Nowadays, it’s not outrageous to imagine Audi doing a supercar concept. Not now it’s got two generations of magnificent R8 notched up (not to mention a fleet of family saloons and wagons almost capable of outrunning the flagship). Fast, exotic Audis just aren’t alien any more.

Bear that in mind as you imagine just how bonkers the Audi Rosemeyer would’ve seemed in the year 2000. The retro-futuristic Auto Union racer still looks a bit crackers in 2016. A gleaming, polished aluminium wonder with a claimed speed north of 217mph. It’s literally a shining example of the brilliant lunacy of design studies.