Volkswagen: the history of the automobile brand

The German car brand Volkswagen is one of the most popular brands not only in Europe and Russia, but also in most other countries on all continents. At the same time as the number of VW models and modifications is growing, the geography of manufacturing plants located today in Germany, Spain, Slovakia, Brazil, Argentina, China, India, and Russia is expanding. How do the creators of VW manage to maintain the interest of a wide range of consumers in their products for decades?

Milestones

The history of the creation of the Volkswagen brand dates back to 1934, when, under the guidance of designer Ferdinand Porsche, three experimental (as they would say today - pilot) samples of the "people's car" were produced, the order for the development of which came from the Reich Chancellery. The prototype VI (two-door version), V-II (convertible) and V-III (four-door) were approved, and the next order was for 30 cars to be built at the Daimler-Benz plant. The Porsche Typ 60 was taken as the base model for the design of the new car, and in 1937 the company that is known today as the Volkswagen Group was founded.

The first samples of Volkswagen saw the light in 1936

Postwar years

Soon the company received its plant in Fallersleben, renamed Wolfsburg after the war. In the pre-war years, the plant produced small batches of cars on order, but such orders were not of a mass nature, since the German auto industry of those years was focused on the production of military equipment.

After the end of World War II, the Volkswagen plant continued to produce separate batches of cars for customers from England, Belgium, and Switzerland; there was no talk of mass production yet. With the advent of the new CEO Heinrich Nordhoff, work was intensified to modernize the appearance and technical equipment of the cars produced at that time, an intensive search began for ways to expand sales both in the domestic and foreign markets.

The prototype of the current VW Transporter was the VW Bulli ("Bull")

50s–60s

In the 1960s, the Westfalia Camper, a VW motorhome, was very popular, ideally suited to the ideology of the hippies. Subsequently, the 68 VW Campmobile was released with a slightly more angular shape, as well as the VW MiniHome, a kind of constructor that the buyer was asked to assemble on their own.

VW MiniHome is a kind of constructor, which the buyer was asked to assemble on their own

By the beginning of the 50s, 100 thousand copies of cars were sold, and in 1955 the millionth buyer was recorded. The reputation of an inexpensive reliable car allowed Volkswagen to successfully master the Latin American, Australian and South African markets, and subsidiaries of the company opened in many countries.

The classic Volkswagen 1200 was first modified in 1955, when admirers of the German brand were able to appreciate all the advantages of the Karmann Ghia sports coupe, which continued in production until 1974. Designed according to the drawings of the engineers and designers of the Italian company Carrozzeria Ghia Coachbuilding, the new car has undergone only seven modifications during its presence on the market and is remembered for the increase in engine displacement and the popularity of the convertible version, which accounted for about a quarter of all Karmann Ghia produced.

In 1955, the VW Karmann Ghia sports coupe appeared on the market.

The appearance in 1968 of the VW-411 in a three-door version (Variant) and with a 4-door body (Hatchback) was made possible by the merger of VW AG and Audi, formerly owned by Daimler Benz. The engine capacity of the new cars was 1,6 liters, the cooling system was air. The first front-wheel drive car of the Volkswagen brand was the VW-K70, which provided for the installation of a 1,6 or 1,8-liter engine. The next sports versions of the car were created as a result of the joint efforts of VW and Porsche specialists, undertaken from 1969 to 1975: first, the VW-Porsche-914 saw the light with a 4-liter 1,7-cylinder engine with a capacity of 80 “horses”, the company of which was a modification of 914/6 with a 6-cylinder power unit with a volume of 2,0 liters and a power of 110 hp. With. In 1973, this sports car received a two-liter version of the 100 hp engine. with., as well as the ability to work on an engine with a volume of 1,8 liters and a capacity of 85 "horses". In 1970, the American magazine Motor Trend named the VW Porsche 914 the best non-American car of the year.

The final touch of the 60s in the biography of Volkswagen was the VW Typ 181 - an all-wheel drive car that could be useful, for example, in the army or for use in government agencies. The features of this model were the location of the engine in the rear of the car and the transmission borrowed from the VW Transporter, which proved to be simple and extremely reliable. In the early 70s, Typ 181 was presented overseas, but due to non-compliance with American safety requirements, it was discontinued in 1975.

One of the main advantages of the VW Type 181 is the possibility of its multi-purpose use.

70s–80s

Volkswagen AG got a second wind with the launch of the VW Passat in 1973.. Motorists had the opportunity to choose a package that provides for one of the types of engines in the range of 1,3–1,6 liters. Following this model, the Scirocco sports car coupe and the small Golf hatchback were presented. It was thanks to the Golf I that Volkswagen was ranked among the largest European automakers. A compact, inexpensive and at the same time reliable car, without exaggeration, became the biggest success of VW AG at that time: in the first 2,5 years, about 1 million units of equipment were sold. Due to the active sales of VW Golf, the company was able to overcome many financial difficulties and cover the debts associated with the development costs of the new model.

The 1973 VW Passat kicked off a new generation of Volkswagen cars

The next version of the VW Golf with the II index, the start of sales of which is dated 1983, as well as the VW Golf III, introduced in 1991, cemented the reputation of this model as meeting the highest standards of reliability and quality. The demand for the VW Golf of those years is confirmed by the figures: from 1973 to 1996, about 17 million people around the world became the owners of all three golf modifications.

Another notable event of this period of Volkswagen's biography was the birth of a supermini class model - the VW Polo in 1975. The inevitability of the appearance of such a car on the European and world market was easily predictable: the prices for petroleum products were steadily growing and an increasing number of motorists turned their eyes towards small economical brands of cars, one of the most prominent representatives of which was Volkswagen Polo. The first Polos were equipped with a 0,9-liter engine with a capacity of 40 “horses”, two years later the Derby sedan joined the hatchback, which differed little from the basic version in technical terms and provided only a two-door body version.

The 1975 VW Polo was one of the most sought-after cars of its time.

If the Passat was positioned as a large family car, then the Golf and Polo filled the niche of small urban vehicles. In addition, the 80s of the last century gave the world such models as Jetta, Vento, Santana, Corrado, each of which was unique in its own way and quite in demand.

1990s–2000s

In the 90s, the families of existing VW models continued to grow and new ones appeared. The evolution of the "Polo" materialized in the third and fourth generation models: Classic, Harlekin, Variant, GTI and later in Polo Fun, Cross, Sedan, BlueMotion. Passat was marked by modifications B3, B4, B5, B5.5, B6. Golf has expanded the model range with versions III, IV and V generation. Among the newcomers are the Variant station wagon, as well as the all-wheel drive Variant Sincro, which lasted on the market from 1992 to 1996 VW Vento, another Sharan station wagon, the VW Bora sedan, as well as the Gol, Parati models produced at factories in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and China. , Santana, Lupo.

Review about the car Volkswagen Passat B5

For me, this is one of the best cars, a beautiful view, convenient equipment, reliable and cheap spare parts, high-quality engines. Nothing extra, everything is convenient and simple. Each service knows how to work with this machine, what problems it can have, everything is quickly fixed and inexpensive! Top quality car for the people. Soft, comfortable, bumps "swallows". Only one minus can be taken from this car - aluminum levers, which need to be changed every six months (depending on the roads). Well, it already depends on your driving and compared to other cars, this is nonsense. I advise this car to all young people who do not want to invest all the money in repairs after buying it.

flames

https://auto.ria.com/reviews/volkswagen/passat-b5/

The B5 modification of the famous VW Passat model appeared around the turn of the century.

In the 2000s, the company continued to respond quickly to market changes, as a result of which:

• the Mexican branch of the concern curtailed the production of the Volkswagen Beetle in 2003;
• launched in 2003, the T5 series, including Transpoter, California, Caravelle, Multivan;
• the convertible Golf was replaced in 2002 by the luxury Phaeton;
• in 2002, the Touareg SUV was presented, in 2003, the Touran minivan and the New Beetle Cabrio convertible;
• 2004 - the year of birth of the Caddy and Polo Fun models;
• The year 2005 was remembered for the fact that the new Jetta took the place of the out-of-print Bora, the VW Lupo went down in history, the Gol III station wagon gave way to the Gol IV pickup truck, GolfPlus and updated versions of the New Beetle appeared on the market;
• 2006 will remain in the history of Volkswagen as the year of the start of production of the EOS coupe-cabriolet, 2007 of the Tiguan crossover, as well as the restyling of some golf modifications.

During this period of time, VW Golf twice became the car of the year: in 1992 - in Europe, in 2009 - in the world..

Currently,

The most resonant event of recent years for Russian admirers of the Volkswagen brand was the opening of a plant of the German concern in Kaluga in 2015. By March 2017, the plant had produced 400 VW Polo vehicles.

The Volkswagen model range is constantly expanding, and in the near future, completely new VW Atlas and VW Tarek SUVs, VW Tiguan II and T-Cross crossovers, a “charged” VW Virtus GTS, etc. will become available.

VW Virtus appeared among the new products of the Volkswagen concern in 2017

The formation of the most popular Volkswagen models

The list of the most demanded by a wide range of consumers (including in the post-Soviet space) Volkswagen models invariably includes Polo, Golf, Passat.

VW Polo

Conceived by the authors as an inexpensive, economical and at the same time reliable car of the supermini class, the Volkswagen Polo fully met the expectations associated with it. Since the first model in 1975, the Polo has been a no-frills package focused on build quality, practicality, and affordability. The predecessor of the "Polo" was the Audi 50, the production of which ceased simultaneously with the start of sales of the VW Polo.

1. Other modifications of the car quickly began to be added to the basic version with a 40-horsepower 0,9-liter engine, the first of which was the VW Derby - a three-door sedan with a large trunk (515 liters), an engine with a capacity of 50 "horses" and a volume of 1,1 liters . This was followed by a sports version - the Polo GT, which was distinguished by the presence of unique paraphernalia characteristic of sports cars of those years. In order to further increase the efficiency of the car, the Polo Formel E was released in 1981, which allowed consuming 7,5 liters of fuel per 100 km.
2. In the second generation of Polo, the Polo Fox was added to the existing models, which appealed to the younger audience. Derby was replenished with a two-door version, the GT became even more dynamic and received modifications of the G40 and GT G40, which were developed in the next generations of the model.
   

   VW Polo Fox fell in love with the youth audience
3. Polo III marked the transition to a fundamentally new design and technical equipment of the car: everything has changed - the body, engine, chassis. The shape of the car was rounded, which made it possible to improve aerodynamics, the range of available engines expanded - two diesel engines were added to three gasoline engines. Officially, the model was presented at the auto show in Paris in the fall of 1994. The 1995 Polo Classic turned out to be even larger in size and was equipped with a 1,9-liter diesel engine with a power of 90 hp. with., instead of which a gasoline engine with the characteristics of 60 liters could be installed. s./1,4 l or 75 l. s./1,6 l.
   

   The third version of the VW Polo appeared in 1994 and became more rounded and technically equipped.
4. The basic version of the fourth generation Polo was presented to the general public in 2001 in Frankfurt. The appearance of the car has become even more streamlined, the degree of safety has increased, new options have appeared, including a navigation system, air conditioning, and a rain sensor. The power unit could be based on one of five gasoline engines with a capacity of 55 to 100 "horses" or two diesel engines - from 64 to 130 horsepower. A mandatory requirement for each of the cars produced during this period was compliance with the European environmental standard "Euro-4". "Polo IV" expanded the market with models such as Polo Fun, Cross Polo, Polo BlueMotion. The “charged” GT continued to increase its power indicators, reaching the mark of 150 horsepower in one of its versions.
   

   All VW Polo IV Fun cars were equipped with Euro-4 engines, as well as air conditioning and a navigation system.
5. In the spring of 2009, the Polo V was presented in Geneva, after which the production of the fifth generation Polo was launched in Spain, India and China. The appearance of the new car was brought in line with the requirements of the automotive fashion of that time: the model began to look more dynamic than its predecessors due to the use of sharp edges and filigree horizontal lines in the design. The changes also affected the interior: the console now turned out to be directed exclusively at the driver, the dashboard was supplemented with a digital display, the seats became adjustable, their heating appeared. Further upgrades of the Cross Polo, Polo BlueMotion and Polo GTI continued.
   

   The design of the Polo V Cross reflects the fashion trends of the end of the first decade of the XNUMXst century - sharp edges and clear horizontal lines on the body.
6. The sixth, and last for today, generation of the Volkswagen Polo is represented by a 5-door hatchback. The car does not have any radical changes in appearance and internal filling compared to its closest ancestor, however, the line of LED lights has an original broken shape, the radiator is supplemented with a bar on top, which is stylistically a continuation of the hood. The line of engines of the new model is represented by six petrol (from 65 to 150 hp) and two diesel (80 and 95 hp) units. The “charged” Polo GTI is equipped with a 200-horsepower engine capable of working with a manual transmission or a seven-speed preselective box.
   

   Externally, the VW Polo VI is not very different from its predecessor, but the power and efficiency of its engines have increased.

Video: Volkswagen Polo sedan 2018 - new Drive equipment

Volkswagen Polo sedan 2018 : new equipment Drive

VW Golf

The public first heard about such a model as Golf in 1974.

1. The appearance of the first "Golf" was proposed by the Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro, known for his collaboration with a number of automotive (and not only) brands. In Europe, the new Volkswagen received the name Typ 17, in North America - VW Rabbit, in South America - VW Caribe. In addition to the basic version of the Golf with a hatchback body, the production of the Typ 155 cabriolet was launched, as well as the GTI modification. Due to the more than democratic cost, the first generation golf continued to be in demand for a very long time and was produced, for example, in South Africa until 2009.
   

   The first "Golf" was such a successful model that its release lasted for 35 years.
2. Golf II covers the model range produced from 1983 to 1992 at Volkswagen plants in Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Great Britain, as well as in Australia, Japan, South Africa, the USA and other countries. The cooling system of this generation of machines included the use of antifreeze instead of water. The base model was equipped with a Solex carburetor, and the GTI version was equipped with an injection engine. The range of engines included atmospheric and turbocharged diesel engines with a capacity of 55–70 hp. With. and a volume of 1,6 liters. Subsequently, a 60-horsepower eco-diesel with a catalytic converter and an 80-horsepower SB model equipped with an intercooler and Bosch fuel equipment appeared. This series of cars consumed an average of 6 liters of fuel per 100 km. The reputation of a “hot hatch” (an affordable and fast small hatchback class car) was brought to the second “Golf” by such modifications as the 112-horsepower GTI of 1984, the Jetta MK2, the GTI 16V with a capacity of 139 horsepower. At this time, the group's specialists were actively experimenting with supercharging, and as a result, the Golf received a 160-horsepower engine with a G60 supercharger. The Golf Country model was produced in Austria, it was quite expensive, so it was released in limited quantities and had no further continuation.
   

   The GTI version of the famous Golf II already had an injection engine in the 80s of the last century.

3. Golf III was produced in the 90s and came to Russia, as a rule, from European countries in the "used" category.

   

   The third "Golf" got rid of angular shapes, got oblong headlights and a more spacious interior.

4. The fourth generation Golf was offered in three- and five-door versions with a hatchback, station wagon and convertible body type. The sedan in this line came out under the name VW Bora. This was followed by the Golf V and VI on the A5 platform, as well as the Golf VII on the MQB platform.

   

   The seventh generation Volkswagen Golf cars have a calm, harmonious design, a large wheelbase and a roomy trunk.

Video: what you need to know about the VW Golf 7 R

VW Passat

Volkswagen Passat, like the wind it is named after (literally translated from Spanish means “favorable to traffic”), has been helping motorists around the world in every possible way since 1973. Since the release of the first copy of the Passat, 8 generations of this middle class car have been created.

Table: some characteristics of VW Passat of different generations

Generation VW Passat	Wheelbase, m	Front track, m	Rear track, m	Width, m	Tank volume, l
I	2,47	1,341	1,349	1,6	45
II	2,55	1,414	1,422	1,685	60
III	2,623	1,479	1,422	1,704	70
IV	2,619	1,461	1,42	1,72	70
V	2,703	1,498	1,5	1,74	62
VI	2,709	1,552	1,551	1,82	70
VII	2,712	1,552	1,551	1,82	70
VIII	2,791	1,584	1,568	1,832	66

If we talk about the latest version of the Passat - B8, then it is worth noting the presence of a hybrid model among its modifications, capable of driving on an electric battery up to 50 km without recharging. Moving in combined mode, the car shows a fuel consumption of 1,5 liters per 100 km.

I honestly left for t 14 for 4 years, everything was good, but it is repairable, but everything comes due, so I bought a new t 6.

What can we say: there was a choice of either Kodiak or Caravelle, after comparing the configuration and pricing, Volkswagen was chosen on the mechanics and with all-wheel drive.

1. Functional.

2. High rise.

3. Fuel consumption in the city pleases.

So far, I haven’t experienced any problems and I don’t think there will be any, because I understood from the previous car that if you pass MOT on time, then it will not let you down.

You need to be prepared that this car is not cheap.

Pavel Vasilyev

https://cars.mail.ru/reviews/volkswagen/caravelle/2017/256068/

Video: New Volkswagen Passat B8 - big test drive

New Volkswagen Passat B8 - Big test drive (video version) / Big

Latest VW Models

Today, the Volkswagen news feed is replete with reports of the release of new versions and various modifications of the car at the concern's factories located in different parts of the world.

Polo, T-Roc and Arteon for the UK market

The British representative office of VW AG in December 2017 announced the planned changes in the configuration of the Arteon, T-Roc and Polo models. A 1,5-liter 4-cylinder supercharged engine with a capacity of 150 hp has been prepared for installation on the new VW Arteon. With. Among the advantages of this engine, we note the presence of a partial cylinder shutdown system, that is, at low vehicle load, the second and third cylinders are taken out of operation, which saves fuel. The transmission can be equipped with a six- or seven-position DSG "robot".

The VW Arteon transmission can be equipped with a six- or seven-position DSG robotic gearbox

In the near future, the latest VW T-Roc crossover with a 1,0-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 115 hp will become available to the British public. with., three cylinders and supercharging, or with a two-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 150 "horses". The first will cost an estimated £25,5, the second £38.

Next generation Volkswagen T-Roc crossover will soon be available in the UK

The updated "Polo" will appear in the SE configuration with a 1,0 TSI engine capable of developing up to 75 hp. with., and in the SEL configuration, which provides for operation on a 115-horsepower engine. Both versions are equipped with a five-speed manual transmission.

Restyling Amarok

The design group Carlex Design in 2017 proposed a modified version of the appearance of the Amarok pickup truck, which will now be brighter, and they decided to call the car itself Amy.

The appearance of the new VW Amarok has become more sporty

After tuning, the car became more expressive on the outside and more comfortable on the inside. External forms have acquired a certain angularity and relief, rims with five spokes and off-road tires look quite appropriate. The interior is complemented by leather inserts that repeat the color of the body, the original steering wheel solution, seats with the Amy logo.

Salon VW Amarok is now close to the best examples of comfort

2018 Polo GTI and Golf GTI TCR rally car

With the aim of participating in sports racing in 2017, the "Polo GTI-VI" was developed, which must be "confirmed" by the International Automobile Federation in 2018, after which it can be in the lists of participants in the competition. The “charged” all-wheel drive hot hatch is equipped with a 272 hp engine. with., a volume of 1,6 liters, a sequential gearbox and accelerates to 100 km / h in 4,1 seconds.

According to its technical characteristics, the Polo GTI surpassed the Golf GTI with its two-liter engine with a capacity of 200 “horses”, reaching 100 km / h in 6,7 seconds and having a top speed of 235 km / h.

The new Polo GTI is preparing for the rally

Another sports car from Volkswagen was presented in 2017 in Essen: the new Golf GTI TCR now has not only a reformatted appearance, but also a more powerful power unit. Focused on the style of 2018, the car became 40 cm wider than the civilian version, was supplemented with an improved aerodynamic body kit that allows for increased pressure on the track, and received a 345 hp engine. with., with a volume of 2 liters with supercharging, allowing you to gain 100 km / h in 5,2 seconds.

VW Golf GTI TCR reaches speed of 100 km/h in 5,2 seconds

Crossover Tiguan R-Line

Among the new Volkswagen products, the appearance of which is expected with particular interest in 2018, is the sports version of the Tiguan R-Line crossover.. For the first time, the car was presented to the public in Los Angeles in 2017. When creating this model, the authors supplemented the basic configuration of the crossover with a number of accessories that gave it aggressiveness and expression. First of all, the wheel arches have widened, the configuration of the front and rear bumpers has changed, and a glossy black finish has appeared. Branded alloy wheels with a diameter of 19 and 20 inches give a special charm. In the US, the car will be available in SEL and SEL Premium trim levels, both of which feature the ParkPilot option. The interior of the sporty Tiguan is trimmed in black, the pedals are made of stainless steel, and the R-Line logo is on the door sills. The engine is a 4-cylinder, with a volume of 2 liters and a capacity of 185 “horses”, the box is an eight-speed automatic, the drive can be either front or all-wheel drive.

VW Tiguan R-Line wheels fitted with unique alloy wheels

Brazilian version of "Polo"

The Polo sedan, produced in Brazil, is called Virtus and is built on the same platform as its European relatives, the MQB A0. The design of the new car is distinguished by a four-door body (there are 5 doors on the European hatchback), and rear lighting devices “removed” from Audi. In addition, the length of the car has increased - 4,48 m and the wheelbase - 2,65 m (for the five-door version - 4,05 and 2,25 m, respectively). The trunk holds no less than 521 liters, the interior is equipped with a digital instrument panel and touchscreen Multimedia System. It is known that the engine can be gasoline (with a capacity of 115 "horses") or running on ethanol (128 hp) with a top speed of 195 km / h and acceleration to 100 km / h in 9,9 seconds.

Video: acquaintance with VW Arteon 2018

ALL NEW VW ARTEON 2018/FIRST TEST/EXCLUSIVE

Gasoline or diesel

It is known that the key difference between gasoline and diesel engines is the way the working mixture is ignited in the cylinders: in the first case, an electric spark ignites a mixture of gasoline vapors with air, in the second, preheated compressed air ignites diesel fuel vapors. When choosing between Volkswagen cars with gasoline and diesel engines, you should take into account that:

• diesel parts and components are more massive and durable, such a motor is usually more durable;
• a diesel engine is considered to be more reliable due to the lack of electric ignition;
• diesel is more economical and environmentally friendly;
• The cost of diesel fuel is usually lower than the price of gasoline.

However:

• serious problems can arise with a diesel engine in winter if low-quality fuel gets into the engine;
• the cost of a car with a diesel engine is usually 20-30% higher;
• in the cold season, a diesel engine may start worse.

It should be said that, despite the higher cost, motorists in Europe increasingly prefer diesel engines. It is estimated that diesel-engined vehicles make up about a quarter of the total number of vehicles on Russian roads today.

Prices in the dealer network

The cost of the most popular VW models from official dealers in Russia, such as MAJOR-AUTO, AVILON-VW, Atlant-M, VW-Kaluga, is currently (in rubles):

• Polo — 599 900;
• Jetta — 949 000;
• Past — 1 499 000;
• Tiguan — 1 349 000;
• Tuareg — 2 999 000.

The Volkswagen brand has long been the embodiment of reliability, solidity, and at the same time affordability and economy, and rightfully enjoys people's love not only in its homeland, but throughout the world, including in the post-Soviet space. Volkswagen fans today have the opportunity to choose the most suitable option for themselves from a variety of versions, including both small urban Polo and Golf, and executive Phaeton or passenger Transporter.