With the major special exhibition "Generation change. The quantum leap to the new water-cooled engines", the Volkswagen AutoMuseum is presenting the exciting history of the development of the new engines and models with front-wheel drive at Volkswagen for the first time. The exhibits - prototypes, production models and power units - show how solutions were found, rejected or implemented by the Group subsidiaries Audi/NSU, Volkswagen and Porsche, sometimes in competition, sometimes jointly. The exhibition will be on display from August 29, 2019 to March 1, 2020.
A rocky road to the successor of the iconic VW Beetle
In the mid-1960s, sales of the Beetle were still booming. But Volkswagen, spurred on by its subsidiary Audi, was striving to succeed its bestseller. From 1973, a completely new model family was launched with the Scirocco, Passat, Golf and Polo. They all featured innovations in engine technology - now front-wheel drive and water cooling. However, the road to this point was sometimes rocky and sometimes characterized by internal competition between the Group brands Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen. For the first generations of the new models, Audi prevailed with the EA 827 and EA 801 engines, which are still being further developed today.
No longer "just" a Beetle, but a completely new model family
Until the beginning of the 1970s, the company experimented, developed and discarded. Engineers from Volkswagen, Audi, NSU and Porsche competed for the contract. The leading Italian studios of the time were involved in the design: Bertone, Ghia, Italdesign and Pininfarina. This was because it was no longer "just" about a successor to the Beetle, but about a cross-brand model family. In 1970/71, an agreement had been reached on the Beetle successor: Four-cylinder in-line engine at the front, drive also at the front, plus a timeless body design. The shape of the Golf was designed by Giorgio Giugiaro. The angular compact immediately impressed with its utility value and quality. People now talk about the "Golf class". It has now far surpassed the Beetle in terms of unit sales.
The Volkswagen Passat is born
With growing prosperity in Western Europe, the trend from the mid-1960s onwards was away from entry-level cars towards better-equipped mid-range models. Volkswagen recognized this early on and from 1961 onwards, the Beetle (Type 1) was joined by the larger-looking Type 3. However, it retained an air-cooled boxer engine in the rear. Thought was also given to this and plans were made to equip the close successor with a front engine. After several unsuccessful projects, the so-called "development order 272" was launched around 1970: initially with a transversely installed, newly developed in-line four-cylinder engine, which, together with other Volkswagen models, was intended to achieve the greatest possible family resemblance and common parts strategy. The vehicle was later called the Passat. Audi opted for the EA 838 with a longitudinally installed inline four-cylinder engine developed in Ingolstadt. The vehicle study was originally somewhat smaller than the EA 272 and initially still had a hatchback. The new Volkswagen boss Rudolf Leiding finally canceled all parallel developments and ensured that the engine and basic body came from Bavaria for the Audi 80 notchback from 1972 and the Passat hatchback from 1973.
The Volkswagen Polo rolled off the production line from 1975
Volkswagen was reluctant to enter the market segment below the Beetle. The technicians and developers at NSU, however, were different and considered a further development of the small Prinz models. The new company subsidiary NSU had been quite successful with its two- and four-cylinder Prinz models, even though the air-cooled models had also passed their zenith. The Wolfsburg-based company finally placed the final order for the new small car with Ingolstadt. Audi designer Claus Luthe was responsible for the design. The project was intended for production in Wolfsburg from the outset. The Audi 50 rolled off the production line in Lower Saxony from 1974 and the Polo from 1975.
A stylistic masterpiece, but lacking in assertiveness
In Wolfsburg, too, people were dreaming of big, powerful cars from the brand early on - but Audi was quicker. The company developed its own luxury-class vehicle, initially without Wolfsburg's approval. But the Audi 100 was convincing, and the sporty, elegant coupé version derived from the 100 (designed by Hartmut Warkuss, later chief designer of the Volkswagen Group) brought the Ingostadt-based company closer to its dream rival Mercedes-Benz. Following the takeover of NSU, Audi also had the incredibly stylish Ro 80 in its portfolio. However, its highly praised Wankel engine turned out to be a flop. The vehicle itself belongs in the automotive Olympus and is a stylistic masterpiece: incidentally, the Ro 80 was to be launched on the market at almost the same time as the K70. Neither was able to assert itself.
Experimental Safety Volkswagen
Volkswagen had already been working on its own luxury liner in the mid-1960s - with a six-cylinder engine developed by Porsche in the rear and a timeless Pininfarina design. Studies for a saloon and estate were produced, but then the project came to an end. This was followed in 1971 by a large, thoroughly elegant experimental vehicle called the ESVW1, designed by Herbert Schäfer. This car was to become the basis for a future C-Class Group model made in Wolfsburg. All that survived of this project were scale models, drawings and sketches. An Audi version was derived - naturally using the new common parts strategy. The Volkswagen Group's C-Class project came to nothing, but the second-generation Audi 100 (C2) features a series of design takeovers from the so-called "ESVW1" study.
Uniquely equipped special exhibition
At Volkswagen itself, these flights of fancy came to an end after 1973 - the market launch of the new Golf did not allow any further ventures.
The most important models, their development stages and the decisive engines, including all discarded creations, are shown and explained in a new, unique special exhibition at the Volkswagen AutoMuseum Foundation in Wolfsburg on Dieselstrasse.
A specially produced 176-page book is also available at the AutoMuseum ticket desk. With exclusive pictures and detailed texts, it explains how a daring project became a success.
Meticulousness and a lot of passion
Proven experts were available for the research. With meticulous work and countless interviews with contemporary witnesses and technicians, engine researcher Michael Willmann and the Friends of the Volkswagen AutoMuseum have succeeded in uncovering previously unknown facts and making the corresponding exhibits suitable for display.
Further information
Further information can be found on the AutoMuseum Volkswagen website.
