Unveiled in 1973, the Audi Asso di Picche was a striking four-seater sports coupe concept car, styled by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro and built by German coachbuilder Karmann. This concept served as an early glimpse into Giugiaro’s vision of future automotive design—one that would soon influence several iconic production models.
Based on the chassis and mechanicals of the Audi 80 GT, the Asso di Picche featured a long front overhang and a short rear overhang, giving it a distinctive, forward-leaning profile. The design emphasized a trapezoidal silhouette, paired with a futuristic cylindrical instrument panel inside the cabin—hallmarks of Giugiaro’s progressive thinking.
Though never intended for mass production, the Asso di Picche was a conceptual predecessor to the first-generation Volkswagen Scirocco, which debuted just a year later. Its design language also left a lasting impression on other Giugiaro-penned vehicles, including the 1979 Lancia Delta and the iconic 1981 DeLorean DMC-12.
The name “Asso di Picche” translates from Italian to “Ace of Spades,” a fitting title for a concept car that held a winning hand in shaping the future of automotive design.