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Studies
Studies
Press releases
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Success factors for the I.D. R Pikes Peak: 4.000 kilometres of test drives
It was all over after exactly 7:57.148 minutes. With Romain Dumas at the wheel, the I.D. R Pikes Peak crossed the finish line in the world’s most famous hill climb. A record-breaking sprint that lasted 19.99 kilometres, preceded by numerous tests over a distance of 4,000 kilometres – spread over six months. -
Success factors for the I.D. R Pikes Peak: teamwork between racers and technicians from production development
Motorsport is a team sport. At the same time, the individual team members sometimes do their thing on different playing fields – under certain circumstances, they can usually be found playing a completely different sport. A prime example of this is the I.D. R Pikes Peak, with which Volkswagen driver Romain Dumas set a new record of 7:57.148 minutes at the most famous hill climb in the world on 24 June 2018. As well as Volkswagen Motorsport, a whole host of departments from within the Volkswagen Group were involved in making the project a success. “The help we received from production development was crucial to the success,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. -
Success factors for the I.D. R Pikes Peak: Pacemaker Dieter Depping, test and development driver
He is the unsung hero and secret pacemaker behind the successful Pikes Peak project: Dieter Depping. The man from Hannover (Germany), who celebrates his 52nd birthday today on 7 August, has been a motorsport test and development driver for Volkswagen for 16 years. Without him, the twelve titles in the World Rally Championship (WRC), a further two titles in the FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX), the three Dakar victories with the Race Touareg, and the many class wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours would have been inconceivable. Or, as Romain Dumas puts it: “Dieter was my second throttle foot. Without him, the record on Pikes Peak would not have been possible”. The fact that this quote from Dumas came just moments after the ground-breaking 7:57.148 minutes, in which he had made motorsport and electromobility history, speaks volumes of the key role that Dieter Depping has played in the Volkswagen Motorsport success story. -
I.D. R Pikes Peak makes Germany debut at Classic Days
From 03 to 05 August the time has come: the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak will make its debut in Germany at the 13th Classic Days at Schloss Dyck. The Autostadt in Wolfsburg will present Volkswagen’s first all-electric powered racing car at their “Passion | Pace | Performance” exhibition. With around 40 exhibits, ranging from the 1920s Bugatti to the current Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak, the motorsport brand diversity of the Volkswagen Group will be presented, focussing on the past, present day and future. The 500 kW (680 PS) I.D. R Pikes Peak is the sporting forerunner of the I.D. family, the series of all-electric powered production cars that Volkswagen will be launching as of 2020. -
Success factors for the I.D. R Pikes Peak: Computer is important factor for development in record time
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is unique in many ways. One thing that makes the most famous hill climb in the world so special is the heavily restricted test drives. Volkswagen Motorsport wasn’t able to complete hundreds of laps during the development of the I.D. R Pikes Peak, like Formula 1 teams are allowed to do on certain racetracks, for example. Before driver Romain Dumas reached the 4,302-metre summit in a new record time, he wasn’t even able to complete one full test run of the actual track with Volkswagen’s first all-electric powered racing car. -
Success factors for the I.D. R Pikes Peak – a record breaker, thanks to 3D printing
It is less than four weeks since Romain Dumas and the I.D. R Pikes Peak set a new all-time record of 7:57.148 minutes for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. For the Volkswagen Motorsport engineers, the race against the clock lasted far longer – about eight months. In motorsport, this is an extremely short period in motor racing terms, yet this is all the technicians were given to develop Volkswagen’s first fully-electric racing car. -
Record-breaking run of the I.D. R Pikes Peak from different perspectives
Volkswagen made motorsport history at the 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on 24 June. At the wheel of the 500-kW (680-PS), fully-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak, Romain Dumas (F) defeated cars powered by conventional drivetrain technology. The 40-year-old’s time of 7:57.148 minutes, not only smashed the previous record for electric cars, but also bettered the all-time record set in 2013 by Sébastien Loeb (F) – by fully 16.730 seconds. -
I.D. R Pikes Peak thrills fans with record run at Goodwood
The I.D. R Pikes Peak has wrapped up its next record. Romain Dumas (F) set a new record for electric cars of 43.86 seconds in Volkswagen’s first fully-electric racing car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Following his record-breaking exploits at the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb just three weeks ago, Dumas beat the previous fastest time for electric cars on the Goodwood Hillclimb, which has stood since 2013, by 3.48 seconds. The all-time record still belongs to Nick Heidfeld (D). The former Formula 1 driver completed the 1.86-kilometre route in 41.6 seconds at the wheel of a McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13 Formula 1 car in 1999. -
Video: Helicopter footage of the I.D. R Pikes Peak’s record-breaking run
Volkswagen made motorsport history at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on 24 June. At the wheel of the 500-kW (680-PS), fully-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak, Romain Dumas (F) defeated cars powered by conventional drivetrain technology and, with a time of 7:57.148 minutes, not only smashed the previous record for electric cars, but also bettered the all-time record set in 2013 by Sébastien Loeb (F) – by fully 16 seconds. -
Volkswagen receives the Plus X Award as "Most Innovative Brand" for the third time in 2018
Volkswagen is continuously setting new standards in product design at a world-class level. This is why the Wolfsburg-based company has received the Plus X Award as “Most Innovative Brand” for the third year in a row. Because the most impressive car models were also produced by Volkswagen, the jury also awarded the company the title of “Best Automotive Brand 2018”. -
Volkswagen celebrates German premiere of I.D. VIZZION in Berlin
The future flagship of the electrically driven I.D. family is presented in Germany for the very first time. From today on, the concept study I.D. VIZZION is a major highlight at the exhibition DRIVING VIZZIONS TO REALITY at DRIVE. Volkswagen Group Forum in Berlin. Having had its world premiere at the Geneva Motorshow this March, the limousine embodies the brand’s realistic vision of tomorrow’s Volkswagen: pioneering in design, technology, quality – and unconditionally made for e-mobility. The most personal, Volkswagen-Studie I.D. VIZZION emotional and indivual Volkswagen of all times is one out of many attractions at the mobility exhibition that displays innovative concepts for an emission-free and fully-connected mobility future until 14th October 2018, in a 650-square- meter-show. -
All time record: Volkswagen makes history with the I.D. R Pikes Peak
Volkswagen and the I.D. R Pikes Peak have made history at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Driving the 500-kW (680 PS) I.D. R Pikes Peak, Romain Dumas (F) defeated a field including cars with conventional drivetrain technology. In doing so, he not only broke the previous record for electric vehicles, but also bettered Sébastien Loeb’s (F) all-time record from 2013 – by a full 16 seconds. Dumas’ new record of 7m 57.148s minutes is now top of the list of Pikes Peak champions, which includes such acclaimed drivers as Loeb, Walter Röhrl (D), Michèle Mouton (F), Stig Blomqvist (S), Nobuhiro Tajima (J) and also Rod Millen and his son Rhys (both NZ). -
Two days to go until the record attempt: kW buzz on Pikes Peak
At 10:00 local time (18:00 CEST) on Sunday, Volkswagen will begin its pursuit of the record for electric vehicles, which currently stands at 8:57.118 minutes, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the US state of Colorado. Three-time overall winner Romain Dumas will be at the wheel of the I.D. R Pikes Peak, Volkswagen’s first fully-electric racing car. The Frenchman set the fastest time in qualifying on Wednesday. Much is new to many of the Volkswagen crew on Pikes Peak, both on and off the track. -
Volkswagen I. D. R Pikes Peak sets fastest time in qualifying
Romain Dumas and the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak made a clear statement of intent in qualifying ahead of the 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the US state of Colorado. The Frenchman, at the wheel of Volkswagen’s first fully-electric racing car, was the fastest of all the competitors, setting an eye-catching time of 3:16.083 minutes. The three-time Pikes Peak winner went 11.049 seconds quicker than second-placed Simone Faggioli in his Norma M20 SF PKP with its combustion engine. “That was a very good day for us,” said Dumas. “The I.D. R Pikes Peak is incredible. I have never experienced acceleration and power like that in a racing car. I am noticing how the car and I are becoming more and more of a unit with every kilometer,” said the Frenchman. -
Romain Dumas: “I have a great respect for this mountain”
Romain Dumas has won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb three times already. On 24 June, the Frenchman will contest the most famous hill climb in the world for Volkswagen for the first time. He has one goal behind the wheel of the 500-kW (680-hp) I.D. R Pikes Peak: The 40-year-old is aiming to break the record for electric cars. This currently stands at 8:57.118 minutes and was set by New Zealand’s Rhys Millen in 2016. -
The clock is ticking: Just ten days to go until the start of the I.D. R Pikes Peak
Final preparations are underway and the tension is mounting. Race week at the “Pikes Peak International Hill Climb” kicks off on Monday (18 June) with the Technical Inspection for participating vehicles in Colorado Springs. Attendance is compulsory for the I.D. R Pikes Peak, the first fully-electric racing car from Volkswagen. The official practice session starts the next day. “The adrenaline levels will rise steadily until the race on Sunday,” says Romain Dumas, the three-time Pikes Peak winner who will be driving the I.D. R Pikes Peak. -
A science in its own right: The rapid-charging system for the I.D. R Pikes Peak
The corresponding paragraph in the regulations for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is clear: Should a participant in the most famous hill climb in the world be forced to suspend their run for safety reasons – for example, should it suddenly start to hail or another car require recovering – they have exactly 20 minutes, in which to prepare for their second attempt and to return to the start line. “This time frame was a crucial factor when configuring the battery for the I.D. R Pikes Peak,” says François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director at Volkswagen Motorsport. “Furthermore, the charging strategy and independent mobile power supply are also important aspects of the rapid-charging system.” -
Highly-sophisticated and highly efficient – the drivetrain technology in the I.D. R Pikes Peak
The I.D. R Pikes Peak that Romain Dumas will be driving on 24th June 2018 at the “Pikes Peak International Hill Climb” boasts the most sophisticated powertrain ever developed by Volkswagen Motorsport. “We are breaking new ground with the I.D. R Pikes Peak: This is the first time ever that Volkswagen will be competing in a race with a fully-electric car. Alongside the elaborate aerodynamic concept and the special requirements for the sports car chassis, the development of the electric drivetrain was the greatest challenge,” explains François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director at Volkswagen Motorsport. -
CEBIT 2018 highlights: Volkswagen provides glimpses of digital know-how and presents the latest variant of the SEDRIC
With a view to continuing the development of mobility in all its facets for its customers, Volkswagen is steadily expanding its digital capabilities. In this context, Volkswagen is modernizing its IT systems and migrating all applications to cloud platforms. The Group is also acquiring additional IT expertise and using new technologies for products, services and corporate processes. Volkswagen is forging ahead with key digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and block chain technology. Today, the day before the opening of CEBIT in Hanover, Volkswagen gave the public a first glimpse at its show stand. Also on show at CEBIT is the SEDRIC Active – the latest version of the self-driving technology platform for individual mobility at the touch of a button, specially designed for water and outdoor sports enthusiasts. -
Sporty outfit unveiled: The I.D. R Pikes Peak to bear start number 94
The countdown is on to the 96th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Two weeks ahead of the start of the most famous hill climb in the world, the I.D. R Pikes Peak appeared at the final official test in its final livery and bearing its start number. Volkswagen’s first fully-electric racing car lines up on 24 June in grey – the hallmark colour of the I.D. family. -
Emotional and functional – the design of the I.D. R Pikes Peak
Development of the I.D. R Pikes Peak started around seven months ago – a multifaceted challenge, including for the Volkswagen Design team. “We already have a wealth of experience with high-performance cars and with racing cars, but a powerful prototype like the I.D. R Pikes Peak was a world first for us,” said Klaus Bischoff, Head of Volkswagen Design. “Our task was to transfer the unmistakable style of the I.D. family to such an extreme and emotional racing car.” -
Electric offensive: Volkswagen trains top experts for the production of the I.D. family
The Volkswagen brand is moving ahead with preparations for its major electric offensive and launching a comprehensive e-mobility competence program. Within the framework of the “Future Electronic Engineer Program” (FEEP), 100 young engineers and skilled workers throughout the world will be trained as top production experts. As start of production specialists, they will occupy future-oriented positions in planning, the pilot hall, the e-mobility model group, the pre-series center and electronics development. The first participants to complete the three-year program will support the run-up phase of the I.D. family, the new generation of full-electric vehicles based on the modular electrification toolkit (MEB) in Zwickau. -
Every gram counts – lightweight design strategy defines I.D. R Pikes Peak concept
It started with simulations. “Before we actually assembled the I.D. R Pikes Peak, we used computers to analyse a multitude of different configurations,” says Willy Rampf, technical advisor to the project and a man with a wealth of Formula 1 experience, recalling the start of the development of the car for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. “It was clear to us that we would not have time to build multiple test vehicles. We had to get it right at the first attempt.” -
Up in the air – Volkswagen Motorsport breaking new technological ground with the aerodynamics of the I.D. R Pikes Peak
At first glance, it is clear to see that the I.D. R Pikes Peak has been developed for extreme conditions. The aerodynamic aspect of Volkswagen’s first fully-electric racing car is also uncompromisingly designed to tackle the most famous hill climb in the world. “The start line is located at an altitude of almost 2,900 metres, with the finish at 4,300 metres above sea level. The low air pressure up there means that the aerodynamic conditions are different to those at a racetrack on flat land,” explains François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director at Volkswagen Motorsport and the man responsible for developing the I.D. R Pikes Peak as project manager. The relatively open regulations gave the engineers far more leeway, with which to design the chassis and rear wing of the I.D. R Pikes Peak, than in other racing disciplines. -
World première at the GTI meeting: the new Golf GTI TCR Concept unveiled at Wörthersee
A new chapter of Golf GTI history has begun: With the world première of the 213 kW / 290 PS strong Golf GTI TCR Concept, Jürgen Stackmann, Volkswagen Board Member for Sales, has unveiled the road version of the racing car of the international TCR series of the same name. The première took place today at the legendary GTI meeting at Reifnitz am Wörthersee, Austria. Jürgen Stackmann: "At the moment, the Golf GTI TCR Concept – an athlete derived from racing sport – is a study. But at the end of the year, we want to make this GTI vision come true." -
Double premiere at GTI meeting – apprentices from Wolfsburg and Zwickau present the Golf show cars they have developed
Tomorrow, on May 9, the day they have been waiting for will finally arrive for two teams of Volkswagen apprentices. The double premiere of the special unique Golf show cars they have developed and built themselves as to take place at the 37th GTI meeting. Each year, tens of thousands of automobile fans come to Lake Wörthersee for the legendary event. Volkswagen’s budding specialists will be presenting their show cars to a large audience there: the Golf GTI Next Level (from Wolfsburg) and the Golf Estate TGI GMOTION (from Zwickau). -
The countdown has started: the new Golf GTI top model is set to be the highlight of this year's GTI meeting at Wörthersee
Wednesday 9 May will see the largest GTI meeting in the world get underway. The location: Reifnitz am Wörthersee. Last year, 7,300 cars and around 125,000 visitors turned the Austrian town into the Mecca of the GTI world. Figures of this magnitude are expected again this year. Volkswagen will also present a special highlight to the participants and visitors: the new Golf GTI TCR, which is nearly ready for production. As a tribute to fans, the 290 PS GTI will be unveiled in a world première at Wörthersee. The future top model in the Golf GTI series, which has sold more than 2.2 million units worldwide, will be launched at the end of the year. -
2018 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition: New Volkswagen models for the world’s biggest market
Volkswagen is rigorously pursuing its product and technology offensive in its key market, launching nine new models in China in 2018 alone. The new generation of the Lavida, the market leader in compact saloon, and the new Volkswagen CC (the version of the Arteon made in China) will be making their debut at the Auto China 2018 exhibition in Beijing. Volkswagen will also be using the event as an opportunity to highlight its ambition in the important SUV segment with the new Touareg and the T-Roc. The company will offer a glimpse into the future with its I.D. VIZZION prototype, a futuristic electric and autonomous luxury saloon. -
The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak – Motorsport driving electromobility to the top
A new era for Volkswagen in motorsport: The brand unveiled its fully-electric super sports car, the I.D. R Pikes Peak, today. With 500 kW (680 hp), 650 Nm of torque and weighing less than 1,100 kg, the super sports car will take on the iconic Pikes Peak hill climb in Colorado Springs, USA, on 24 June 2018. The goal: To beat the existing record of 8:57.118 minutes for electric cars at the “Race to the Clouds”. To achieve this, the I.D. R Pikes Peak will positively sprint into the future: 0 to 100 km/h in 2.25 seconds is faster than Formula 1 and Formula E cars. The I.D. R Pikes Peak was unveiled in the Alès, France, before taking to the racetrack for the first time at its roll-out. -
Charging to the peak – Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak set for world premier
It is the start of a new era in motorsport for Volkswagen – and one thing is already certain: This Volkswagen is set to electrify its public. When the I.D. R Pikes Peak is presented to the public on the coming Sunday, 22 April, it will be Volkswagen’s first fully-electric racing car. Lightweight construction and aerodynamic perfection contribute to an exciting design, which houses a powerful electric power unit. The I.D. R Pikes Peak will first take its place under the spotlight of the international media at the racetrack in Alés, France – home of world-class driver Romain Dumas (F), who will be at the wheel for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb – before the official test programme gets underway just one day later. Key date, 24 June 2018 – one goal: Break the record for electric racing cars. -
Double premiere in New York: Volkswagen presents the Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas Tanoak concept cars
Volkswagen is igniting the next stage of its global SUV campaign. After recently presenting the new Touareg in China, Volkswagen is now presenting – at the New York International Auto Show (March 28 to April 08) – two new versions of the Atlas developed for the USA: the Atlas Cross Sport1 and the Atlas Tanoak1. The two concept cars illustrate how the Atlas range could be expanded into a model family. With its hybrid drive and a coupé-like rear body design, the five-seat, near-production Atlas Cross Sport was developed for use in metropolitan areas like New York or San Francisco. Meanwhile, the Atlas Tanoak pickup – with its innovative cargo system – is an ideal choice for driving across America’s expansive landscapes. Both Atlas concept cars feature extensively digitalized interiors. -
Volkswagen is reinforcing its SUV campaign in the USA by adding another model
After the successful market launch of the Atlas on the American market, Volkswagen is extending its model range with another SUV. This new SUV is based on the Atlas, has five seats and sports a coupé-like roof line. Already offering a preview of the new model is a near-production concept car that will be presented at the New York International Auto Show next week. Like the seven-seat Atlas, this new five-seat version will also be produced at Volkswagen's plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and it was specially designed and developed for the American market. -
First workshop visit on the way to the Wörthersee: Apprentices from Wolfsburg and Zwickau make show cars for the 2018 GTI meeting
In Zwickau and Wolfsburg, apprentices from Volkswagen are currently making two show cars for the 37th GTI meeting to be held at Lake Wörthersee. The double premiere is due to take place at Maria Wörth in Austria on May 9 and will be watched by many thousands of automobile fans. At the start of the project, the 30 or so young people discussed their ideas and concepts at a "Meeting before the GTI meeting". Discussions focused on technical implementation, especially using CAD and 3-D printer systems. The budding specialists were also interested in digitalization and networking within the vehicle, for example using app control systems they had programmed themselves and a mobile Internet connection. -
The latest member of the I.D. family: the I.D. R Pikes Peak
Volkswagen's latest motorsport project has been named: I.D. R Pikes Peak is the title of the all-electric prototype racing car, with which Volkswagen will compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on 24th June 2018 in Colorado, USA. -
Volkswagen world premiere in Geneva The I.D. VIZZION – the saloon for tomorrow and beyond
In a world premiere event at the Geneva Motor Show (6 to 18 March) Volkswagen is presenting the I.D. VIZZION concept car – the new flagship of the electric I.D. Family. With the I.D. VIZZION, Volkswagen defines the saloon of tomorrow and beyond: autonomous driving, effortless control via augmented reality, and adaptive learning thanks to artificial intelligence. The I.D. VIZZION thus achieves a new dimension of comfort, convenience, safety, and sustainability. -
Mobility for all – at the touch of a button: Volkswagen Group presents the latest version of SEDRIC1
One year after the world premiere of SEDRIC at the International Geneva Motor Show in 2017, the Volkswagen Group presents the latest version of its mobility concept for fully autonomous driving – the SEDRIC School Bus – at the Volkswagen Group Night Geneva – Shaping the Future. Urban Mobility. The company underscores the importance of SEDRIC (Self DRIving Car) as the cross-brand ideas platform for sustainable, safe, convenient mobility at the touch of a button foreveryone with the exterior and interior styling in the School Bus design. -
I.D. VIZZION: Volkswagen shows the future flagship of the I.D. family
With the new I.D. VIZZION, the Volkswagen brand has today given a glimpse of the individual mobility of the future on the evening before the Geneva International Motor Show. The full electric sedan will be the future top model of the I.D. family and will reach the roads by 2022 at the latest. In addition, it is prepared for fully autonomous driving. The I.D. VIZZION is part of Volkswagen's major product and technology offensive. By 2025, the brand intends to sell at least 1 million electric cars per year and to become the market leader in e-mobility. -
World premiere of the I.D. VIZZION in Geneva Volkswagen shows the potential of its new range of I.D. models
The I.D. VIZZION supports the Volkswagen claim for future individual mobility. Its electric drive system makes the car clean in road traffic, and its automatic driving control will make it safe and much more comfortable. At the same time, this innovative concept car at the Geneva International Motor Show demonstrates how elegant and emotional the design of a vehicle of the future can be. Inside the I.D. VIZZION, a completely new feeling of driving and living is created without a steering wheel or visible controls. -
Volkswagen signs up Le Mans winner Romain Dumas for Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2018
Volkswagen is banking on experience for its comeback in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. On 24 June 2018, more than 30 years after Volkswagen last entered the world's most famous hill climb, Romain Dumas from France will be behind the wheel of the marque's first fully electric racing car. Dumas has already won the so-called ‘Race to the Clouds' in the US state of Colorado three times. He is also able to build on the experience gained from driving hybrid prototypes in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC): Dumas secured the world title in this high-tech racing series in 2016 as a Porsche works driver. -
Volkswagen and NVIDIA to Infuse AI into Future Vehicle Lineup
Volkswagen and NVIDIA today shared their vision for how AI and deep learning will shape the development of a new generation of intelligent Volkswagen vehicles. At the kickoff of the 2018 International CES, Volkswagen CEO Dr Herbert Diess and NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang discussed on stage how AI is transforming the auto industry and highlighted the new I.D. BUZZ, Volkswagen's exciting new rebirth of the iconic Volkswagen MicroBus, reimagined in electric car form and infused with AI technology for the cockpit and self-driving. -
Volkswagen develops electric race car for world's most renowned mountain race
New challenge in motorsport with the technology of tomorrow: Volkswagen is developing an all-electric race car for the world's most renowned mountain race. The all-wheel drive prototype is scheduled to be at the start of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA on 24 June 2018. Its goal: to set a new record for electric cars at the finish line which is at 4,300 metres elevation. The new motorsport project is part of Volkswagen's process of transforming itself into the leading producer of electric vehicles. By 2025, the Volkswagen brand will already be offering 23 all-electric models. -
Chancellor Merkel visits Volkswagen at the IAA: Powertrain concepts of the future presented
At the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt today, German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel was given a glimpse of the automotive future. "The automobile has its best days ahead of it. With the right concepts, Volkswagen will contribute to shaping the automobile of the future," said Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand. Over the next five years, the brand will be investing about €3.5 billion in the optimization of conventional diesel, gasoline and natural gas powertrains. During the same period, €6 billion will be invested in e-mobility. At the IAA, Volkswagen is exhibiting the current state of development with the latest models and presenting the electric future of mobility in the form of concept vehicles from the I.D. model family. The first production I.D. models will be on show at the IAA in 2019. -
Volkswagen named "Most Innovative Brand 2017"
The Volkswagen brand won various design and innovation awards yesterday at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA). Most prominently, the jury for the Plus X Award singled out the Volkswagen brand for the title "Most Innovative Brand 2017". Meanwhile, the new Arteon received the "Best of Best" top ranking in the "Automotive Brand Contest 2017". -
The Volkswagen Group provides an insight into the SEDRIC model family
The Volkswagen Group is consistently developing its own vision of mobility as SEDRIC. The company is presenting its latest evolution stage of the SElf-DRIving Car at the preview night on the evening before the start of the International Motor Show (IAA) 2017 in Frankfurt/Main. In future, this car will form the platform for a diverse model family. SEDRIC is the first concept car from the Volkswagen Group and it symbolises the transformation of the company from a thoroughbred vehicle manufacturer to an integrated provider of hardware, software and digital mobility services. The concept for mobility of tomorrow combines fully automated driving at Level 5, electrification and digital networking. It permits simple, convenient, sustainable and safe mobility for everybody at the touch of a button. The Volkswagen Group will achieve this vision within the concept of urban mobility and in numerous other vehicle concepts from sports cars, through luxurious touring saloons to lightweight commercial vehicles and trucks. -
Volkswagen Group Night at the IAA 2017: Volkswagen brand presents the new I.D. CROZZ
The countdown has begun for a breakthrough in electric mobility, and 2020 could represent the turning point. That is because the Volkswagen brand is accelerating into this new era by developing a new generation of innovative electric vehicles – the I.D., I.D. BUZZ and I.D.CROZZ. Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management, had this to say at the Volkswagen Group Night: "The Volkswagen Brand will be investing 6 billion euros in electric mobility over the next five years. Our task is to make modern technology available to many people. This is especially important in times of technological transformation. One thing is clear: The Golf of the future must once again be a people's car!". -
Decision to manufacture an electric VW Microbus based on the iconic design of the I.D. BUZZconcept
The I.D. BUZZ concept car from Volkswagen is being further developed in preparation for its launch as a production vehicle. The Chairmen of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands, Dr Herbert Diess and Dr Eckhard Scholz, announced their production decision today at the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, California, a unique show for both extraordinary historic cars and new concept vehicles. "Just the right place for the I.D. BUZZ," explains Diess. "The vehicle is an important pillar in Volkswagen's electric drive initiative and carries the Microbus driving feeling into the future." -
Volkswagen premieres at largest GTI meet
Today sees the start of this year's GTI meet at Lake Wörthersee (24 to 27 May). Around 200,000 fans will again make the pilgrimage to Kärnten for the unique festival. Volkswagen will be there with several automotive surprises. For example, with the world premiere of the near-production prototype of the 85 kW / 115 PS up! GTI – a car that pays homage to the 110 PS original GTI from 1976. Just ahead of the start of the GTI meet, the latter has yesterday evening scooped a remarkable prize: as part of the publication's annual awards, readers of English motoring magazine Autocar crowned the first Golf GTI the most influential car of all time! Another world premiere at Wörthersee: the Golf GTE Performance Concept. Instead of 150 kW / 204 PS, the plug-in hybrid drive system of this concept car develops a system output of 200 kW / 272 PS. System torque rises from 350 to 450 Nm. -
Wörthersee GTI 2017, preview, part 2: 10th apprentices' GTI is "seaworthy" for Wörthersee premiere
Volkswagen plant Wolfsburg, Quality Assurance, Final Vehicle Inspection. 13 apprentices from Volkswagen and Sitech are really wired up: this is the final quality audit for their Wörthersee GTI 2017. Experts are closely scrutinizing their unique Golf GTI. The budding skilled workers from six training vocations have equipped the car with optical and technical refinements selected in line with their own tastes – for example with an intuitive app control feature for the driver's seat using a tablet PC. The apprentices with project manager Holger Schülke are relieved and rather proud when the quality assurance people raise their thumbs appreciatively. The apprentices' GTI 2017 is "seaworthy" for its premiere on the Wörthersee on Wednesday, May 24. -
World premiere of a new GTI: First up! GTI is a tribute to the original GTI
A circle closes 41 years after the debut of the first Golf GTI: at this year's GTI Meet at Lake Wörthersee (24 to 27 May), Volkswagen is presenting a compact, sporty car very much in the spirit of the original GTI – the new up! GTI. The concept and power output of the 85 kW / 115 PS up! are broadly in line with the Golf GTI MkI presented in 1976 that had 81 kW / 110 PS. The near-production concept car pays tribute to this icon – with compact dimensions, a low weight, a powerful engine, sports running gear and the typical insignia of a GTI (including red stripes in the radiator grille, seat covers in "clark" tartan pattern). This sporty small car will certainly bring a new dimension of driving fun to the compact class. A typical GTI feature is the sophisticated sports running gear. It gives the car the agility akin to that of a go-kart, yet it also offers a high level of comfort. The production version of the up! GTI will be launched into the market in early 2018. -
The Wörthersee GTI 2017: Apprentices design unique car fast and efficiently using digital technologies
The Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, Vocational Training, Hall 103. Screened off by partitions, Volkswagen and Sitech apprentices are completing their work on a unique vehicle: the Wörthersee GTI 2017. The 13 apprentices in six vocations have designed, developed and built the show car in accordance with their ideas using digital technologies. In a few days, they will be presenting it at the 36th GTI meeting, which is to be held at Maria Wörth on Wörthersee from May 24 to 27. -
Sedric in Shanghai: Self-Driving Car without a cockpit celebrates premiere in China
On the evening before Auto Shanghai 2017 (19 – 28 April) the Volkswagen Group is presenting Sedric (Self-Driving Car) alongside a large number of new models and studies of individual Group brands. This is the first Concept Car from the Group and therefore showcases an integrated mobility concept for the road traffic of tomorrow. Sedric was presented for the first time at the Group Evening in Geneva on 6 March. It is a Concept Car that has been developed from scratch for autonomous driving. Sedric provides a concrete insight into the innovative form of individual mobility that can be used by everyone but which can nevertheless be geared to personal needs and aspirations – available at the touch of a button, easy, sustainable, convenient, and safe. The new joint venture between the Volkswagen Group and Mobvoi is intending to develop Sedric and its integrated mobility concept with a personal digital assistant based on artificial intelligence. -
Volkswagen at IAA 2017: Preview of the further developed I.D. CROZZ
Volkswagen is advancing the development of a new generation of innovative electric vehicles and will be presenting a further developed version of the I.D. CROZZ next week at the IAA (International Motor Show, 12-24 September 2017) in Frankfurt (D). -
World premiere in Shanghai: The I.D. CROZZ – crossover with the dynamism of a coupé and dominance of an SUV
Volkswagen is developing an entirely new range of avant-garde electric vehicles. Now, Volkswagen is providing an important preview of these new frontrunners of electric mobility at Auto Shanghai 2017 (19 to 29 April). Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management, Volkswagen Brand: "By 2025, we want to boost annual sales of electric vehicles to one million units. The I.D. CROZZ will play a key role in that. Production will begin in 2020." The four-door car is the brand's first electrically powered crossover utility vehicle (CUV) – a coupé and sport utility vehicle (SUV) in one. -
Crossover with an electric drive: SUV and coupé worlds blend in new concept car
Volkswagen will be launching a new range of avant-garde electric vehicles in the near future. This month, Volkswagen is providing a first look at a new important frontrunner of electric mobility in the world premiere of a crossover concept vehicle at Auto Shanghai 2017 (19 to 29 April). The concept car is the brand's first electrically powered crossover utility vehicle (CUV) – a four-door coupé and sport utility vehicle (SUV) in one. -
From January to March 2017: Many national and international awards for Volkswagen models
Tiguan successful in Auto Bild Allrad readers' choice The readers of Auto Bild Allrad trade journal have made their decision and chosen the Tiguan as the "All-wheel Drive Car of the Year" in the "Off-road vehicle and SUV up to €30,000" category. The award for the popular all-rounder was given to Volkswagen yesterday evening in Frankfurt. The second generation of the Tiguan came onto the market last year and will soon be joined by the Tiguan Allspace. This has considerably more space – with the option for up to seven people – and offers impressive versatility and extended range of standard features. -
European premiere of the Volkswagen I.D. Buzz at the Geneva International Motor Show
The I.D. Buzz concept car from Volkswagen celebrates its European premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show (9 to 19 March). The new electric MPV is the second model in the I.D. range and provides a look ahead to the future – it shows in particular that the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) is well suited to larger vehicles as well: batteries and drive system are housed within the floor; driver and passengers find lots of space for travelling in comfort above. -
NAIAS 2017 in Detroit: Volkswagen presents the I.D. BUZZ
The new era of electric mobility is starting and Volkswagen is set to define it: with the I.D. BUZZ, Volkswagen is presenting at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit the microbus of the new age. The electric MPV concept gives a renewed look ahead towards the future – with the aim of bringing electric mobility for all into the world of tomorrow. The new brand claim sums it up: "We make the future real." -
Volkswagen at CES 2017: "We are always on."
True to the slogan "We are always on." Volkswagen is enabling visitors to experience its ideas about the mobility of tomorrow at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES). In the age of digitalisation, it diverges from the classic relationship between customer and car to a new mobile community – intelligently connected and sustainably transported.The focus is on connected individual users and their personal digital preferences. On a digital platform – the Volkswagen Ecosystem – visitors have an opportunity to configure personal settings and services conveniently with their own Volkswagen User-ID and take them along wherever they wish, independent of a specific vehicle. Show visitors can fully experience the innovative functions of the Volkswagen Ecosystem live. In addition, the company is presenting the next milestones of intuitive user operation with its Volkswagen Digital Cockpit (3D), Eyetracking and AR Head-up Display. All of these features culminate in the I.D., a vehicle concept for a new era. It combines the digitally connected world with an electrically powered car that can drive fully autonomous, if desired. This unifies the Volkswagen innovation fields of Connected Community, Intuitive Usability, Smart Sustainability and Automated Driving. -
Icon of a new era with electric drive: Volkswagen presents another model of the I.D. family in Detroit
The era of electric mobility begins. At the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS, 8 to 22 January) in Detroit, Volkswagen is presenting a new model of the I.D. family – a multi-functional vehicle of a new era. The concept vehicle forges links between the legendary origins of the Volkswagen brand and its electrifying future. Like the I.D., this concept is also based on the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB), and so it shows the potential and bandwidth of the MEB. -
Volkswagen at CES 2017 – Connectivity is being transformed into a personal digital experience
t the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (5-8 January 2017), Volkswagen will unveil its vision of future mobility – a world of intelligent connectivity and sustainable vehicles. -
Volkswagen at 2016 Paris International Motor Show: World premiere of the visionary I.D. concept car
Think New! Under this guiding principle, and with a visionary electric vehicle, Volkswagen is offering a fascinating outlook on the mobility of tomorrow at the Paris International Motor Show (1 –16 October). The world premiere of the I.D. is the focal point of the company's show appearance. The zero-emission I.D. will already be going into production in 2020, and it will kick off a new generation of innovative electric vehicles. -
I.D. – the world premiere
World premiere of the I.D. starts the countdown to a new era for Volkswagen Volkswagen plans for the visionary I.D. to hit the road in 2020 An ambassador: the I.D. is the first Volkswagen of a new fleet of electric cars It runs and runs: the I.D. has a range of 400 to 600 kilometres Ready for the future: the I.D. concept car demonstrates a fully automated mode for the year 2025 -
Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2016: Volkswagen presents an electric car for a new era
The presence of Volkswagen at this year's Paris Motor Show (1 to 16 October) is all about "Think New.": in presenting the world premiere of an iconic design study, Volkswagen introduces a new ambassador to the automotive world. -
BUDD-e fascinates China
BUDD-e, the 2016 CES show car, is touring China as an ambassador for e-mobility. With the concept car Volkswagen is presenting the next generation of electrically powered vehicles to Chinese motorists live in their own locality. The zero-emission MPV celebrated its world premiere in January at the CES in Las Vegas. Since then the concept car has been travelling the globe as the precursor of a new generation of electric vehicles. -
Plus X Award 2016: Four Volkswagen models awarded "Product of the Year"
The prestigious "Plus X Award" this year gives its Innovation Award to four Volkswagen models: the new Tiguan, the current Touran, the forthcoming Phideon which will only be available in China and the concept vehicle T-Cross Breeze were each awarded "Product of the Year 2016/2017". -
Volkswagen at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show: World premieres of the T-Cross Breeze and new up!
Volkswagen's reorientation continues. At the Geneva International Motor Show starting today the company is presenting two world premieres geared to the future of mobility: one a fascinating open-top T-Cross Breeze concept car, which marks the start of a broad SUV offensive. The other the new up!, which boasts a thrilling array of innovative features. -
Geneva International Motor Show 2016: Volkswagen updates the up! and unveils a surprisingly new concept car
Two models take centre stage for the Volkswagen brand at this year's Geneva International Motor Show: first, the new edition of the "up!" city car, which will soon be appearing on the market with an impressive variety of extras and improved smartphone integration. Secondly, the Wolfsburg-based company presents a fascinating concept car, which will liven up the compact car class as a trendy, affordable SUV. -
World premiere of the Tiguan GTE Active Concept in Detroit
At the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Volkswagen is presenting the Tiguan GTE Active Concept. The concept car is based on the new Tiguan, and it showcases the technical capabilities of the modular transverse matrix. The primary goal was to create a synthesis of plug-in hybrid technology and maximum off-road performance. -
Volkswagen at the CES 2016: the focus is on networking and long-distance electromobility
In 2016 Volkswagen is once again represented at the Consumer Electronics Show, CES, which takes place from 6 - 9 January in Las Vegas/USA. Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, will be holding the keynote on the evening before the show opens its doors. The main focus of his speech is on the latest developments in electromobility as well as the next generation of connectivity. -
North American International Auto Show in Detroit: World premiere of the Cross Coupé GTE
At the start of every new year, automotive experts come together at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. This year, Volkswagen's presentation is focusing on the striking Cross Coupé GTE. With the world premiere of the five-seater SUV concept car, the carmaker from Wolfsburg is offering a further preview of the latest SUV model series that is fitted with a sporty and economical V6 plug-in hybrid drive for the first time. -
World premiere of the XL Sport
Ten key facts about the world premiere of the XL Sport: 1. The XL Sport was developed on the basis of the XL1. 2. The vehicle is propelled by the world's most powerful two-cylinder engine. 3. The Ducati V2 engine generates 147 kW / 200 PS. 4. Aerodynamics of the XL Sport are better than those of any other sports car. 5. XL Sport's 200 PS sufficient to achieve 270 km/h. A record. 6. The Ducati Superleggera V2 engine revs all the way to 11,000 rpm. 7. The high-tech engine features titanium connecting rods and magnesium alloys. 8. Ducati engine is fitted with legendary desmodromic valves. 9. Completely new chassis reveals layout typical for motor sports. 10. Major design aspects have been developed completely from scratch. -
Coupé concept car debuts with world premiere in Beijing: New Midsize Coupé combines the worlds of saloons and sports cars
Ten key facts relating to the world premiere of the New Midsize Coupé: 1. Design of New Midsize Coupé gives an initial look at how Volkswagen Design envisions a sport sedan positioned below the Passat. 2. Dynamic design of New Midsize Coupé combines the worlds of saloons and sports cars. 3. New Midsize Coupé is appreciably wider than the Passat, but shorter than the Jetta. 4. The New Midsize Coupé is a four-door car with plenty of space for five people and luggage capacity of 500 litres. 5. New Midsize Coupé creates fusion of A and B segments. 6. Wide track in the style of a sports car with 20-inch alloy wheels and low profile 245 tyres. 7. Coupé shows off newly conceived LED headlights. 8. The New Midsize Coupé is powered by a 162 kW / 220 PS direct injection turbocharged engine. Fuel consumption: 6.4 litres per 100 km. 9. Four cylinders enable performance levels in the thoroughbred sports car range: top speed of 244 km/h and 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. 10. Lower fuel consumption thanks to efficient engine and gearbox (7-speed DSG), plus a cD value of 0.299 (cD x A = 0.643 m2). -
Concept car for the 40th anniversary of the Golf Golf Edition captivates with the ambience of a luxury saloon
Ten important facts about the world premiere of the Golf Edition: 1. Golf Edition as an exclusive concept car for the 40th anniversary of the globally successful best-seller. 2. The Golf Edition concept car was developed especially for China. 3. Concept car with new "Magic Morning" special colour. 4. Concept car with exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels. 5. Two-tone leather upholstery with exclusive diamond pattern stitch in the style of high-class saloons. 6. First Golf of the latest generation to feature wood inlays in the interior. 7. The centre console and surrounds of the instruments and air vents are upgraded by decor in piano finish. 8. The Golf is the successor of the original Volkswagen – the Beetle. 9. The first generation of the Golf was launched on the market in May 1974. 10. With more than 30 million cars sold, the Golf is one of the most successful automobiles ever. -
World premiere of the 400 PS Golf R 400 sports car concept 280-km/h Golf showcases sporty potential of the model series
Ten key facts on the world premiere of the Golf R 400: 1. Golf R 400 reflects the sporty potential of the model series. 2. The "400" in Golf R 400 stands for its power of 400 PS. 3. The concept car develops 100 PS more than the Golf R. 4. Specific power of 200 PS per litre displacement and power-to-weight ratio of 3.55 PS per kilogram are on the same level as a super sports car. 5. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and 280 km/h top speed (governed). 6. Design of the Golf R 400 was customised to a great extent. 7. The R 400 concept is based on the technology of the new Golf R. 8. Flared wings are a tribute to the legendary Rallye Golf G60 (from 1988, motorsport homologation model). 9. Permanent 4MOTION all-wheel drive impressively transfers the car's extraordinary power to the road. 10. Customised interior with motorsport shell seats in Alcantara and carbon leather. -
World premiere of the "Design Vision GTI" – racing GTI with 503 PS debuts at Wörthersee
The GTI meeting at Wörthersee is a veritable cult and pure automobile passion. Just like the car everybody is celebrating and driving there. There ought to be 150,000 fans showing up again in 2013. From 8 through 11 May 2013, they will turn the Austrian city of Reifnitz into a Mecca of the GTI scene. Traditional highlight: the world premiere of a concept car conceived by Volkswagen engineers and designers especially for the meeting. This year, it is a visionary GTI for car racing—the "Design Vision GTI." An unmatched 370 kW / 503 PS Golf. The progressive design study is based on the seventh-generation GTI that was launched just now in Europe, transferring the design and power potential of the icon to the world of car racing. Visually, particularly intriguing: The design team under the aegis of Klaus Bischoff (Head of Design of Volkswagen Brand) has drawn the C pillars and side sills outward as autonomous body elements, thus creating space for substantially enlarged track widths and specially developed 20-inch wheels (with 235 tyres in the front, 275 tyres in the rear). The "Design Vision GTI" achieves 300 km/h, and despite extreme modifications, it comes across as very homogeneous thanks to the precise styling based on the Volkswagen design DNA: this "Super-GTI" could start tomorrow in a racing series! -
SUV world premiere – the new CrossBlue CoupéAuto Shanghai
At the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show, Volkswagen is giving the public a spectacular glimpse of the future - and of a new SUV design era - in presenting the world premiere of the CrossBlue Coupé. Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Brand: "The disproportionately high growth in the SUV segment gives us designers the opportunity to implement an even stronger diversification of models. In the CrossBlue Coupé we are showing the potential of our Volkswagen design DNA. This concept vehicle will undoubtedly have an influence on future SUV models." The Head of Design continues: "The CrossBlue Coupé lives by a harmonious triad: rugged in appearance, sporty in proportions and showing a reserved elegance in its sculptural shapes and lines." Oliver Stefani, lead designer for the project on Klaus Bischoff's design team: "A highlight is the front-end design of the CrossBlue Coupé. The established theme of horizontal lines as a brand signature is perfected by complete integration of the headlights. Distinctive chrome accents in the lower area emphasise the SUV character of the CrossBlue Coupé and are intuitively perceived as corresponding to the upper grille." -
World premiere of the CrossBlue in Detroit:Volkswagen presents midsize SUV concept car with diesel plug-in hybrid
Volkswagen is presenting the concept car of a new SUV generation in a world premiere at the North American International Auto Show: the CrossBlue. The largest carmaker in Europe conceptualized the new versatile SUV specifically for the USA and Canada. If it goes into production, the CrossBlue would enrich the Volkswagen model lineup with a seven-seat midsize SUV of the 5.0-meter class; currently, Volkswagen of America offers the Tiguan (4.4 meters long) and the exclusive Touareg (4.8 meters) as sport utility vehicles. It features one of the most innovative plug-in hybrid systems ever (TDI Clean Diesel + two E-motors + dual-clutch transmission + "propshaft by wire"). Volkswagen estimates that fuel economy for the four-wheel drive SUV will be 89 MPGe (EPA standard fuel economy equivalent for hybrid vehicles in the USA with full utilization of battery charge; combined Highway and City cycles); in pure diesel operation, fuel economy is 35 MPG (combined Highway and City). In the test cycle of the European R101 ECE standard for electric hybrid vehicles based on computations that cannot be compared to those of the EPA standard the estimated fuel consumption is 2.1 liters per 100 km. Despite this superlative economy, the CrossBlue offers impressive drive system characteristics with a power of 225 kW / 306 PS and up to 700 Newton meters of system torque; the midsize SUV completes the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.2 seconds (0-100 km/h: 7.5 s). -
Tokyo Motor Show 2011 – World premiere of the Cross Coupé
At the Tokyo Motor Show (3rd to 11th December) Volkswagen is showcasing its concept of an SUV of the future: the Cross Coupé. Visually the all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid vehicle shows how Volkswagen designers could envisage a crossover between a four-door coupé and a compact SUV. The design team led by Walter de Silva and Klaus Bischoff have created a fascinating study that impressively combines the best of two worlds. Original, strong in character, sculptural and dynamic, the Cross Coupé stands for the future of SUV design at Volkswagen! -
NILS – World Debut at the IAA
Volkswagen AG is presenting a car for the urban world of tomorrow at the 64th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt: NILS. The single-seat electric vehicle reflects a new, fascinating form of minimalist mobility. The concept car – with its pro-gressive aluminium space frame, wing doors and free-standing wheels – exhibits a high level of dynamic performance, yet travels with zero emissions and silently towards the future. The project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. -
New Small Family – World Premieres
The world premiere of the new up! at the 64th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt does not just involve the debut of one model. Rather, the world premiere of the two-door up! signifies the beginning of an entire series of cars: the New Small Family. At the IAA, Volkswagen is demonstrating – with no less than 6 exciting concept cars – how this family could be further developed based on the new up!. Specially designed for the world's beaches are the buggy up! and the up! azzurra sailing team. Then there is the cross up!, which was conceptualised for urban driving. The GT up! is a concept car tuned for the German Autobahn. Another concept car is the eco up! that is powered by natural gas and extremely clean to drive: The e-up! is a zero-emissions specialist with an electric drive. And it all starts now! -
Key aspects: New Bulli
The Volkswagen bus, like no other car, stands for the spirit of freedom. It debuted over 60 years ago in 1950 with a contagiously simple design. Its internal Volkswagen code name was T1 for Transporter 1. The Germans called it the Bulli, and to Americans it was the Microbus. It was driven on all continents. And the world's first van is still appreciated by a fan base which spans the globe. Now Volkswagen is reinterpreting the compact original form of this automotive legend and sending it into the future – in the form of a concept vehicle for a new generation Bulli! It is spacious like it was in 1950, it is as inspirational as ever, and it has clean styling like never before. -
To the point: Golf GTI-Meet at Wörthersee 2010: World premiere of the GTI adidas and GTI Excessive
There are automobiles, and then there are automotive icons – classics with a glorious past and an exciting future. The Golf GTI is such an icon. Over 1.7 million have been sold since the car’s debut in 1976. In just the sixth year after the launch of the Golf GTI, its community of fans had grown so large that it sought a common platform, or to put it simply an event, to talk shop, showcase and drive the GTI. That is how the GTI-Meet in Reifnitz at Wörthersee came into being in 1982. Since then, fans have been meeting in the Austrian state of Kärnten for five days of Mardi Gras in May. It is already time to meet again. One of the traditional highlights: unveiling of the new GTI variations. Debuting as world premieres this year are the Golf GTI adidas – an exclusive model whose sales will launch in June – and the Golf GTI Excessive, a concept car implemented in a stylistically refined motorsport look. -
Initial Facts: Berlin Taxi – Presentation at Foundation Event for a "National Platform for Electric Mobility"
Volkswagen has announced that it will launch its first production electric vehicles in 2013. Electric cars that are driven with zero emissions will revolutionise mobility over the mid-term, especially in urban areas. However, Volkswagen is not just thinking of individual mobility in the style of the future Golf blue-e-motion, but is also considering its possibilities as a vehicle in public transportation. That is why Volkswagen is now showing – in the context of the foundation event for a "National Platform for Electric Mobility" – just how a mass-produced taxi driven by an electric motor might look. After the world premiere of the Milano Taxi of the same design, the "Berlin Taxi" concept car was created as a second city van tailored to the needs of taxi drivers and their passengers. It features many innovative details such as a forward-opening sliding door and customisable taxi touchscreens. -
Initial Facts: World Premiere of the Milano Taxi:Volkswagen presents concept of a taxi that is driven emissions-free
Volkswagen has announced that it will launch its first production electric vehicles in 2013. Electric cars that are driven emissions-free will revolutionise mobility over the mid-term, especially in urban areas. However, Volkswagen is not just thinking of individual mobility here, but is also considering its possibilities as a vehicle in public transportation. That is why Volkswagen is now showing – in a world premiere at the Hanover Trade Show – just how a large-scale production taxi driven by an electric motor might look. The "Milano Taxi" concept car that has been created is a city MPV tailored to the needs of taxi drivers and their passengers in its many innovative details such as a swivel-sliding door that opens in a forward direction and customisable taxi touchscreens. -
To the Point: Volkswagen Premiere in Los Angeles:Up! Lite – This car is the world's most fuel-efficient four-seater
Volkswagen – Europe's strongest automotive brand – is setting standards worldwide when it comes to efficiency with its clean high-tech TDI and TSI engines. Now this is being followed up by latest coup at the Los Angeles Auto Show (December 4 to 13): the world premiere of the Up! Lite A progressive, fuel efficient and in all details cleverly designed four-seater with a hybrid drive. Combined fuel consumption: 2.44 l/100 km or 70 mpg/highway! No other car is more sustainable. With a drive concept consisting of a TDI (turbo-diesel), electric motor and 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) as well as top aerodynamics (Cd value: 0.237), Volkswagen is driving CO2 emissions down to a sensational 65 g/km. This makes the three-door concept the world's most fuel efficient car – and from the perspective of its overall CO2 footprint the world's most environmentally friendly four-seat car as well. Both technically and visually, the Up! Lite is a preview of the future. The image of the car body with its clean lines, as though sculpted from a block of aluminium, underscores just how fascinating a car tuned to aerodynamic perfection can look. -
Key Aspects: Volkswagen Concept BlueSport:Roadster offers the most driving fun with the least fuel
This Roadster will make people long for summer and the future: the Concept BlueSport from Volkswagen. Characteristics: maximum dynamic performance with minimal fuel consumption. Average fuel consumption of precisely 4.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers sets a record; no other sports car consumes less. And so its CO2 emissions are low too: 113 g/km. The Concept BlueSport impressively fulfills the Euro-6 standard that does not go into effect until 2014. The two-seater is still a concept; but as a production car it would have the best talents for turning the segment of compact, genuine sports cars upside down. That is because this roadster is sporty, sustainable and affordable all at once – a people's car and a sports car for a new era. -
In a nutshell: The EcoRacer
At the Tokyo Motor Show (22 October to 6 November) Volkswagen are presenting a prototype that could well make history as the most economical the sports car of its time. Its basic data: average fuel consumption of 3.4 litres for 100 km, a top speed of 230 kph. Its name: EcoRacer. Thanks to its carbon-fibre (CFP) bodywork, this sports car with its centrally located engine weighs in at only 850 kilograms, and accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in just 6.3 seconds. Powered by a newly developed 100-kW turbo-charged diesel of the next generation, it offers a forward-looking synthesis of austere economy and impressive performance. 230 kph, 6.3 seconds, 3.4 litres – these vital statistics are as unusual as they are fascinating. But the objective of development was not to break records. With the EcoRacer, the intention was rather to create a research vehicle that united the elements of economy and performance under a very emotionally styled “roof”. -
In a nutshell: New Beetle Ragster
It’s a statement, an automotive way of life. More than 800.000 drive one, the Volkswagen with the perhaps most famous design in the world: the New Beetle. For the North American International Auto Show in Detroit the German company presents the hot potential of the design classic – with a study on the New Beetle Ragster. Its most visible characteristic: a drastically dropped roof with a large ragtop. -
concept C - In a nutshell
At the 74th Geneva Automobile Salon, Volkswagen will be showcasing its new (semi-series-mature) cabriolet, the concept C design study. (C stands for cabriolet and coupé.) The vehicle features a new generation of fold-away steel roof, which transforms this four-seat Volkswagen from an elegant coupé to a stylish cabriolet in a matter of only seconds. Or vice-versa, of course. In a stroke of engineering genius, the roof also features an integrated glass sunroof. This exciting new automobile provides a view on things to come, on how a new Volkswagen cabriolet in the next-higher vehicle class to the successful New Beetle Cabriolet could ultimately look. And performance? The concept C is driven by a 110-kW / 150-hp FSI engine. -
concept T - To the point
World premiere: Volkswagen is opening yet another door to the future of the automobile at the North American International Auto Show: The concept T, a crossover vehicle blending a high-capability off-roader and an equally uncompromising sports car. With this automobile, Europe's most successful auto manufacturer is showing how the off-road and sports car worlds can be combined in future to produce a new and fascinating facet of the automotive experience - the off-road coupe. Volkswagen enjoys a long tradition of world premieres for innovative and surprising concept cars in Detroit: In this arena, the concept 1 (concept for the New Beetle), the AAC (concept for Touareg) and the avant-garde Microbus among others made their debut. -
concept R - World premiere: A new sports car design philosophy
Design offensive: Just seven days after the world premiere of the new Golf, Volkswagen presents a further facet of automobile fascination: The roadster prototype concept R. -
Concept Car Microbus
Volkswagen is showing the concept car "Microbus" as a European premiere at the 71st International Geneva Motor Show. The bus of the future was designed in the Volkswagen design studio in California especially for the US market. With its original design and numerous innovative ideas, the Microbus harks back to a great tradition, starting in 1950 with the first VW bus. This Volkswagen was successful worldwide and reached cult status, especially in the USA, with the name Microbus. The design study is a new definition of this cult status:A contemporary expression of personality and freedom.
Press kits
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I.D. Crozz - World premiere
The I.D. CROZZ is Volkswagen's first electrically powered crossover utility vehicle (CUV) – a four-door coupé and sports utility vehicle (SUV) in one. -
Micro mobility by Volkswagen Streetmate and Cityskater – the Geneva premieres
Urban mobility: Volkswagen is presenting progressive electric vehicles for urban centres in the form of the Cityskater and the Streetmate concept scooter. -
I.D. Vizzion - World Premiere
A next-generation, avant-garde premium class saloon. It drives autonomously and is operated by voice and gesture control. Thanks to artificial intelligence, it will be capable of learning. It is a fascinating Volkswagen of tomorrow, which will be opening a portal to the future. -
I.D. BUZZ – world premiere
In its design, the electric concept van forges links between the legendary origins of the Volkswagen brand and its electrifying future. The I.D. BUZZ, like the I.D., is another new Volkswagen vehicle that will give a face to electric mobility. These are cars whose thoroughly clear design reflects a transformation – of the brand and its models. -
I.D. – the world premiere
The fact is that the I.D. combines the digitally connected world with electric drive, if required, and heralds a new era of fully automated driving. Analogously, this resulted in a visionary design for the electric cars of the future. It puts the spotlight on the individual: it is positive, honest, and fascinating to look at.
Stories
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Innovations have to have a human touch
The Motor Show in Geneva is open for visitors until Sunday. The Volkswagen booth presents its Volkswagen Move Forward talk every day. Experts answer questions on the future of mobility, the future in the digital world, and intelligent driving solutions in the future. Presenter, Sarah Elsser, describes her personal experience of the talks at the Volkswagen exhibition booth to us here. -
‘Like the surface of the moon'
Pikes Peak driver Romain Dumas on the world's most famous hill climb
Background Reports
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Micro mobility by Volkswagen Streetmate and Cityskater – the Geneva premieres
Important facts – Streetmate & Cityskater -
I.D. VIZZION – World Premiere
Basic facts – the I.D. VIZZION in key points -
I.D. CROZZ II and the I.D. Family
e-campaign: I.D. and I.D. CROZZ launch in 2020, I.D. BUZZ in 2022 Premiere at the IAA: Volkswagen presents the I.D. CROZZ II -
I.D. CROZZ – World premiere
Electric concept car with 500 km range, all-wheel drive and autopilot mode New CleanAir system ensures extremely clean air on board the I.D. CROZZ -
I.D. BUZZ – world premiere
Electric van has a driving range of up to 600 kilometers / 270 miles and seats eight people Versatile zero-emission all-wheel drive vehicle transfers a Microbus feeling into the future -
CES 2017 in Las Vegas
In the future, your own profile and preferences will always be with you – regardless of which Volkswagen model you're driving Volkswagen presents the next milestone in ease of use Visionary I.D. electric car being shown for first time in the USA -
I.D. – the world premiere
An ambassador: the I.D. is the first Volkswagen of a new fleet of electric cars It runs and runs: the I.D. has a range of 400 to 600 kilometres Ready for the future: the I.D. concept car demonstrates a fully automated mode for the year 2025 -
SUV world premiere – the new Tiguan GTE Active Concept
Volkswagen concept car combines maximum efficiency with a powerful all-wheel drive system New infotainment system of the Tiguan GTE Active Concept has gesture control -
SUV world premiere – the new Cross Coupé GTE North American International Auto Show
German design and engineering merge with the American way of life The Cross Coupé GTE offers a preview of a new Volkswagen SUV series