The AutoMuseum's entrance corridor chronicles Volkswagen's history, from the construction of the first plant in 1938, past the introduction of the Käfer (Beetle) in December 1945 and the Autostadt's grand opening in June 2000 all the way to the present. They also display Volkswagen advertisements from throughout the decades, all in German, of course. Some were actually quite humorous, just like some VW ads today.
Describing the Beetle's air-cooled engine:
"Der Volkswagen hat einfach weniger Teile.
(Merke: Ein Teil, das fehlt, geht nie kaputt.)"
"The VW simply has fewer parts.
(Notice: A part that is missing never breaks)"
The AutoMuseum's exhibition room contains 130 vehicles, arranged in five categories: "The Faithful Beetle," "Volkswagen Transporter - from Function to Luxury," "Generation Golf," "The Large Air-Cooled Volkswagen Models," and "Volkswagen and the Future." All of the vehicles on the floor gently reminded visitors, "Bitte nicht striecheln. - Please do not stroke."
Some of the Beetles on display were historically significant, like the World Champion Beetle. It rolled off the line on February 17, 1972, as the 15,007,034th Beetle produced, which surpassed the production record previously held by Ford's Tin Lizzy. Also displayed was one of the final Beetles (original, classic body style) produced, made in Brazil and bringing the Beetle's total production count to 21,529,480.
1972 Volkswagen Weltmeister-Käfer
Other Beetles were displayed for their uniqueness or character. Herbie, of Disney fame, of course was present. Other novelty Beetles included the Korbkäfer (Basket Beetle), whose wicker body work required 600 working hours to make, the Hochzeitskäfer (Wedding Beetle), whose functional chassis is covered only by fancy metal scroll-work, the Briefmarkenkäfer (Postage Stamp Beetle), covered in 50,350 stamps from around the world, and the widest Beetle in Europe with a steel body.
1971 Korbkäfer
1970 Hochzeitskäfer
Suggested Top Speed: Walking Pace
1973 1303 Limousine
Among the displayed Transporters were the 1,000,000th Transporter (a 1962 Sambabus) and a newer cut-away Transporter, showing the inner workings of the chassis and drivetrain.
Displayed in the Golf exhibit were former rally champions, as well as a crash test model.
1997 Golf
The different colors represent different metal strengths.
The experimental VWs in the Future exhibit were among my favorite. The Aerodynamic Research Volkswagen (ARVW) from 1980 was on display (below), as was a model of the wind-tunnel testing used in its design and production.
Also exhibited were two types of vehicles Volkswagen built for the German military during World War II.
1944 Kübelwagen Typ 82
Split windshield due material shortage
1944 Schwimmwagen Typ 166
Four-wheel-drive amphibious car
Throughout the exhibition hall were mounted VW motors, cut away to reveal the valves, pistons, etc. As a mechanical engineering major and a bit of a gear head, I was really interested in these. For those visiting the museum without great interest in automobiles (like wives, girlfriends, etc.), VW seats and reading material were available as well.
Water-Cooled In-Line Six-Cylinder Diesel
2383 cc Displacement, 75 Horsepower
After leaving the AutoMuseum, I walked back to the Autostadt, which is right across the river from the Wolfsburg train station. Designed as an "automotive experience," the Autostadt is a mixture of nature, architecture, and of course cars. In addition to the requisite VW dealer, the Autostadt is also home to pavilions for SEAT, Skoda, Audi, and Lamborghini.
The AutoTürme (CarTowers), rising out of the artfully placed waters, are massive robotic auto storage facilities. Each tower houses two robotic arms that take cars from their shelves and deliver them to their new owners stories below. The same machinery is used to take visitors to the observation deck on top of the south tower.
Video Credit: Josh Lacey
The road next to the CarTowers, leading from the parking lot to the Ritz-Carlton, is an exhibit of paving techniques, beginning with Mesopotamian-style "pavement" from 3500 BC and progressing through the Middle Ages until modern concrete and asphalt.
The SEAT pavilion is clearly directed toward a young, trendy audience (picture Scion in the United States). SEAT, a Spanish auto company, was founded in 1950, and joined the Volkswagen Group in 1983. SEAT also boasts a history of Spanish rally dominance starting in the 1970s.
The Skoda pavilion emphasizes the Czech company's commitment to progressive designs, modern technology, and environmental consciousness. Much of their inspiration for new technology has come from biological research.
The Audi pavilion is filled with informative, interactive displays explaining the automaker's newest developments in design and electronics. A trip through the pavilion ends with Audi's decorated racing history, housed in a tower with the new R8 at its center. A collective feeling of "THERE it is!" was audible as everyone entered the room.
The Lamborghini pavilion cannot compare to the others architecturally. It is a simple black, boxy building. Nor can it compete inside, where there are no interactive exhibits, sales reps, or descriptive posters. Inside, there is one thing: A Murcielago LP640. 640 horsepower, 340 kmh top speed. The Lambo can reach 110 kmh in first gear (and 112 kmh in reverse). The pavilion is dedicated to an audio-visual experience: lasers, fog, music, and the V12 engine tone at 110 decibels. Midway through the show, the wall on which the car is mounted pivots 180 degrees, so the Murcielago appears on the outside of the pavilion. It was awesome.
The final attraction in the Autostadt is the ZeitHaus (TimeHome), dedicated to 125 years of automobile history. Inside is a replica of Carl Benz' Patent Motorwagen, the world's first automobile, a 1967 Lamborghini Miura, and the VW W12 Nardo, instrumental in developing the current VW Phaeton engine.
Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1990 replica)
Volkswagen W12 Nardo
600 Horsepower, Top Speed: 350 km/h
Six world records and twelve international-records in two days
I finished the day with almost 500 pictures of Wolfsburg, Volkswagen, and the cars there. The Autostadt is definitely among the coolest things I've experienced so far, and I'm not ruling out a second visit!
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