Bojan Vrbnjak
Volkswagen will celebrate in 2024 50th birthday of the Golf model. The name that has been imprinted on 37 million vehicles. But the path to becoming a hit was by no means predetermined. VW he didn't just pull a rabbit out of a hat, he had a number of rabbit hutches available in the form different concepts. One of them is now on public display.
V Wolfsburg at the end of the 1960s, they already started preparing the car's successor The VW Beetle. Several studies have been created, including EA 266 (development contract) with a mid-sized engine in which he had Porsche leading role. At this time, there were many indications that he would be a model EA 266 entered serial production as a successor to the Beetle model. However, due to difficult engine maintenance, demanding driving characteristics at the limit, cost factors and last but not least, a change of boss at the top of the company, they decided that the project of 1971 ends abruptly. Thin Leopards were razed to the ground by almost everyone 50 pre-production vehicles, and the pilot series is just about to start. Loss for VW: three-digit number in millions of German marks.
Golf celebrates 50 years this year
Already a model EA 276 from the summer 1969 had many characteristics later successful model, such as front engine with front wheel drive, hatchback with large rear doors and transverse axle. Under the hood, however, it was still familiar bug boxer with air cooling; the emphasis was on reliability and low development costs. However, the days of this technology were numbered. However, it is the first VW Golf for Brazil in 1981 was based on a similar concept and had a bug engine at the front under the bonnet. Model design EA 276 was still pretty basic, that's why VW asked Italy for help. After visiting the Turin Motor Show in 1970, they hired Giorgetta Giugiaro (Italdesign), which was responsible for various interesting innovations. He was given the task to design a model EA 337, which is (with some compromises) became Golf.
Forerunner of the Golf - Study EA276
There will be a stamp to start the jubilee year VW at the car show Bremen Classic Motor Show presented the model Golf I and thus remembered the beginning of the automobile revolution of the year 1974. The fair appearance will be complemented by a unique concept car EA 276 - predecessor of the Golf, which was developed in Wolfsburg. Brilliant yellow serial Golf I and the orange-red concept car will be from February 2 to 4 on display at the stand D10 in hall 5.
