Volkswagen Group (DE0007664005) (TYO: 7659 ) is a German automobile manufacturer and one of the largest Automotive companies worldwide. Its core market is the European Union and its major subsidiaries include well-known brands like Audi, Bentley, Skoda, Lamborghini, SEAT or the brand VW itself.
Volkswagen's second-largest market is China where its subsidiary, Volkswagen Group China is by far the largest foreign automaker.
History
VW was founded in 1937 as a public concern by the then Nazi government to sell the Volkswagen Beetle. After the Second World War in 1945, the British Army took control of the bomb-shattered factory and restarted Beetle production for the difficult post-war years which Germany had to face. In 1948, the British Government handed the company back over to the German state, where it was managed by ex-Opel chief Heinrich Nordhoff.
In 1960, upon the floatation of part of the German federal government's stake in the company on the German stock market, its name became Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft (Aktiengesellschaft, abbreviated AG, being equivalent to the English Corp[oration] or American Inc[orporated]). The name was changed to VOLKSWAGEN AG on 4th July 1985, to reflect the company's increasing global diversification from its headquarters and main plant, the Volkswagenwerk in Wolfsburg, Germany. The corporation now goes by that name or occasionally 'Volkswagen Group' in non-German speaking markets, and is currently the fourth largest car-manufacturer in the world. In 2005 VW sold more than 5.2 million vehicles, which equals a 9.1 share of the world market.
In October 2005, Porsche acquired an 18.53% stake in the business. And in July they increased their ownership to little over 25%. This was presumably done to prevent a foreign takeover, according to press reports. Nonetheless, many commentators argued that this stake fits well to the strategy Porsche has.
Leadership
1945-1948 — Ivan Hirst
1948-1967 — Heinrich Nordhoff
1968-1971 — Kurt Lotz
1971-1975 — Rudolf Leiding
1975-1982 — Toni Schmucker
1982-1993 — Carl Hahn
1993-2002 — Ferdinand Piëch
April 16, 2002-present — Bernd Pischetsrieder
Brands
The company owns seven brands, which are organized into two groups or branches.
The Audi branch consists of
Audi (D)
Lamborghini (I)
SEAT (ES)
The Volkswagen branch consists of
Volkswagen (D)
Bentley (GB)
Škoda (CZ)
Bugatti (F)
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (D)
These brands have been discontinued by VW:
Auto Union
DKW
Horch
NSU
Wanderer
Volkswagen is also the largest shareholder in Scania AB with a capital stake of 16.5% and a voting stake of 27.4%
See also
List of automobile manufacturers
Volkswagen Group China
Volkswagen
Volkswagen AG
Type:
Marque of Volkswagen Group
Founded:
1937 by German Auto Association
Headquarters:
Wolfsburg, Germany
Key people:
Bernd Pischetsrieder, Chairman of the Board of Management
Industry:
Automotive
Products:
Automobile
Revenue:
€ 50,245 billion (2005)
Net income:
€ 741 million (2005)
Employees:
N/A
Website:
Volkswagen International
Volkswagen AG (German "people's car", pronounced [ˈfɔlksˌvaːgən]) or VW is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany in the state of Lower Saxony.
It forms the core of Volkswagen Group, one of the world's four largest car producers.
Its German tagline is "Aus Liebe zum Automobil", which is translated as "For the love of the car" - or, "For Love of the People's Cars," as translated by VW in other languages.
Origins in 1930s Germany
Adolf Hitler, with Heinrich Himmler at his side, in a KdF-Wagen (Beetle) in 1944, near the Wolfsschanze, East Prussia
Though the origins of the company date back to the 1930s, the design for the car that would become known as the Beetle / "Käfer" date back even further, as a pet project by car designer Ferdinand Porsche (1875–1951). Adolf Hitler's desire that almost anybody should be able to afford a car coincided with this design—although much of this design was inspired by the advanced Tatra cars of Hans Ledwinka.
Hitler, who had a keen interest in cars even if he didn't drive, demanded Porsche make changes to the original design to make it more suited for the working man. According to the historian Richard Evans, Hitler personally designed the distinctive rounded shape of the car he desired Porsche to build - making the Volkswagen "Beetle" Hitler's most lasting legacy to the world.[1] Changes included better fuel efficiency, reliability, ease of use, and economically efficient repairs and parts. The intention was that ordinary Germans would buy the car by means of a savings scheme ("Fünf Mark die Woche musst Du sparen, willst Du im eigenen Wagen fahren" — "Save five Marks a week, if you desire to drive your own car") which around 336,000 people eventually paid into. Volkswagen honored its savings agreements after World War II; Ford, which had a similar "coupon" savings system, reportedly did not. Prototypes of the car called the KdF-Wagen (German: Kraft durch Freude = "strength through joy"), appeared from 1936 onwards (the first cars had been produced in Stuttgart). The car already had its distinctive round shape and air-cooled, flat-four, rear-mounted engine, features similar to the Tatra. The VW car was just one of many KdF programs which included things such as tours and outings.
Erwin Komenda, the longstanding Porsche chief designer, developed the car body of the prototype, which was recognizably the Beetle we know today. It was one of the first to be designed with the aid of a wind tunnel; unlike the Chrysler Airflow, it would be a success.
A Volkwagen "Beetle" in Melbourne, Australia, in 2006
The new factory in the new town of KdF-Stadt, now called Wolfsburg, purpose-built for the factory workers, only produced a handful of cars by the time war started in 1939. None were actually delivered to holders of the completed saving stamp books, though one Type 1 Cabriolet was presented to Hitler on his fiftieth birthday, in 1938.
War meant production changed to military vehicles, the Type 81 Kübelwagen utility vehicle (VW's most common wartime model) and the amphibious Schwimmwagen.
1945: British Army and Ivan Hirst, unclear future
The company owes its postwar existence largely to one man, British Army officer Major Ivan Hirst (1916–2000). In April 1945, KdF-Stadt and its heavily bombed factory were captured by the Americans, and subsequently handed over to the British, within whose occupation zone the town and factory fell. The factory was placed under the control of Oldham-born Hirst. At first, the plan was to use it for military vehicle maintenance. Since it had been used for military production, and had been a "political animal" (Hirst's words) rather than a commercial enterprise, the equipment was in time intended to be salvaged as war reparations.
The Volkswagen main factory in Wolfsburg with its own power plant in the front.
Hirst painted one of the factory's cars green and demonstrated it to British Army headquarters. Short of light transport, in September 1945 the British Army was persuaded to place a vital order for 20,000. The first few hundred cars went to personnel from the occupying forces, and to the German Post Office. By 1946 the factory was producing 1,000 cars a month, a remarkable feat considering the factory was still in disrepair: the damaged roof and windows meant rain stopped production; the steel to make the cars had to be bartered for new vehicles.
The car and its town changed their Second World War-era names to Volkswagen and Wolfsburg respectively, and production was increasing. It was still unclear what was to become of the factory. It was offered to representatives from the British, American and French motor industries. Famously, all rejected it. After an inspection of the plant, Sir William Rootes, head of the British Rootes Group, told Hirst the project would fail within two years, and that the car "is quite unattractive to the average motorcar buyer, is too ugly and too noisy ... If you think you're going to build cars in this place, you're a bloody fool, young man." (In a bizarre twist of fate, Volkswagen would manufacture a locally built version of Rootes' Hillman Avenger in Argentina in the 1980s, long after Rootes went bust at the hands of Chrysler in 1978—the Beetle outliving the Avenger by over 30 years)
Ford representatives were equally critical: the car was "not worth a damn." Henry Ford II, the son of Edsel Ford, did reportedly look at the possibility of taking over the VW factory but dismissed the idea as soon as he looked up Wolfsburg on the map. . . and found it to be too close for comfort to the East German border. In France Citroën started the 2CV on a similar marketing concept. In Italy it was the Fiat 500.
[edit]
1948–1974: Icon For German Regeneration
An original 1300 Deluxe, circa 1966.
From 1948, Volkswagen became a very important element, symbolically and economically, of West German regeneration. Heinrich Nordhoff (1899–1968), a former senior manager at Opel who had overseen civilian and military vehicle production in the 1930s and 1940s, was recruited to run the factory in 1948. In 1949 Hirst left the company, now re-formed as a trust controlled by the West German government. Apart from the introduction of the Type 2 commercial vehicle (van, pickup and camper) and the Karmann Ghia sports car, Nordhoff pursued the one-model policy until shortly before his death in 1968.
Volkswagens were first exhibited and sold in the United States in 1949. It only sold two units in America that first year. On its entry to the U.S. market, the VW was briefly sold as a "Victory Wagon". Volkswagen of America was formed in April 1955 to standardize sales and service in the U.S. Production of the Type 1 Volkswagen Beetle (German: "Käfer"; US: "Bug"; Mexican: "Vocho"; "Vochito"; French: "Coccinelle"; Portuguese: "Carocha"; Brazilian: "Fusca"; Colombian and Venezuelan: "Escarabajo"; Danish: "Boble Folkevogn"; Polish: "Garbus"; Serbian/Croatian: "Buba"; Swedish: "Bubbla Folka": Dutch: "Kever"; Finnish: "Kupla"; Indonesian:"Kodok") increased dramatically over the years, the total reaching one million in 1954.
Sales soared -- due in part to the famous advertising campaigns by New York advertising agency, Doyle, Dane and Bernbach. Lead by art director Helmut Krone and copywriters Bob Levinson and Julian Koenig, Volkswagen ads became as popular as the car, using crisp layouts and witty copy to lure the younger, sophisticated consumers with whom the car became associated. Despite the fact it was almost universally known as the Beetle, it was never officially labeled as such, instead referred to as the Type 1. The first reference to the name Beetle occurred in U.S. advertising in 1968, but not until 1998 and the Golf-based New Beetle would the name be adopted by Wolfsburg.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, although the car was becoming outdated, American exports, innovative advertising and a growing reputation for reliability helped production figures to surpass the levels of the previous record holder, the Ford Model T. By 1973 total production was over 16 million.
An original and unmodified 1963 VW Notchback.
VW expanded their product line in 1967 with the introduction of several Type 3 models, which were essentially body style variations (Fastback, Notchback, Squareback) based on Type 1 mechanical underpinnings, and again in 1969 with the relatively unpopular Type 4 (also known as the 411 and 412) models, which differed substantially from previous models with the notable introduction of unibody construction, a fully automatic transmission, electronic fuel injection, and a sturdier powerplant. Volkswagen added a "Super Beetle" (the Type 113) to its lineup in 1971. The Type 113 differed from the standard Beetle in its use of McPherson strut front suspension instead of torsion bars. The McPherson suspension added valuable trunk space and widened the front end. Despite the Super Beetle's popularity with Volkswagen customers, purists preferred the standard Beetle with its less pronounced nose and its original torsion bar suspension. In 1973, Volkswagen introduced the military-themed Thing (Type 181) in America, recalling the wartime Type 81. The military version was produced for the NATO-era German army (Bundeswehr) during the cold war years of 1970 to 1979. The US Thing version only lasted two years, 1973 and 1974, due at least in part to Ralph Nader's automobile safety campaigns.
1974: From Beetle to Rabbit
An American advertisement for the 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit, the North American name for the original Golf.
Volkswagen was in serious trouble by the end of the 1960s. The Type 3 and Type 4 models had been comparative flops, and the NSU-based K70 also failed to woo buyers. The company knew that Beetle production had to end one day, but the conundrum of replacing it had been a never-ending nightmare. The key to the solution was the 1964 acquisition of Audi/Auto-Union. The Ingolstadt-based firm had the necessary expertise in front wheel drive and water-cooled engines that Volkswagen so desperately needed to produce a credible Beetle successor. Audi influences paved the way for this new generation of Volkswagens, known as the Polo, Golf and Passat.
Production of the Beetle at the Wolfsburg factory switched to the VW Golf in 1974, marketed in the United States and Canada as the Volkswagen Rabbit until 1985 and as the Golf until 2006, when the Rabbit name was again announced. This was a car unlike its predecessor in most significant ways, both mechanically as well as visually (its angular styling was designed by the Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro). Its design followed trends for small family cars set by the 1959 Mini and 1972 Renault 5—the Golf had a transversely mounted, water-cooled engine in the front, driving the front wheels, and had a hatchback, a format that has dominated the market segment ever since. Beetle production continued in smaller numbers at other German factories (Essen) until 1978, but mainstream production shifted to Brazil and Mexico.
From 1970s to present
Volkswagen Polo, 1990.
While Volkswagen's range of cars soon became similar to that of other large European car-makers, the Golf has been the mainstay of the Volkswagen lineup since its introduction, and the mechanical basis for several other cars of the company. There have been five generations of the Volkswagen Golf, the first of which was produced from the summer of 1974 until the end of 1983, sold as the Rabbit in the United States and Canada and as the Caribe in Latin America. Its chassis also spawned the Scirocco coupe and Jetta sedan. North American production of the Golf/Rabbit commenced at a factory in Pennsylvania in 1978. The production numbers of the first generation Golf has continued to grow annually in South Africa with only slight modifications to the interior, engine and chassis. It would be produced in the United States as the Rabbit until the spring of 1984. The second-generation Golf hatchback/Jetta sedan ran from late 1983 to late 1991, and a North American version produced in Pennsylvania went on sale at the start of the 1985 model year. (The American factory closed in 1988.) In 1991, Volkswagen launched the third-generation Golf, garnering the European Car of the Year for 1992 (the previous two generations were nominated but lost to the Citroën CX in 1975 and the Fiat Uno in 1984). (The Mark 3 Golf and Jetta debuted in North America just before the start of 1994 model year, first appearing in southern California in the late spring of 1993.) The sedan version of the Golf was badged Vento in Europe (but remained Jetta in the USA, where its popularity outstripped the Golf).
2006 VW Jetta
The fourth incarnation of the Golf arrived in Europe in late 1997, (and in North America in 1999), its chassis spawned a host of other cars within the Volkswagen group—the Volkswagen Bora (the sedan, still called Jetta in the USA), VW New Beetle, SEAT Toledo, SEAT León, Audi A3, Audi TT and Skoda Octavia. However, it was beaten into third place for the 1998 European Car of the Year award by the winning Alfa Romeo 156 and runner-up Audi A6. The current Volkswagen Golf was launched in late 2004, came runner-up to the Fiat Panda in the 2004 European Car of the Year, and has so far spawned the new generation SEAT Toledo, Skoda Octavia and Audi A3 hatchback ranges as well as a new mini-MPV, the Seat Altea. The fifth-generation Golf was introduced in Europe in late 2003, and the GTI boasts a 2.0 L Turbocharged direct injection engine. The fifth-generation Golf, now with the Rabbit name once again, went on sale in the U.S. and Canada in June 2006. (The GTI version arrived in North America four months earlier.) Volkswagen of America believes that returning to the Rabbit nameplate will help the Golf's sales in these two countries. The fifth-generation Jetta, and the performance version, the GLI, are also available in the United States and Canada.
The other main models have been the Polo, a smaller car than the Golf, and the larger Passat for the segment above the Golf. As of 2006, there have been four incarnations of the Polo: Mk 1 (1976), Mk 2 (1981, facelifted 1990), Mk 3 (1994, facelifted 1999) and the current Mk 4 (2002, facelifted 2005). The Scirocco and Corrado were both Golf-based coupés.
Volkswagen Phaeton
In the eighties and early nineties, Volkswagen's sales in the United States and Canada fell dramatically, despite the success of models like the Golf elsewhere. VW eventually realized that the Beetle was the heart and soul of the brand in North America, and the firm quickly set about creating a new Beetle for American and Canadian showrooms.
In 1994, Volkswagen unveiled the J Mays-designed Concept One, a "retro"-themed car with a resemblance to the original Beetle but based on the Polo chassis. Its genesis was secret and in opposition to VW management, who felt it was too backward-looking. Management could not deny the positive public response to the concept car and gave the green-light to its development as the New Beetle. The production car would be based on the Golf rather than the Polo, because the Polo chassis was too small for the car to pass crash test standards in the U.S. It has been quite popular in the North America, less so in Europe.
In 2002, Volkswagen announced two models taking it into market segments new to the company: the Phaeton ("Fay-ton") luxury car, and the Touareg ("Tour-egg") SUV. The Phaeton was critically acclaimed but not well received in the marketplace. In 2005 VW announced its discontinuance in the US market for fall 2006, mainly due to the disappointing sales there and the need for major investments in the car's line of engines (W12 and V8) to meet new emission requirements. Also, Volkswagen has faced harsh criticism that the Phaeton had used up money that was better invested in their smaller cars.
After rising significantly between 1998 and 2001, VW's North American sales began to fall sharply leading to a 2005 loss of roughly $1 billion (U.S.) for its operations in the U.S. and Canada. The reliability of the company's cars appears to bear some of the responsibility for this situation. By 2005, its models sat near the bottom of Consumer Reports and J.D. Power reliability rankings.
Volkswagen is still in a better position in North American market than it was in the early nineties, when its U.S. sales plummeted to 49,533 units in 1993. The company hopes to remain competitive in the U.S. and Canada with several new models. The fifth-generation GTI has generated interest among the VW faithful with its "Make friends with your fast" and "Unpimp My Ride" advertising campaigns. And although its reliability remains to be determined, the GTI was named by Consumer Reports as the top sporty car under $25,000. Even more encouraging was Volkswagen's performance in the 2006 J.D. Power study of satisfaction after ninety days of ownership. VW scored highest among "nonluxury" brands, finishing fourteenth overall with strong performances by its new Jetta and Passat models.
Volkswagen is also adding the Eos, a sport coupe with a convertible hardtop, to its U.S./Canadian lineup as well. The Rabbit, GTI, and Eos are also being made in Germany for the North American market instead of at VW's Mexican factory, where Golfs and Jettas for the United States and Canada have been made in the past.
The fifth-generation Golf, sold in North America as the Rabbit.
The 2006 Eos hardtop convertible. This is the replacement for the VW Cabrio.
Volkswagen is counting on better workmanship from its German plants to improve the reliability of its North American lineup, and it is also competitively pricing its Rabbit, with a base model starting below the average cost of a new automobile. Volkswagen's relations with its unions and its relationship with the government of the German state of Lower Saxony, which owns stock in VW, remain impediments to further progress. But the company is taking a greater interest in the North American market rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Volkswagen currently offers a number of its vehicles with an advanced, light duty diesel engine known as the TDI (Turbo Direct Injection). Whilst extremely popular in the European market, light duty diesels do not yet enjoy the same wide acceptance in the American marketplace, despite increased fuel economy and performance comparable to gasoline engines due to turbocharging. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 4 of the 10 most fuel efficient vehicles available for sale in the U.S. in 2004 were powered by Volkswagen diesel engines. They were a three-way tie for 8th (TDI Beetle, TDI Golf, TDI Jetta) and 9th, the TDI Jetta Wagon. Sales of light duty diesel engine technology are increasing as gasoline prices rise. Products such as the Toyota Prius might have highlighted the economy of non-gasoline engines, but in reality, a Volkswagen TDI engine is often found to be more efficient than the Prius on the highway (although not so when driving in the city). In addition, all VAG TDI diesel engines produced since 1996 can be driven on 100% biodiesel.
Volkswagen resisted adding an SUV to its lineup, but it finally relented with the introduction of the Touareg in the early 2000's. The company plans to add a miniature SUV, based on its "Concept A" concept vehicle, soon. On July 20, 2006, VW announced that the new vehicle would be called the Tiguan.
Current Volkswagen Models
United States
Model
MSRP (Cost in USD)
Rabbit (Official site)
$14,990
GTI (Official site)
$21,990
Jetta (Official site)
$17,900
New Beetle (Official site) New Beetle Convertible (Official site)
$17,180/$22,120
Passat (Official site) Passat Wagon (Official site)
$22,950/$25,225
Phaeton (Official site)
$66,700
Touareg (Official site)
$37,410
Eos (Official site)
$28,480/$35,265
Europe
Fox
Polo
Golf/Golf Variant/Golf Plus
Jetta
New Beetle/New Beetle Cabriolet
Eos
Passat/Passat Variant
Touran
Sharan
Touareg
Phaeton
Caddy
Transporter
Multivan
Crafter
Asia-Pacific
Gol
Polo
Golf/Golf Plus/Golf Variant
Jetta
Bora
Sagitar
New Beetle/New Beetle Cabriolet
Passat Lingyu
Santana
Santana 3000
Passat/Passat Variant
Touran
Sharan
Touareg
Phaeton
Caddy
Transporter
Multivan
Crafter
South America
Fox/CrossFox/Suran (SpaceFox)
Gol/Parati/Saveiro (Pointer)
Polo
Derby
Golf
Jetta
Vento
Bora
New Beetle/New Beetle Cabriolet
Passat/Passat Variant
Touran
Sharan
Touareg
Phaeton
Caddy
Transporter
South Africa
CitiGolf
Polo
Golf/Golf Variant/Golf Plus
Jetta
New Beetle/New Beetle Cabriolet
Passat/Passat Variant
Touran
Sharan
Touareg
Caddy
Transporter
Multivan
Crafter
Cult Status Of The Beetle
Beetles used as taxis in Mexico City
Like its competitors, the Mini and the Citroën 2CV, the original-shape Beetle long outlasted predictions of its lifespan. It maintains a very strong following worldwide, being regarded as something of a "cult" car owing to its 1960s association with the hippie movement. Currently, there is a wide array of clubs that are concerned with the Beetle. The fans are quite diverse. Looks include the resto-look, Cal Look, German-look, resto-Cal Look, buggies, Baja bugs, old school, ratlook, etc. Part of their cult status is attributed to being one of a few cars with an air-cooled, horizontally-opposed engine design and the consequent ease of repair and modification as opposed to the more conventional and technically complex watercooled engine design. The original design flat-four boxer design had less than 200 moving parts.
In the late 1990s, a group of Volkswagen enthusiasts formed Volkswagenism, a satirical religion based off of owners devoted loyalty to the Beetle, and the company. Under the leadership of founder Jason Gaudet, this "religion" has gained notariety through radio, television and print coverage from around the world...turning ordinary fans of the car into Volkswagenists.
By 2002, over 21 million Type 1's had been produced.
On July 30, 2003, the last Type 1 rolled off the production line in Puebla, Puebla, Mexico. It was car number 21,529,464, and was immediately shipped off to the company's museum in Wolfsburg, Germany. In true Mexican fashion, a mariachi band serenaded the last car in the 68-year-old history. The last car was nicknamed El Rey, which is Spanish for "The King". The last 3000 type 1's were called the "Ultima Edicion" or the last edition.
In the United States, most notably in California, Volkswagen enthusiasts frequent large Volkswagen-themed car shows, especially in the summer months. Many of these shows feature camping, a car show called a "show 'n' shine", drag racing, parts swap meet, raffles, and other events. Die-hard and loyal "VW-heads" attend these shows regularly, often travelling 500 miles or more to attend their favorite event.
In the winter, a group of drivers of the "split window" bus model (1951-1967 Microbuses, trucks, campers, and panel vans) drive from Guerneville, CA, to Mt. Shasta CA, entirely on unpaved jeep roads. This event is called the "Mt. Shasta Snow Trip Challenge" and is a good example of VW enthusiasts' trust in the durability of their 40-plus-year-old cars.
Relationship With Porsche
The company has had a close relationship with Porsche, the Zuffenhausen-based sports car manufacturer founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, the original Volkswagen designer. The first Porsche cars, the 1948 Porsche 356, used many Volkswagen components including a tuned engine, gearbox and suspension. Later collaborations include the 1969/1970 VW-Porsche 914, the 1976 Porsche 924 (which used many Audi components and was built at an Audi factory), and the 2002 Porsche Cayenne (which shares engineering with the VW Touareg).
In September 2005, Porsche announced it was buying a 20% stake in Volkswagen at a cost of €3 billion, with the intention that the combined stakes of Porsche, Volkswagen and the government of Lower Saxony ensure that any hostile takeover by foreign investors would be impossible [1]. In July Porsche increased their ownership to 25.1%.
Motorsport
In 1966 Volkswagen left the racing starting grid when Formula Vee — circuit racing with cars built from easily available VW Beetle parts — took off in Europe. It proved very popular as a low-cost route into formula racing.[2]
In 1971 Volkswagen moved on to the more powerful Formula Super V, which became famous for hothousing new talent. In the 11 years it ran, until 1982, it produced a stable of world-famous Formula One drivers — names like Niki Lauda, Jochen Mass, Nelson Piquet, Jochen Rindt and Keke Rosberg. Volkswagen also notched up several victories and the championship in Formula 3.
In 1976 Volkswagen enter the under 2000cc Trans Am class with the Scirocco and they won their class outright.Scirocco Trans Am Article/Advert
In 1981, now based in Hanover and renamed Volkswagen Motorsport, VW took a new direction into rallying with the launch of the first generation Golf, and Sweden's Per Eklund, Frenchman Jean-Luc Therier and the Finn Pentti Airikkala. The final chapters in Volkswagen Racing UK's rallying story were the 'one-make' Castrol Polo Challenge, and the Polo GTI 'Super 1600' in 2001.
In 2000 Volkswagen started a one make racing cup with the newly released to Europe New Beetle called the ADAC New Beetle Cup this takes over the ADAC Lupo Cup which was racing since 1998.
In 2001 the department was renamed Volkswagen Racing and since then has concentrated all its efforts on developing its circuit racing championship, the Volkswagen Racing Cup.
In 2003 VW replace the ADAC New Beetle Cup with the newly released Polo to become the ADAC Polo Cup.
In 2004 VW Commercial vehicles enter the European Truck racing series with the Titan series truck it became Back to Back champion for the 2004 and 2005 series.
The Dakar
The first entry from the Wolfsburg based team is a FWD buggy named Tarek. It placed 6th outright but took 1st in the 2WD and Diesel class.
In 1980 Volkswagen competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally with the Audi-developed Iltis, placing 1st, 2nd, 4th and 9th overall.
Volkswagen enlists Dakar Champion Jutta Kleinschmidt, the first female to win the Dakar in 2001, to help design and compete a Dakar Racer.
In 2003 Volkswagen enters the Dakar once more to help promote the Touareg.
In 2004 VW enters the newly developed Race-Touareg T2, finishing 6th overall and 2nd in the Diesel class.
In 2005 a updated Race-Touareg T2 with slightly more power is entered with driver Bruno Saby, finishing in 3rd overall and 1st in the Diesel class.
In 2006 Volkswagen releases it most powerful Race-Touareg yet the Race-Touareg 2. Five vehicle enter, with driver Giniel de Villers finishing in 2nd place overall and 1st in the Diesel class.
Volkswagen Racing all around the WorldBelow are Official or Dealership sponsored Volkswagen Racing activities outside Germany.
China
VW's that have or are participated in the Rally scene Shanghai-VW Santana, Shanghai-VW Polo and FAW-VW Jetta.
VW's that have or are participated in the Rally scene Shanghai-VW supported the 1st Shanghai F1 Grand Prix with a Polo Cup support series.
South Africa
VW's that have or are participated in the Rally scene: Polo, SEAT Ibiza based Polo Playa, CitiGolf & Golf.
VW's that have or are participated in the Circuit scene SEAT Ibiza based Polo Derby/Classic, A3 engined series which supports the A1 Racing series & the GTI engined F3 style racing series.
France
A French Volkswagen team entered the 2000 and 2001 Le Mans series with there 2.0 Turbo racer which produced around 356 kW/485 hp.
Brazil
VW's that have or are participated in the Rally scene Fox, Gol, Voyage & Heavy Trucks
VW's that have or are participated in the Circuit scene Brasilia, Karmann Ghia, Gol, Voyage, and the Hillman Avenger based 1500 series.
Japan
VW's that have or are participated in the Circuit scene Golf, Lupo and Polo Cup's.
Poland
VW's that have or are participated in the Circuit scene Golf with TDI Cup.
United Kingdom
VW's that have or are participated in the Circuit scene Lupo,Polo,Golf,Jetta (Vento/Bora),Scirocco,Corrado,Beetle,Type 3 & Caddy.
VW's that have or are participated in the Rally scene Beetle,Type 3, Polo & Golf.
pecial note VW Racing UK now have there own cup they also have had Rallyed a Polo 1600 class and Golf TDI.
Australia
VW has a very close relationship with Motorsport it was the REDeX and Mobil Trials of the 1950's that propelled VW to be a sales success in Australia.
In 1999 and 2000 VW won the F2 Australian Rally Championship with the Golf GTI.
In 2001 and 2002 VW raced the New Beetle RSI in the GT Performance series, it was close to the top of the board both seasons.
In 2003 VW Aust. was the first to race and develop the R32 Golf in the 2004 GT Performance series and came 2nd overall.
Corporate structure
Main article: Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen is part of the Volkswagen group, along with:
Audi (the one remaining brand from the former Auto-Union group —bought from Daimler-Benz in 1964.
NSU—bought in 1969 by Volkswagen and merged into the Audi division, a brand not used since 1977
SEAT—majority owned since 1987
Škoda—bought in 1991
Bentley—bought in 1998 from Vickers along with Rolls-Royce -cannot produce cars using the Rolls-Royce marque because the trademarks went to BMW
Bugatti—name bought in 1998
Lamborghini —bought in June 12, 1998
From July 1998 until December 2002, Volkswagen's Bentley division also sold cars under the Rolls-Royce name under an agreement with BMW, which had bought the rights to that name. From 2003, only BMW may make cars called Rolls-Royce.
Volkswagen New Beetle
Volkswagen New Beetle
Manufacturer:
Volkswagen
Production:
1998–present
Class:
Compact
Body style:
2-door convertible2-door hatchback
Similar:
BMW MINI
The Volkswagen New Beetle is a car introduced by Volkswagen in 1998, drawing heavily on the design cues of the original Beetle. Based on a Volkswagen Golf, the "retro" design proved to be more successful in some markets than in others. It is assembled at the VW Puebla factory in Mexico. The big contrast between the New Beetle and the Classic Beetle is that, like most cars, the New Beetle has the engine in the front and storage in the back.
Concept 1
At the 1994 North American International Auto Show, Volkswagen unveiled the J Mays-penned "Concept 1", a concept car with futuristic styling deliberately reminiscent of the original Beetle's rounded shape. It is a cabriolet, which retains the flowing lines of the sedan, yet captures the chic looks of the original Beetle cabriolet. It was equipped with "large diameter" 17 inch wheels (with the VW logo, just like the original Beetle hubcap) with low-profile tires. Also, in the concept car, there is a "zero emission" hybrid design made for it originally (it was said to use 248-V) the fuel consumption of the original is 2 L.
New Beetle
Strong public reaction convinced the company to move the car into production, and in 1998 Volkswagen launched the New Beetle, designed by J Mays and Freeman Thomas at the company's California design studio. The New Beetle is related to the original only in name and appearance (including the absence of a car emblem script with the exception of the VW logo): under the hood, it is a modern car in every way, based on the Volkswagen A platform (Mark 4 Volkswagen Golf).
2006 New Beetle cabrio
VW New Beetle MY2006
Still, it carried many of designs reference to the old Beetle: separate wings, vestigial running boards, sloping headlamps, large round tail light, as well as a high rounded roofline that provide enough headroom for tall drivers.
In stark contrast to the original, the U.S. Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gave the New Beetle among the best safety ratings in its class at the time of its launch.
The car was widely considered a flop in Europe, but it was a success in the United States. There, marketing campaigns enhanced the continued goodwill towards the original, and helped the new model to inherit it. The Volkswagen New Beetle was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year [1] for 1999. A convertible version of New Beetle started production two years after launch, after many buyers had aftermarket conversions.
For the 2006 model, the exterior is slightly redesigned with bigger bumpers and is fitted with a 2.5L 150hp I5 base engine, as seen on the A5 Jetta.
The New Beetle RSi
VW New Beetle RSi
Between 2001 and 2003 Volkswagen produced 250 limited edition New Beetles with the designation RSi in Europe. The RSi was powered by a 225 hp 3.2 liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed gear box and Volkswagen's all-wheel drive system 4motion. It had a Remus twin-pipe exhaust. The suspension was tuned by Porsche, featuring a severely altered rear suspension geometry more geared to the race track and a rear cross member behind the rear seats. Visually, the RSi differed in it's 80mm wider fenders, unique front and rear bumpers, a rear diffuser, large rear wing, and 18x9 OZ Superturismo wheels with 235/45ZR-18 tires. Inside, it was trimmed in carbon fiber, billet aluminum, and bright orange leather. The front seats were Recaro racing shells. Notable draw backs were loud cabin noise and low rear tire life. Curiously, in Mexico, although being a country very attached to Volkswagen, there are RSi that have not been sold since 2001. This is probably due to its US$58,000 price tag.
The Ragster Concept
The VW New Beetle Ragster
At the 2005 North American International Auto Show, the Volkswagen New Beetle Ragster concept car was introduced. It was supposed to be a preview of the future design of the New Beetle. The base of the Ragster (a ragster is the cross between a ragtop and a speedster) was a regular New Beetle Convertible. They made some changes, such as chopping the top, penning a new U-shaped roof, and creating a unique paint job with silver double stripes. The interior differs from the original New Beetle, being a 2+2 and having distinctive control dials. Another item of interest is that the Ragster's rear-view mirror is mounted on its dashboard (a retro feature, reminiscent of the first Type 1s). The Ragster's profile is lower than that of the prior New Beetle.
Trivia
Despite its length, the car achieved 4 stars in the Euro NCAP tests, with 25 points out of 33a, a very good score for 1999.
In 2000, two new colors for the New Beetle (Vapor Blue and Reflex Yellow) were introduced in limited quantities. They were tied to a unique marketing campaign that made the new colors only available by ordering online. Although not all of the cars were ultimately sold online, the campaign was successful in driving people to VW's web site.[2]
Other Concepts
Other designs on the New Beetle include:
EDAG Biwak — an estate Beetle
Specifications
Engine: Transverse-mounted water cooled I4; 1984 cc; fuel injection (available in both petrol and diesel version)
Max power: 115 hp (85 kW) at 5,200 rpm
Max torque: 122 lbf·ft (165 N·m) at 2,600 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic
Brakes: disc brake on all four wheels
Dimension:
Length: 4089 mm (161 in)
Width: 1724 mm (68 in)
Height: 1511 mm (59 in)
Wheelbase: 2512 mm (100 in)
Curb weight: 1230 kg (2711 lb)
Max speed: 177 km/h (110 mph)
Acceleration (0-96 km/h 0-60 mph): 11 s
Fuel consumption: 7.3 l/100 km (32.2 mpg)
Pop culture
The sighting of a VW Beetle is cause for violent fun in the car-sighting game known as Punch Buggy.
Volkswagen's second-largest market is China where its subsidiary, Volkswagen Group China is by far the largest foreign automaker.
History
VW was founded in 1937 as a public concern by the then Nazi government to sell the Volkswagen Beetle. After the Second World War in 1945, the British Army took control of the bomb-shattered factory and restarted Beetle production for the difficult post-war years which Germany had to face. In 1948, the British Government handed the company back over to the German state, where it was managed by ex-Opel chief Heinrich Nordhoff.
In 1960, upon the floatation of part of the German federal government's stake in the company on the German stock market, its name became Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft (Aktiengesellschaft, abbreviated AG, being equivalent to the English Corp[oration] or American Inc[orporated]). The name was changed to VOLKSWAGEN AG on 4th July 1985, to reflect the company's increasing global diversification from its headquarters and main plant, the Volkswagenwerk in Wolfsburg, Germany. The corporation now goes by that name or occasionally 'Volkswagen Group' in non-German speaking markets, and is currently the fourth largest car-manufacturer in the world. In 2005 VW sold more than 5.2 million vehicles, which equals a 9.1 share of the world market.
In October 2005, Porsche acquired an 18.53% stake in the business. And in July they increased their ownership to little over 25%. This was presumably done to prevent a foreign takeover, according to press reports. Nonetheless, many commentators argued that this stake fits well to the strategy Porsche has.
Leadership
1945-1948 — Ivan Hirst
1948-1967 — Heinrich Nordhoff
1968-1971 — Kurt Lotz
1971-1975 — Rudolf Leiding
1975-1982 — Toni Schmucker
1982-1993 — Carl Hahn
1993-2002 — Ferdinand Piëch
April 16, 2002-present — Bernd Pischetsrieder
Brands
The company owns seven brands, which are organized into two groups or branches.
The Audi branch consists of
Audi (D)
Lamborghini (I)
SEAT (ES)
The Volkswagen branch consists of
Volkswagen (D)
Bentley (GB)
Škoda (CZ)
Bugatti (F)
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (D)
These brands have been discontinued by VW:
Auto Union
DKW
Horch
NSU
Wanderer
Volkswagen is also the largest shareholder in Scania AB with a capital stake of 16.5% and a voting stake of 27.4%
See also
List of automobile manufacturers
Volkswagen Group China
Volkswagen
Volkswagen AG
Type:
Marque of Volkswagen Group
Founded:
1937 by German Auto Association
Headquarters:
Wolfsburg, Germany
Key people:
Bernd Pischetsrieder, Chairman of the Board of Management
Industry:
Automotive
Products:
Automobile
Revenue:
€ 50,245 billion (2005)
Net income:
€ 741 million (2005)
Employees:
N/A
Website:
Volkswagen International
Volkswagen AG (German "people's car", pronounced [ˈfɔlksˌvaːgən]) or VW is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany in the state of Lower Saxony.
It forms the core of Volkswagen Group, one of the world's four largest car producers.
Its German tagline is "Aus Liebe zum Automobil", which is translated as "For the love of the car" - or, "For Love of the People's Cars," as translated by VW in other languages.
Origins in 1930s Germany
Adolf Hitler, with Heinrich Himmler at his side, in a KdF-Wagen (Beetle) in 1944, near the Wolfsschanze, East Prussia
Though the origins of the company date back to the 1930s, the design for the car that would become known as the Beetle / "Käfer" date back even further, as a pet project by car designer Ferdinand Porsche (1875–1951). Adolf Hitler's desire that almost anybody should be able to afford a car coincided with this design—although much of this design was inspired by the advanced Tatra cars of Hans Ledwinka.
Hitler, who had a keen interest in cars even if he didn't drive, demanded Porsche make changes to the original design to make it more suited for the working man. According to the historian Richard Evans, Hitler personally designed the distinctive rounded shape of the car he desired Porsche to build - making the Volkswagen "Beetle" Hitler's most lasting legacy to the world.[1] Changes included better fuel efficiency, reliability, ease of use, and economically efficient repairs and parts. The intention was that ordinary Germans would buy the car by means of a savings scheme ("Fünf Mark die Woche musst Du sparen, willst Du im eigenen Wagen fahren" — "Save five Marks a week, if you desire to drive your own car") which around 336,000 people eventually paid into. Volkswagen honored its savings agreements after World War II; Ford, which had a similar "coupon" savings system, reportedly did not. Prototypes of the car called the KdF-Wagen (German: Kraft durch Freude = "strength through joy"), appeared from 1936 onwards (the first cars had been produced in Stuttgart). The car already had its distinctive round shape and air-cooled, flat-four, rear-mounted engine, features similar to the Tatra. The VW car was just one of many KdF programs which included things such as tours and outings.
Erwin Komenda, the longstanding Porsche chief designer, developed the car body of the prototype, which was recognizably the Beetle we know today. It was one of the first to be designed with the aid of a wind tunnel; unlike the Chrysler Airflow, it would be a success.
A Volkwagen "Beetle" in Melbourne, Australia, in 2006
The new factory in the new town of KdF-Stadt, now called Wolfsburg, purpose-built for the factory workers, only produced a handful of cars by the time war started in 1939. None were actually delivered to holders of the completed saving stamp books, though one Type 1 Cabriolet was presented to Hitler on his fiftieth birthday, in 1938.
War meant production changed to military vehicles, the Type 81 Kübelwagen utility vehicle (VW's most common wartime model) and the amphibious Schwimmwagen.
1945: British Army and Ivan Hirst, unclear future
The company owes its postwar existence largely to one man, British Army officer Major Ivan Hirst (1916–2000). In April 1945, KdF-Stadt and its heavily bombed factory were captured by the Americans, and subsequently handed over to the British, within whose occupation zone the town and factory fell. The factory was placed under the control of Oldham-born Hirst. At first, the plan was to use it for military vehicle maintenance. Since it had been used for military production, and had been a "political animal" (Hirst's words) rather than a commercial enterprise, the equipment was in time intended to be salvaged as war reparations.
The Volkswagen main factory in Wolfsburg with its own power plant in the front.
Hirst painted one of the factory's cars green and demonstrated it to British Army headquarters. Short of light transport, in September 1945 the British Army was persuaded to place a vital order for 20,000. The first few hundred cars went to personnel from the occupying forces, and to the German Post Office. By 1946 the factory was producing 1,000 cars a month, a remarkable feat considering the factory was still in disrepair: the damaged roof and windows meant rain stopped production; the steel to make the cars had to be bartered for new vehicles.
The car and its town changed their Second World War-era names to Volkswagen and Wolfsburg respectively, and production was increasing. It was still unclear what was to become of the factory. It was offered to representatives from the British, American and French motor industries. Famously, all rejected it. After an inspection of the plant, Sir William Rootes, head of the British Rootes Group, told Hirst the project would fail within two years, and that the car "is quite unattractive to the average motorcar buyer, is too ugly and too noisy ... If you think you're going to build cars in this place, you're a bloody fool, young man." (In a bizarre twist of fate, Volkswagen would manufacture a locally built version of Rootes' Hillman Avenger in Argentina in the 1980s, long after Rootes went bust at the hands of Chrysler in 1978—the Beetle outliving the Avenger by over 30 years)
Ford representatives were equally critical: the car was "not worth a damn." Henry Ford II, the son of Edsel Ford, did reportedly look at the possibility of taking over the VW factory but dismissed the idea as soon as he looked up Wolfsburg on the map. . . and found it to be too close for comfort to the East German border. In France Citroën started the 2CV on a similar marketing concept. In Italy it was the Fiat 500.
[edit]
1948–1974: Icon For German Regeneration
An original 1300 Deluxe, circa 1966.
From 1948, Volkswagen became a very important element, symbolically and economically, of West German regeneration. Heinrich Nordhoff (1899–1968), a former senior manager at Opel who had overseen civilian and military vehicle production in the 1930s and 1940s, was recruited to run the factory in 1948. In 1949 Hirst left the company, now re-formed as a trust controlled by the West German government. Apart from the introduction of the Type 2 commercial vehicle (van, pickup and camper) and the Karmann Ghia sports car, Nordhoff pursued the one-model policy until shortly before his death in 1968.
Volkswagens were first exhibited and sold in the United States in 1949. It only sold two units in America that first year. On its entry to the U.S. market, the VW was briefly sold as a "Victory Wagon". Volkswagen of America was formed in April 1955 to standardize sales and service in the U.S. Production of the Type 1 Volkswagen Beetle (German: "Käfer"; US: "Bug"; Mexican: "Vocho"; "Vochito"; French: "Coccinelle"; Portuguese: "Carocha"; Brazilian: "Fusca"; Colombian and Venezuelan: "Escarabajo"; Danish: "Boble Folkevogn"; Polish: "Garbus"; Serbian/Croatian: "Buba"; Swedish: "Bubbla Folka": Dutch: "Kever"; Finnish: "Kupla"; Indonesian:"Kodok") increased dramatically over the years, the total reaching one million in 1954.
Sales soared -- due in part to the famous advertising campaigns by New York advertising agency, Doyle, Dane and Bernbach. Lead by art director Helmut Krone and copywriters Bob Levinson and Julian Koenig, Volkswagen ads became as popular as the car, using crisp layouts and witty copy to lure the younger, sophisticated consumers with whom the car became associated. Despite the fact it was almost universally known as the Beetle, it was never officially labeled as such, instead referred to as the Type 1. The first reference to the name Beetle occurred in U.S. advertising in 1968, but not until 1998 and the Golf-based New Beetle would the name be adopted by Wolfsburg.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, although the car was becoming outdated, American exports, innovative advertising and a growing reputation for reliability helped production figures to surpass the levels of the previous record holder, the Ford Model T. By 1973 total production was over 16 million.
An original and unmodified 1963 VW Notchback.
VW expanded their product line in 1967 with the introduction of several Type 3 models, which were essentially body style variations (Fastback, Notchback, Squareback) based on Type 1 mechanical underpinnings, and again in 1969 with the relatively unpopular Type 4 (also known as the 411 and 412) models, which differed substantially from previous models with the notable introduction of unibody construction, a fully automatic transmission, electronic fuel injection, and a sturdier powerplant. Volkswagen added a "Super Beetle" (the Type 113) to its lineup in 1971. The Type 113 differed from the standard Beetle in its use of McPherson strut front suspension instead of torsion bars. The McPherson suspension added valuable trunk space and widened the front end. Despite the Super Beetle's popularity with Volkswagen customers, purists preferred the standard Beetle with its less pronounced nose and its original torsion bar suspension. In 1973, Volkswagen introduced the military-themed Thing (Type 181) in America, recalling the wartime Type 81. The military version was produced for the NATO-era German army (Bundeswehr) during the cold war years of 1970 to 1979. The US Thing version only lasted two years, 1973 and 1974, due at least in part to Ralph Nader's automobile safety campaigns.
1974: From Beetle to Rabbit
An American advertisement for the 1975 Volkswagen Rabbit, the North American name for the original Golf.
Volkswagen was in serious trouble by the end of the 1960s. The Type 3 and Type 4 models had been comparative flops, and the NSU-based K70 also failed to woo buyers. The company knew that Beetle production had to end one day, but the conundrum of replacing it had been a never-ending nightmare. The key to the solution was the 1964 acquisition of Audi/Auto-Union. The Ingolstadt-based firm had the necessary expertise in front wheel drive and water-cooled engines that Volkswagen so desperately needed to produce a credible Beetle successor. Audi influences paved the way for this new generation of Volkswagens, known as the Polo, Golf and Passat.
Production of the Beetle at the Wolfsburg factory switched to the VW Golf in 1974, marketed in the United States and Canada as the Volkswagen Rabbit until 1985 and as the Golf until 2006, when the Rabbit name was again announced. This was a car unlike its predecessor in most significant ways, both mechanically as well as visually (its angular styling was designed by the Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro). Its design followed trends for small family cars set by the 1959 Mini and 1972 Renault 5—the Golf had a transversely mounted, water-cooled engine in the front, driving the front wheels, and had a hatchback, a format that has dominated the market segment ever since. Beetle production continued in smaller numbers at other German factories (Essen) until 1978, but mainstream production shifted to Brazil and Mexico.
From 1970s to present
Volkswagen Polo, 1990.
While Volkswagen's range of cars soon became similar to that of other large European car-makers, the Golf has been the mainstay of the Volkswagen lineup since its introduction, and the mechanical basis for several other cars of the company. There have been five generations of the Volkswagen Golf, the first of which was produced from the summer of 1974 until the end of 1983, sold as the Rabbit in the United States and Canada and as the Caribe in Latin America. Its chassis also spawned the Scirocco coupe and Jetta sedan. North American production of the Golf/Rabbit commenced at a factory in Pennsylvania in 1978. The production numbers of the first generation Golf has continued to grow annually in South Africa with only slight modifications to the interior, engine and chassis. It would be produced in the United States as the Rabbit until the spring of 1984. The second-generation Golf hatchback/Jetta sedan ran from late 1983 to late 1991, and a North American version produced in Pennsylvania went on sale at the start of the 1985 model year. (The American factory closed in 1988.) In 1991, Volkswagen launched the third-generation Golf, garnering the European Car of the Year for 1992 (the previous two generations were nominated but lost to the Citroën CX in 1975 and the Fiat Uno in 1984). (The Mark 3 Golf and Jetta debuted in North America just before the start of 1994 model year, first appearing in southern California in the late spring of 1993.) The sedan version of the Golf was badged Vento in Europe (but remained Jetta in the USA, where its popularity outstripped the Golf).
2006 VW Jetta
The fourth incarnation of the Golf arrived in Europe in late 1997, (and in North America in 1999), its chassis spawned a host of other cars within the Volkswagen group—the Volkswagen Bora (the sedan, still called Jetta in the USA), VW New Beetle, SEAT Toledo, SEAT León, Audi A3, Audi TT and Skoda Octavia. However, it was beaten into third place for the 1998 European Car of the Year award by the winning Alfa Romeo 156 and runner-up Audi A6. The current Volkswagen Golf was launched in late 2004, came runner-up to the Fiat Panda in the 2004 European Car of the Year, and has so far spawned the new generation SEAT Toledo, Skoda Octavia and Audi A3 hatchback ranges as well as a new mini-MPV, the Seat Altea. The fifth-generation Golf was introduced in Europe in late 2003, and the GTI boasts a 2.0 L Turbocharged direct injection engine. The fifth-generation Golf, now with the Rabbit name once again, went on sale in the U.S. and Canada in June 2006. (The GTI version arrived in North America four months earlier.) Volkswagen of America believes that returning to the Rabbit nameplate will help the Golf's sales in these two countries. The fifth-generation Jetta, and the performance version, the GLI, are also available in the United States and Canada.
The other main models have been the Polo, a smaller car than the Golf, and the larger Passat for the segment above the Golf. As of 2006, there have been four incarnations of the Polo: Mk 1 (1976), Mk 2 (1981, facelifted 1990), Mk 3 (1994, facelifted 1999) and the current Mk 4 (2002, facelifted 2005). The Scirocco and Corrado were both Golf-based coupés.
Volkswagen Phaeton
In the eighties and early nineties, Volkswagen's sales in the United States and Canada fell dramatically, despite the success of models like the Golf elsewhere. VW eventually realized that the Beetle was the heart and soul of the brand in North America, and the firm quickly set about creating a new Beetle for American and Canadian showrooms.
In 1994, Volkswagen unveiled the J Mays-designed Concept One, a "retro"-themed car with a resemblance to the original Beetle but based on the Polo chassis. Its genesis was secret and in opposition to VW management, who felt it was too backward-looking. Management could not deny the positive public response to the concept car and gave the green-light to its development as the New Beetle. The production car would be based on the Golf rather than the Polo, because the Polo chassis was too small for the car to pass crash test standards in the U.S. It has been quite popular in the North America, less so in Europe.
In 2002, Volkswagen announced two models taking it into market segments new to the company: the Phaeton ("Fay-ton") luxury car, and the Touareg ("Tour-egg") SUV. The Phaeton was critically acclaimed but not well received in the marketplace. In 2005 VW announced its discontinuance in the US market for fall 2006, mainly due to the disappointing sales there and the need for major investments in the car's line of engines (W12 and V8) to meet new emission requirements. Also, Volkswagen has faced harsh criticism that the Phaeton had used up money that was better invested in their smaller cars.
After rising significantly between 1998 and 2001, VW's North American sales began to fall sharply leading to a 2005 loss of roughly $1 billion (U.S.) for its operations in the U.S. and Canada. The reliability of the company's cars appears to bear some of the responsibility for this situation. By 2005, its models sat near the bottom of Consumer Reports and J.D. Power reliability rankings.
Volkswagen is still in a better position in North American market than it was in the early nineties, when its U.S. sales plummeted to 49,533 units in 1993. The company hopes to remain competitive in the U.S. and Canada with several new models. The fifth-generation GTI has generated interest among the VW faithful with its "Make friends with your fast" and "Unpimp My Ride" advertising campaigns. And although its reliability remains to be determined, the GTI was named by Consumer Reports as the top sporty car under $25,000. Even more encouraging was Volkswagen's performance in the 2006 J.D. Power study of satisfaction after ninety days of ownership. VW scored highest among "nonluxury" brands, finishing fourteenth overall with strong performances by its new Jetta and Passat models.
Volkswagen is also adding the Eos, a sport coupe with a convertible hardtop, to its U.S./Canadian lineup as well. The Rabbit, GTI, and Eos are also being made in Germany for the North American market instead of at VW's Mexican factory, where Golfs and Jettas for the United States and Canada have been made in the past.
The fifth-generation Golf, sold in North America as the Rabbit.
The 2006 Eos hardtop convertible. This is the replacement for the VW Cabrio.
Volkswagen is counting on better workmanship from its German plants to improve the reliability of its North American lineup, and it is also competitively pricing its Rabbit, with a base model starting below the average cost of a new automobile. Volkswagen's relations with its unions and its relationship with the government of the German state of Lower Saxony, which owns stock in VW, remain impediments to further progress. But the company is taking a greater interest in the North American market rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Volkswagen currently offers a number of its vehicles with an advanced, light duty diesel engine known as the TDI (Turbo Direct Injection). Whilst extremely popular in the European market, light duty diesels do not yet enjoy the same wide acceptance in the American marketplace, despite increased fuel economy and performance comparable to gasoline engines due to turbocharging. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 4 of the 10 most fuel efficient vehicles available for sale in the U.S. in 2004 were powered by Volkswagen diesel engines. They were a three-way tie for 8th (TDI Beetle, TDI Golf, TDI Jetta) and 9th, the TDI Jetta Wagon. Sales of light duty diesel engine technology are increasing as gasoline prices rise. Products such as the Toyota Prius might have highlighted the economy of non-gasoline engines, but in reality, a Volkswagen TDI engine is often found to be more efficient than the Prius on the highway (although not so when driving in the city). In addition, all VAG TDI diesel engines produced since 1996 can be driven on 100% biodiesel.
Volkswagen resisted adding an SUV to its lineup, but it finally relented with the introduction of the Touareg in the early 2000's. The company plans to add a miniature SUV, based on its "Concept A" concept vehicle, soon. On July 20, 2006, VW announced that the new vehicle would be called the Tiguan.
Current Volkswagen Models
United States
Model
MSRP (Cost in USD)
Rabbit (Official site)
$14,990
GTI (Official site)
$21,990
Jetta (Official site)
$17,900
New Beetle (Official site) New Beetle Convertible (Official site)
$17,180/$22,120
Passat (Official site) Passat Wagon (Official site)
$22,950/$25,225
Phaeton (Official site)
$66,700
Touareg (Official site)
$37,410
Eos (Official site)
$28,480/$35,265
Europe
Fox
Polo
Golf/Golf Variant/Golf Plus
Jetta
New Beetle/New Beetle Cabriolet
Eos
Passat/Passat Variant
Touran
Sharan
Touareg
Phaeton
Caddy
Transporter
Multivan
Crafter
Asia-Pacific
Gol
Polo
Golf/Golf Plus/Golf Variant
Jetta
Bora
Sagitar
New Beetle/New Beetle Cabriolet
Passat Lingyu
Santana
Santana 3000
Passat/Passat Variant
Touran
Sharan
Touareg
Phaeton
Caddy
Transporter
Multivan
Crafter
South America
Fox/CrossFox/Suran (SpaceFox)
Gol/Parati/Saveiro (Pointer)
Polo
Derby
Golf
Jetta
Vento
Bora
New Beetle/New Beetle Cabriolet
Passat/Passat Variant
Touran
Sharan
Touareg
Phaeton
Caddy
Transporter
South Africa
CitiGolf
Polo
Golf/Golf Variant/Golf Plus
Jetta
New Beetle/New Beetle Cabriolet
Passat/Passat Variant
Touran
Sharan
Touareg
Caddy
Transporter
Multivan
Crafter
Cult Status Of The Beetle
Beetles used as taxis in Mexico City
Like its competitors, the Mini and the Citroën 2CV, the original-shape Beetle long outlasted predictions of its lifespan. It maintains a very strong following worldwide, being regarded as something of a "cult" car owing to its 1960s association with the hippie movement. Currently, there is a wide array of clubs that are concerned with the Beetle. The fans are quite diverse. Looks include the resto-look, Cal Look, German-look, resto-Cal Look, buggies, Baja bugs, old school, ratlook, etc. Part of their cult status is attributed to being one of a few cars with an air-cooled, horizontally-opposed engine design and the consequent ease of repair and modification as opposed to the more conventional and technically complex watercooled engine design. The original design flat-four boxer design had less than 200 moving parts.
In the late 1990s, a group of Volkswagen enthusiasts formed Volkswagenism, a satirical religion based off of owners devoted loyalty to the Beetle, and the company. Under the leadership of founder Jason Gaudet, this "religion" has gained notariety through radio, television and print coverage from around the world...turning ordinary fans of the car into Volkswagenists.
By 2002, over 21 million Type 1's had been produced.
On July 30, 2003, the last Type 1 rolled off the production line in Puebla, Puebla, Mexico. It was car number 21,529,464, and was immediately shipped off to the company's museum in Wolfsburg, Germany. In true Mexican fashion, a mariachi band serenaded the last car in the 68-year-old history. The last car was nicknamed El Rey, which is Spanish for "The King". The last 3000 type 1's were called the "Ultima Edicion" or the last edition.
In the United States, most notably in California, Volkswagen enthusiasts frequent large Volkswagen-themed car shows, especially in the summer months. Many of these shows feature camping, a car show called a "show 'n' shine", drag racing, parts swap meet, raffles, and other events. Die-hard and loyal "VW-heads" attend these shows regularly, often travelling 500 miles or more to attend their favorite event.
In the winter, a group of drivers of the "split window" bus model (1951-1967 Microbuses, trucks, campers, and panel vans) drive from Guerneville, CA, to Mt. Shasta CA, entirely on unpaved jeep roads. This event is called the "Mt. Shasta Snow Trip Challenge" and is a good example of VW enthusiasts' trust in the durability of their 40-plus-year-old cars.
Relationship With Porsche
The company has had a close relationship with Porsche, the Zuffenhausen-based sports car manufacturer founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, the original Volkswagen designer. The first Porsche cars, the 1948 Porsche 356, used many Volkswagen components including a tuned engine, gearbox and suspension. Later collaborations include the 1969/1970 VW-Porsche 914, the 1976 Porsche 924 (which used many Audi components and was built at an Audi factory), and the 2002 Porsche Cayenne (which shares engineering with the VW Touareg).
In September 2005, Porsche announced it was buying a 20% stake in Volkswagen at a cost of €3 billion, with the intention that the combined stakes of Porsche, Volkswagen and the government of Lower Saxony ensure that any hostile takeover by foreign investors would be impossible [1]. In July Porsche increased their ownership to 25.1%.
Motorsport
In 1966 Volkswagen left the racing starting grid when Formula Vee — circuit racing with cars built from easily available VW Beetle parts — took off in Europe. It proved very popular as a low-cost route into formula racing.[2]
In 1971 Volkswagen moved on to the more powerful Formula Super V, which became famous for hothousing new talent. In the 11 years it ran, until 1982, it produced a stable of world-famous Formula One drivers — names like Niki Lauda, Jochen Mass, Nelson Piquet, Jochen Rindt and Keke Rosberg. Volkswagen also notched up several victories and the championship in Formula 3.
In 1976 Volkswagen enter the under 2000cc Trans Am class with the Scirocco and they won their class outright.Scirocco Trans Am Article/Advert
In 1981, now based in Hanover and renamed Volkswagen Motorsport, VW took a new direction into rallying with the launch of the first generation Golf, and Sweden's Per Eklund, Frenchman Jean-Luc Therier and the Finn Pentti Airikkala. The final chapters in Volkswagen Racing UK's rallying story were the 'one-make' Castrol Polo Challenge, and the Polo GTI 'Super 1600' in 2001.
In 2000 Volkswagen started a one make racing cup with the newly released to Europe New Beetle called the ADAC New Beetle Cup this takes over the ADAC Lupo Cup which was racing since 1998.
In 2001 the department was renamed Volkswagen Racing and since then has concentrated all its efforts on developing its circuit racing championship, the Volkswagen Racing Cup.
In 2003 VW replace the ADAC New Beetle Cup with the newly released Polo to become the ADAC Polo Cup.
In 2004 VW Commercial vehicles enter the European Truck racing series with the Titan series truck it became Back to Back champion for the 2004 and 2005 series.
The Dakar
The first entry from the Wolfsburg based team is a FWD buggy named Tarek. It placed 6th outright but took 1st in the 2WD and Diesel class.
In 1980 Volkswagen competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally with the Audi-developed Iltis, placing 1st, 2nd, 4th and 9th overall.
Volkswagen enlists Dakar Champion Jutta Kleinschmidt, the first female to win the Dakar in 2001, to help design and compete a Dakar Racer.
In 2003 Volkswagen enters the Dakar once more to help promote the Touareg.
In 2004 VW enters the newly developed Race-Touareg T2, finishing 6th overall and 2nd in the Diesel class.
In 2005 a updated Race-Touareg T2 with slightly more power is entered with driver Bruno Saby, finishing in 3rd overall and 1st in the Diesel class.
In 2006 Volkswagen releases it most powerful Race-Touareg yet the Race-Touareg 2. Five vehicle enter, with driver Giniel de Villers finishing in 2nd place overall and 1st in the Diesel class.
Volkswagen Racing all around the WorldBelow are Official or Dealership sponsored Volkswagen Racing activities outside Germany.
China
VW's that have or are participated in the Rally scene Shanghai-VW Santana, Shanghai-VW Polo and FAW-VW Jetta.
VW's that have or are participated in the Rally scene Shanghai-VW supported the 1st Shanghai F1 Grand Prix with a Polo Cup support series.
South Africa
VW's that have or are participated in the Rally scene: Polo, SEAT Ibiza based Polo Playa, CitiGolf & Golf.
VW's that have or are participated in the Circuit scene SEAT Ibiza based Polo Derby/Classic, A3 engined series which supports the A1 Racing series & the GTI engined F3 style racing series.
France
A French Volkswagen team entered the 2000 and 2001 Le Mans series with there 2.0 Turbo racer which produced around 356 kW/485 hp.
Brazil
VW's that have or are participated in the Rally scene Fox, Gol, Voyage & Heavy Trucks
VW's that have or are participated in the Circuit scene Brasilia, Karmann Ghia, Gol, Voyage, and the Hillman Avenger based 1500 series.
Japan
VW's that have or are participated in the Circuit scene Golf, Lupo and Polo Cup's.
Poland
VW's that have or are participated in the Circuit scene Golf with TDI Cup.
United Kingdom
VW's that have or are participated in the Circuit scene Lupo,Polo,Golf,Jetta (Vento/Bora),Scirocco,Corrado,Beetle,Type 3 & Caddy.
VW's that have or are participated in the Rally scene Beetle,Type 3, Polo & Golf.
pecial note VW Racing UK now have there own cup they also have had Rallyed a Polo 1600 class and Golf TDI.
Australia
VW has a very close relationship with Motorsport it was the REDeX and Mobil Trials of the 1950's that propelled VW to be a sales success in Australia.
In 1999 and 2000 VW won the F2 Australian Rally Championship with the Golf GTI.
In 2001 and 2002 VW raced the New Beetle RSI in the GT Performance series, it was close to the top of the board both seasons.
In 2003 VW Aust. was the first to race and develop the R32 Golf in the 2004 GT Performance series and came 2nd overall.
Corporate structure
Main article: Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen is part of the Volkswagen group, along with:
Audi (the one remaining brand from the former Auto-Union group —bought from Daimler-Benz in 1964.
NSU—bought in 1969 by Volkswagen and merged into the Audi division, a brand not used since 1977
SEAT—majority owned since 1987
Škoda—bought in 1991
Bentley—bought in 1998 from Vickers along with Rolls-Royce -cannot produce cars using the Rolls-Royce marque because the trademarks went to BMW
Bugatti—name bought in 1998
Lamborghini —bought in June 12, 1998
From July 1998 until December 2002, Volkswagen's Bentley division also sold cars under the Rolls-Royce name under an agreement with BMW, which had bought the rights to that name. From 2003, only BMW may make cars called Rolls-Royce.
Volkswagen New Beetle
Volkswagen New Beetle
Manufacturer:
Volkswagen
Production:
1998–present
Class:
Compact
Body style:
2-door convertible2-door hatchback
Similar:
BMW MINI
The Volkswagen New Beetle is a car introduced by Volkswagen in 1998, drawing heavily on the design cues of the original Beetle. Based on a Volkswagen Golf, the "retro" design proved to be more successful in some markets than in others. It is assembled at the VW Puebla factory in Mexico. The big contrast between the New Beetle and the Classic Beetle is that, like most cars, the New Beetle has the engine in the front and storage in the back.
Concept 1
At the 1994 North American International Auto Show, Volkswagen unveiled the J Mays-penned "Concept 1", a concept car with futuristic styling deliberately reminiscent of the original Beetle's rounded shape. It is a cabriolet, which retains the flowing lines of the sedan, yet captures the chic looks of the original Beetle cabriolet. It was equipped with "large diameter" 17 inch wheels (with the VW logo, just like the original Beetle hubcap) with low-profile tires. Also, in the concept car, there is a "zero emission" hybrid design made for it originally (it was said to use 248-V) the fuel consumption of the original is 2 L.
New Beetle
Strong public reaction convinced the company to move the car into production, and in 1998 Volkswagen launched the New Beetle, designed by J Mays and Freeman Thomas at the company's California design studio. The New Beetle is related to the original only in name and appearance (including the absence of a car emblem script with the exception of the VW logo): under the hood, it is a modern car in every way, based on the Volkswagen A platform (Mark 4 Volkswagen Golf).
2006 New Beetle cabrio
VW New Beetle MY2006
Still, it carried many of designs reference to the old Beetle: separate wings, vestigial running boards, sloping headlamps, large round tail light, as well as a high rounded roofline that provide enough headroom for tall drivers.
In stark contrast to the original, the U.S. Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gave the New Beetle among the best safety ratings in its class at the time of its launch.
The car was widely considered a flop in Europe, but it was a success in the United States. There, marketing campaigns enhanced the continued goodwill towards the original, and helped the new model to inherit it. The Volkswagen New Beetle was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year [1] for 1999. A convertible version of New Beetle started production two years after launch, after many buyers had aftermarket conversions.
For the 2006 model, the exterior is slightly redesigned with bigger bumpers and is fitted with a 2.5L 150hp I5 base engine, as seen on the A5 Jetta.
The New Beetle RSi
VW New Beetle RSi
Between 2001 and 2003 Volkswagen produced 250 limited edition New Beetles with the designation RSi in Europe. The RSi was powered by a 225 hp 3.2 liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed gear box and Volkswagen's all-wheel drive system 4motion. It had a Remus twin-pipe exhaust. The suspension was tuned by Porsche, featuring a severely altered rear suspension geometry more geared to the race track and a rear cross member behind the rear seats. Visually, the RSi differed in it's 80mm wider fenders, unique front and rear bumpers, a rear diffuser, large rear wing, and 18x9 OZ Superturismo wheels with 235/45ZR-18 tires. Inside, it was trimmed in carbon fiber, billet aluminum, and bright orange leather. The front seats were Recaro racing shells. Notable draw backs were loud cabin noise and low rear tire life. Curiously, in Mexico, although being a country very attached to Volkswagen, there are RSi that have not been sold since 2001. This is probably due to its US$58,000 price tag.
The Ragster Concept
The VW New Beetle Ragster
At the 2005 North American International Auto Show, the Volkswagen New Beetle Ragster concept car was introduced. It was supposed to be a preview of the future design of the New Beetle. The base of the Ragster (a ragster is the cross between a ragtop and a speedster) was a regular New Beetle Convertible. They made some changes, such as chopping the top, penning a new U-shaped roof, and creating a unique paint job with silver double stripes. The interior differs from the original New Beetle, being a 2+2 and having distinctive control dials. Another item of interest is that the Ragster's rear-view mirror is mounted on its dashboard (a retro feature, reminiscent of the first Type 1s). The Ragster's profile is lower than that of the prior New Beetle.
Trivia
Despite its length, the car achieved 4 stars in the Euro NCAP tests, with 25 points out of 33a, a very good score for 1999.
In 2000, two new colors for the New Beetle (Vapor Blue and Reflex Yellow) were introduced in limited quantities. They were tied to a unique marketing campaign that made the new colors only available by ordering online. Although not all of the cars were ultimately sold online, the campaign was successful in driving people to VW's web site.[2]
Other Concepts
Other designs on the New Beetle include:
EDAG Biwak — an estate Beetle
Specifications
Engine: Transverse-mounted water cooled I4; 1984 cc; fuel injection (available in both petrol and diesel version)
Max power: 115 hp (85 kW) at 5,200 rpm
Max torque: 122 lbf·ft (165 N·m) at 2,600 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic
Brakes: disc brake on all four wheels
Dimension:
Length: 4089 mm (161 in)
Width: 1724 mm (68 in)
Height: 1511 mm (59 in)
Wheelbase: 2512 mm (100 in)
Curb weight: 1230 kg (2711 lb)
Max speed: 177 km/h (110 mph)
Acceleration (0-96 km/h 0-60 mph): 11 s
Fuel consumption: 7.3 l/100 km (32.2 mpg)
Pop culture
The sighting of a VW Beetle is cause for violent fun in the car-sighting game known as Punch Buggy.
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