The 6 milestones of Volkswagen boss Ferdinand Piëch
Posted on 26-04-2015 at 19:25 by ricardo – 40 Comments”
Ferdinand Piëch has outside the worth counted. The president commissioner tried CEO Winterkorn way to get into a dubious power play, but was itself broken when everyone the side of Winterkorn chose. Way mutual trust, which Piëch, only one thing could do: blow.
That bomb burst last night very unexpectedly, so we decided today to look back at some memorable moments in the career of Ferdinand Porsche’s grandson.
The Porsche 917
After his studies in Switzerland began Piëch his automotive career in 1963 at Porsche, where he has a big interest in racing. At Porsche he has made a name by one of the most memorable Le Mans racers from the history of long distance racing to his name: the Porsche 917.
The rise of Audi
Before the status of the capo di tutti capi achieved, he worked as an engineer at Audi NSU Auto Union AG, after previously a similar role at Porsche to have fulfilled. He printed, among others, the Audi Quattro through and was responsible for the introduction of the widely celebrated vijfcilindertijdperk. Later he was included in the management of the brand, where he Audi between luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes managed to place.
The rescue of Volkswagen
In 1993, when Volkswagen at the edge of the cliff, was Piëch appointed as the successor of CEO Carl Hahn. Piëch made the brand to return to viability, reduced as a malle, and bought en passant brands like Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti. He thought in ’98 Rolls-Royce in the pocket, after the German’s £430 million for the toko had paid. The rights to the brand were, however, at vliegtuigmaker Rolls-Royce plc, who have already had a deal had run with BMW. Volkswagen could not be otherwise than the quantity of BMW to sell, but kept the factory in Crewe, where it started with the production of Bentleys (background). Also, he knew the foot to the ground to get in the US, where people are massively hot ran for the Volkswagen New Beetle. Not so very crazy so that he is now dissociates from Winterkon, that he is responsible for the tandende popularity of VW in America.
The Volkswagen Phaeton
It was at its introduction the most expensive Volkswagen ever. Piëch demanded a limousine all limousines would render it redundant. The requirements were so high that a number of employees resigned. The Phaeton was a complete new factory was built; the Gläserne Manufaktur, which for a large part of glass is raised, making the whole production process from the outside is to see. Unfortunately the Phaeton was never a sales success, making it yet but the question is, is there ever a Phaeton 2.
The Bugatti Veyron
In his time at Porsche, he tried already a zestiencilinder to get off the ground, to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather to act, which in the years 30 a zestienpitter in the racers of Auto Union explained. At Porsche, that never succeeded, but decades later he got it through at Bugatti. Et voilà, the Veyron was born. In 1998 the concept was shown, after which the production in 2005 was initiated. BAM. The fastest car in the world, with a top speed of 407,23 km/h, was born. The rest is history.
The Volkswagen XL1
On the other side of the autospectrum suggested that Ferdinand Piëch, the “Ein-Liter-Auto”. A superzuinig car and that 100 miles could travel on 1 litre of fuel. The development started already in 2002. The year 2015 has finally translated to the Volkswagen XL1, of which 200 will be made. The plug-in hybrid powertrain of the XL1 consists of a two-cylinder TDI (48 hp), e-motor (27 hp). On paper, sip this two-seater showcase of Piëch 1-liter per 111 km.
Now rest him a well-deserved retirement, with vrouwlief Ursula and a not sour autoverzameling at his side.