The future has played a decisive role at Volkswagen since over 60 years ago. The stage it plays on is one of the most exciting and versatile areas of the automotive industry – Research and Development, or R&D. Things here never stand still. Over the decades, R&D has been the birthplace of many groundbreaking concepts for the mobility of tomorrow, embodied by fascinating prototypes and design studies.
‘The car of tomorrow – a reality today’. This was the slogan of the Integrated Research Volkswagen (IRVW) Futura. The high-tech concept vehicle was the star of the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) in 1989. But it wasn’t only the spectacular gullwing doors that fascinated motor show visitors and the industry media – the Futura was a treasure house of advanced technology on wheels, already equipped 29 years ago with functions and features that have only recently found their way into the latest serial-production models. These include distance sensors, parking and braking assistance functions, a navigation system, an onboard computer, an electric parking brake and other groundbreaking features.
Another exhibit from the Stiftung AutoMuseum is the Experimental Safety Volkswagen (ESVW I) from 1972, with which Volkswagen became the first European automobile manufacturer to present a research vehicle that not only exceeded all US safety requirements at the time, but was also perfectly suitable for everyday use. The heart and soul of the 4.73-metre saloon was its extremely rigid, three-zone, safety bodyshell construction concept. Lateral collision protection, a fully automated seatbelt system with belt-tensioners, shoulder, lap and knee belts, and specially designed safety seats provided additional protection for the driver and passengers – and all that was realised an amazing 46 years ago with the ESVW I.
Check out some of Volkswagen’s more recent concept cars – I.D. Vizzion and I.D. Buzz.
