheuffler said: “We wanted to build a car that was not only fast and looked cool but also honoured the 150th-anniversary of the site.”

Founded in 1873, NSU became best known as a bicycle, motorcycle and, eventually, car manufacturer before it was snapped up by the Volkswagen Group in 1969 and then merged with Auto Union to create Audi NSU Auto Union, which was later shortened to Audi.

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