Model range Volkswagen technical characteristics. Volkswagen lineup

Volkswagen AG (Volkswagen AG), a German automobile concern. Produces cars, trucks, minibuses. The headquarters is in Wolfsburg.

In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche (Ferdinand Porsche), a famous German designer (founder of the world famous German automobile company Porsche AG), received an order from the National Socialist government of Germany to develop a modern passenger car.

And already in 1935, such a car was mounted. It was called "Volkswagen", which literally means "people's car" in German. After two years of testing, the VW30 series was launched in 1937, and by 1938 the car had acquired a look familiar to many generations. Volkswagen was immediately appreciated by designers, engineers and drivers. They started talking about it, numerous publications appeared, in 1938, in a New York Times article, Volkswagen was dubbed the “beetle” for its external resemblance. This nickname has taken root so much that it has become the hallmark of the car.

For the production of the "people's car" May 26, 1938 in the city of Wolfsburg began construction of the largest European car factory Volkswagen. But the impending war prevented the production of this car. Only a dozen were produced. The car really liked the fascist bosses. Hitler himself rode it with pleasure.

During World War II, work on the construction of Volkswagen was suspended, and the unfinished plant was converted to the production of military products.

After the end of the war, the enterprise fell under the control of the British, in whose zone of occupation Wolfsburg was located. In the fall of 1945, the British authorities gave the plant an order for 20,000 vehicles. But only almost ten years later, mass production of the car in its original modification began. In 1947, the Volkswagen was exhibited at the Hannover export fair and attracted a lot of attention. The plant received the first foreign order from Holland for a thousand cars, and in 1948 orders began to arrive from Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden and other countries.

In January 1948, the management of Volkswagen changed, Heinrich Nordhoff, a representative of a new generation of German technocrats, became its general director. The revamped leadership consisted of graduate engineers with international experience in car factories and the ability to think outside the box. With their arrival, the car was improved and modernized. In 1949, models with a new body type began to be produced - a convertible and a limousine. In serial production, the interior equipment became more comfortable, a partially synchronized engine was installed.

A network of car service and technical stations for car maintenance was established. Constant work was carried out with Western clients. Volkswagen has built a strong car distribution network.

By the end of 1948, the export of the car, which gained worldwide fame, amounted to about 50 thousand cars, about 15 thousand were sold on the domestic market.

By this time, the plant was freed from British allied control, and on September 6, 1949, Volkswagen was completely transferred to the Federal Republic of Germany.

A new stage in the development of the plant began, which was primarily marked by an intensive increase in production and an increase in sales.

By 1950, 100 thousand cars were produced, by 1951 - 500 thousand cars, and on August 5, 1955, a solemn ceremony was held to mark the release of the millionth Volkswagen 2. The motto of this time in the life of the Germans is becoming a popular phrase associated with Volkswagen - "He is a member of my family" .

The reliability and affordable price of the car, proven over the years, have strengthened the export capabilities of the car. Volkswagen is already sold in 150 countries around the world. Subsidiaries appear abroad - in 1953 in Brazil, in 1956 in South Africa, in 1957 in Australia, in 1964 in Mexico (since 1998, the “beetle” has been produced here, which has become a real hit of the season with Hollywood stars) and other countries.

The first modification of the standard Volkswagen-1200 in 1955 was the Karmann-Ghia sports coupe, the brand of which was made up of the names of the companies that created it: the body was designed by the Italian company Ghia, and it was assembled at the German bodywork firm Karmann in Osnabrück. In 1961, the program was replenished with a new Volkswagen-1500 with a sedan body and an increased displacement engine, on the basis of which the next versions of the Karmann-Ghia coupe and cabriolet were produced.

In 1965, Volkswagen bought Audi from Daimler-Benz, creating the Volkswagen-Audi concern, known by the abbreviation VAG. Later, it included the Spanish company SEAT (SEAT) and the Czech plant "Skoda" (Skoda). Currently, Audi AG is a subsidiary of the Volkswagen concern, which has been granted full independence.

The first result of the merger in 1968 was the VW-411 with an air-cooled engine with a working volume of 1679 cc. The model was very reservedly accepted by buyers. In 1969, after joining the NSU company, the first Volkswagen with front-wheel drive appeared, which received the K-70 index. It could be purchased with either 1594 or 1795 cc engines. In 1969-1975, in cooperation with Porsche, sports cars Volkswagen-Porsche-914 ″ were produced with 4- and 6-cylinder engines in 1679 and 1991 cc. In 1970, the VW-181 appeared with a utilitarian open body, reminiscent of wartime army vehicles. Its development in 1979 was the light all-wheel drive lltis army vehicle.

The ancestor of the new generation of Volkswagen is the front-wheel drive Passat, released in 1973. It was offered in numerous variants with engines ranging in displacement from 1297 to 1588 cc. The following year, a sporty Scirocco appeared with a 3-door coupe body and engines from 1093 to 1588 cc, as well as a compact 3- and 5-door Golf hatchback. In the first 30 months of production, 1 million Golf cars rolled off the assembly line, turning Volkswagen into one of the largest car manufacturers in Europe. In 1979, the Golf cabriolet appeared and was always in high demand.

The Golf I, which appeared in 1974, turned out to be the most successful: modern, economical, reliable, it was such a model that could stir up the international market. Golf marked a new stage of competition in the production of a class of compact cars, which became almost officially called the "golf class". If during the development of new models in 1973-1974 the concern's losses exceeded 800 million German marks, then already in 1975, due to the large demand for them, it was possible to cover all costs. Just 3 years after the launch of Golf I, the millionth car of this brand was produced. In 1983, the Golf II saw the light of day, and eight years later, in 1991, the Golf III debuted, which, like previous models, maintained the Golf's high reputation. In the twenty-three years since the start of production, 17 million Golfs of three generations have been produced. In 1995-1996 Golf III was the leader in the number of sales in Europe. In 1997, the debut of the new Golf IV took place, only in the first days after which more than 60 thousand orders were accepted.

At the beginning of 1975, the "little brother" Golf was introduced - a three-door front-wheel drive Polo, similar in design to the Audi-50 and offered with engines with a displacement of 895-1272 cc. The inexpensive and practical Polo also became very popular and strengthened Volkswagen's financial position. Based on the Polo, a three-volume Derby sedan version was offered.

Since 1980, based on the Golf, the Jetta model has been produced with a 4-door sedan body. In 1992, it was replaced by a similar car (already on the third generation Golf chassis), called the Vento.

In 1981, the Passat and Scirocco were upgraded, and a year later, the Santana sedan appeared on the basis of the Passat, which for the first time was equipped with a 5-cylinder petrol S engine with a displacement of 1994 cc.

In the period 1988-1995, the only 3-door coupe Corrado in the program, the successor to the Scirocco, was assembled.

Station wagon and convertible Variant models on third-generation chassis have continued to be produced since 1993. Two Variant Syncro models with 2.0- and 2.9-liter engines have an all-wheel drive chassis.

The compact third-generation Polo has been in production since 1994. Bodies 3- and 5-door hatchback, Polo Classic sedan and 5-door Variant station wagon. 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with a displacement of 1.0-1.9 liters and a power of 50-101 hp.

The comfortable Vento family of the first generation is equipped with 4- and 6-cylinder engines of 1.6-2.8 liters with a capacity of 75-174 hp.

The high-capacity station wagon Sharan has been produced since 1995 in 5-7-seater versions, on front- and all-wheel drive chassis. The power of gasoline and diesel engines with a working volume of 1.9-2.8 liters is within 90-174 hp.

The fifth generation Passat model family was shown in 1996. Unlike previous cars produced since 1988, they are again unified with the same type of Audi models "A4" and "A6". This made it possible to use more powerful and modern Audi power units of a longitudinal arrangement. Passat models are produced only with sedan and 5-door station wagon Variant bodies and are equipped with 4-, 5- and 6-cylinder petrol and diesel engines of 1.6-2.8 liters with a capacity of 90-193 hp. Several Variant models in Syncro trim have all-wheel drive chassis.

In 1999, the BORA model of a comfortable sedan was released.

Several Volkswagen sites in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and China produce a number of models that differ significantly from European products. Among them are the Gol, Parati and Santana models, created on the chassis of the Golf and Passat models of previous generations.

The Mexican branch continues to produce the 1.6i model of the Beetle type with a 1.6-liter engine of 44 hp, and since the beginning of 1998, the production of a fundamentally new front-wheel drive car, the Beetle, has been mastered on the chassis of the Golf models, outwardly similar to the famous "Beetle".

At present, the Volkswagen concern is one of the largest in terms of sales in the world, has its own factories in 15 countries, produces products under five trademarks Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, SEAT. Since 1998, the concern has owned the Rolls-Royce brand. In addition to passenger cars, the plant also produces trucks and minibuses. The Volkswagen Group includes: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, SEAT S.A., Skoda Automobilova, Volkswagen-Saxony GmbH.

When the National Socialist government in 1934 handed over to Ferdinand Porsche the task of developing a Volkswagen prototype through the private economic organization "Imperial Association of the Automotive Industry", the path from planning and design development to mass production was theoretically four years. However, already in 1935 the first Volkswagen was ready. In 1936, two of his next prototypes were relentlessly tested over 50,000 km. In 1937, the next series was launched, designated VW 30 and consisting of 30 cars, which were tested over a total distance of 2.4 million kilometers. The test results were in all respects satisfactory and led to the fact that in 1938 the car acquired its final technical equipment and external form. Thus, the design phase is completed. The construction of the plant and preparation for production began.

In wartime, open cross-country vehicles and amphibians were produced at the plant. Until the end of the war, a total of about 66,000 all-terrain vehicles and off-road vehicles were produced. The post-war development proceeded under the English flag - the enterprise was under the control of the Allies, and in the summer of 1945 it was taken over by the British, in whose zone of occupation it was located. At the very least, the plant was restored and the first post-war copies appeared. Soon, the car factory proved its worth by receiving an order for the production of 20,000 cars from the British occupation side. After presenting the car at a number of exhibitions, by the end of the 40s, orders from European countries began to arrive. Thus, the formation of a modern automotive giant took place. Gaining momentum, Volkswagen opened one plant after another - not only in Germany, but also in countries that actively export the company's cars.

In the 70s, Volkswagen developed three new models at once - Passat, Golf and Sirocco, which technically had nothing to do with previous Volkswagen cars. Passat and Golf modifications are still being produced - moreover, they have already become classics of the automotive industry and their names are often used as a common noun.

More than 350,000 Volkswagens are registered in Russia. In our country, the brand ranks third in popularity after Toyota and Opel.

At present, the Volkswagen concern is one of the largest in terms of sales in the world, has its own factories in 15 countries, produces products under several brands: Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, SEAT, Lamborghini, Bugatti. Since 1998, the concern has owned the Bentley brand. In addition to cars, VW also produces trucks and minibuses.

Based on materials from [email protected]

The first Volkswagen was commissioned by Adolf Hitler as an affordable and practical car for the German people. The result was a compact beetle sedan, which was named "Volkswagen".

Most non-military vehicle manufacturers had to delay production for the duration of World War II. The VW Beetle began to gradually return to mass production in 1940. Largely due to its compactness and Volkswagen specifications Beetle surpassed even the Ford T model and became the best-selling car of all time. Volkswagen decided to expand its lineup in 1950 by adding 2 buses and a sporty Karmann Ghia. The next diversifications took place already in the 1970s and 80s. - Release of the Passat and Golf.

Today, Volkswagen presents a wide and varied model range on the market. Compact sedans Jetta and Passat have always been popular with car enthusiasts due to their reliability and fuel efficiency. Another well-known model that is still popular today is the VW Golf, which has been on the market for about 40 years. The Touareg was introduced in 2003, marking VW's entry into the SUV market. In 2002, the full-sized luxury Phaeton appeared as a competitor to established German luxury brands Mercedes and BMW. The two-seat Eos was first introduced in 2006 and received high marks, not so much for performance as for comfort and style. Released in 2009, Routan, despite the VW badge, was actually a redesigned Chrysler minivan. The New Beetle, launched in 1998, never quite matched the success of the original, but it did inspire a retro-futuristic car craze that led to a new version of the British Mini Cooper and the Italian Fiat 500. The New Beetle has been redesigned was introduced in 2011, with styling aimed at attracting a more "male" audience.

Volkswagen can rightfully be proud of the variety of vehicles in its lineup and its reputation around the world. Although it has not succeeded in pushing BMW and Mercedes aside in the luxury sedan market, drivers around the world value reliability and specifications Volkswagen.

The 5th generation Volkswagen Polo compact sedan (2015 restyling) is based on the PQ25 platform from the Polo hatchback. The car's suspension is built according to the classical scheme: front MacPherson struts and rear semi-independent beam. The body dimensions of the model are as follows: length - 4390 mm, width - 1699 mm, height - 1467 mm. The wheelbase is 2553 mm, the ground clearance is 163 mm. In the segment of budget B-class cars, Polo competes with and, which have similar technical characteristics.

As a power plant, the model uses a 1.6-liter engine with distributed fuel injection. From the start of sales (May 2015), the motor had two power options: 85 and 105 hp. However, already in September, the plant in Kaluga began assembling upgraded versions of this unit. In November, improved engines with increased to 90 and 110 hp. recoil began to be installed under the hood of all cars descending from the assembly line. In addition to peak power, the torque has also grown slightly, reaching 155 Nm (available at 3800-4000 rpm).

The new Kaluga-assembled engines not only increased power, but also significantly reduced the amount of harmful emissions, which allowed them to meet the Euro-5 standards. The fuel consumption of the Polo sedan has also been reduced. Now the "junior" 90-horsepower engine, combined with a 5-speed manual, consumes an average of about 5.7 liters of gasoline. As for the 110-horsepower unit, it consumes not much more fuel - 5.8-5.9 liters (transmissions - 5MKPP and 6AKPP).

The full technical specifications of the Volkswagen Polo sedan are given in the table:

Volkswagen Tarek is a front- or all-wheel drive SUV of the compact segment, which the German company itself calls “the most popular crossover”, combining a discreet design, ergonomic and functional interior, modern technology and a relatively affordable price ... It is addressed primarily to urban residents (often - family), which in the car especially appreciate the practicality, safety, reliability, comfort level and good cross-country ability ...

In general, the formal debut of this SUV took place in March 2018 at the international auto show in Beijing, but then only in a conceptual guise called Powerful Family SUV, and two months later its serial version, Volkswagen Tharu, appeared before the world community. Actually, this very crossover, which has risen one step below the Tiguan, should reach the Russian market, but in a slightly shortened form and under the name Tarek.

Outwardly, "Tarek" evokes associations with the full-size "Teramont" - the five-door looks attractive, balanced, concise and moderately solid. The full face of the car flaunts truly monumental outlines - the strict gaze of the “two-story” lighting equipment, a large radiator grille with a honeycomb ornament, and a bumper that has been knocked down in relief.

In profile, the crossover demonstrates a proportional and rather dynamic appearance, emphasized by a sloping roofline with sloping rear pillars, expressive “splashes” on the sidewalls and rounded-square wheel arches.

From the stern, the “German” boasts massive LED lights, an impressive tailgate and a neat bumper with a pair of fake exhaust pipes.

It is expected that in terms of external dimensions, the Volkswagen Tarek will be close to the Skoda Karoq (despite the fact that the “Chinese” Tharu is slightly larger): its length will be ≈4380 mm, width ≈1840 mm, height ≈1600 mm, distance between wheel sets ≈2640 mm (More details will be announced later).

The interior of "Tarek" is made in the "family" style of the German automaker - it catches the eye with a nice and modern, but laconic and restrained design. Directly in front of the driver are a three-spoke multi-steering wheel with a slightly beveled rim at the bottom and an exemplary instrument cluster with analog scales and an on-board computer display between them (as an option, it can be replaced by a virtual “shield” with a 10.2-inch screen).

The center console is adorned with a color display of the infotainment center, under which there are symmetrical ventilation deflectors and an extremely understandable “remote control” for the air conditioning system.

Salon Volkswagen Tarek has a five-seat layout, while a sufficient supply of space is promised on both rows of seats. In front of the car, ergonomic chairs with a well-defined profile and wide ranges of adjustments are installed, and in the back there is a three-seater sofa with a non-movable pillow.

It is assumed that the trunk of the Tarek will be approximately identical to that of the Tharu - its volume in the normal state will be about 455 liters. Folded in two unequal sections "gallery" will bring the capacity of the "hold" to more than 1500 liters.

What engines will be equipped with Volkswagen Tarek in the Russian market is still not known for certain, but, most likely, it will be separated exclusively by four-cylinder gasoline engines with an in-line layout, namely:

• The first option is a 1.6-liter “aspirated” MPI with distributed injection, a 16-valve DOHC timing belt and variable valve timing, developing 110 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 155 Nm of torque at 3800-4000 rpm.
• A step above is the TSI turbo four with a working volume of 1.4 liters with direct “feed”, 16 valves and phase shifters at the inlet and outlet, the output of which is 149 hp. at 5000-6000 rpm and 250 Nm of peak thrust at 1500-3500 rpm.
• The privilege of the "top modification" is a 2.0-liter TSI engine with turbocharging, direct injection, 16-valve timing and variable valve timing, producing 186 hp. at 4200-6000 rpm and 320 Nm of torque potential at 1500-4100 rpm.

It is expected that the units will receive the following gearboxes: the “youngest” will get a 5-speed “mechanics” or a 6-band “automatic”, the “intermediate” will get a 7-speed DSG robot with two dry clutches, and the “senior” will get 7 - high-speed "robot" DSG with wet clutches.

The first two motors will be combined with a front-wheel drive transmission, and the most powerful version will be combined with an all-wheel drive system in which the rear axle is connected by a Haldex multi-plate clutch.

At the heart of the Volkswagen Tarek is the MQB modular “bogie” with a transversely oriented power plant and a load-bearing body featuring a wide range of high-strength steel grades in the construction. An independent suspension of the McPherson type was used on the front axle of the car, but the structure of the rear part, most likely, will depend on the modification: front-wheel drive has a semi-independent beam, and all-wheel drive has an independent multi-link.

The rack and pinion steering mechanism of the crossover is supplemented with an active electric power steering, and disc brakes are used on all its wheels (front - with ventilation), working in conjunction with various electronic assistants.

Volkswagen Tarek should appear on the Russian market in 2020, and its production will be launched at the facilities of the Gorky Automobile Plant. It will become the most affordable crossover of the brand, that is, it will cost less than the Tiguan, for which they are now asking from 1.4 million rubles.

Options and prices will be announced closer to the start of sales, but it is expected that already in the “base” the car will receive: front airbags, air conditioning, ABS, four electric windows, a standard audio system, electric drive and heated exterior mirrors, steel wheel rims and some other equipment.