In history we had to do an essay on anything we choose. I thought this would be good because of all the hype with the new Beetle.
COUS
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Long before it was marketed in the U.S. as the cute “Beetle”, also known as the “Bug”, Porsche’s Volkswagen was the Peoples Car of Germany. Created by the Nazi Party in the 1930’s the car was called the KdF-wagen, in standing for Kraft durch Freude meaning “strength through joy”. Without Hitler their might not have ever been a Beetle.
Porsche was an Austrian engineer. He came to Germany in 1923 to design cars for Daimler-Benz. Through his long career of creating many different cars and engines he imagined a small, efficient, practical car that many could afford. Several times he proposed his design to Volkswagen, but it was turned down because car builders would not make a investment in large-scale mass production.
To Hitler the Beetle represented a means to stimulate Germany’s economy, to create cars that would travel his planned super highways, and to make the Nazi party more attractive by offering the first Beetles to it’s members. Hitler lowered the light metal prices and started building the huge factory around the city of Wolfsburg.
In 1934 Porsche submitted a report to Hitler stating the effect his car would have on the economy of Germany. The suggested price was 900 marks or $215. He got the contract and shortly assigned his son Ferry Porsche to supervise the test drive.
The Essay on Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche
The Porsche has always been a niche brand that makes cars for a small and distinctive segment of automobile buyers. “ The Porsche brand was created in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche the man known for making the original Volkswagen Beetle one of the successful car designs of all time”(Kotler & Armstrong,2010). Porsche began selling under its own name in the 1950’s, but not many cars were sold. ...
The Volkswagen design was really different. It had an air-cooled, horizontal-opposed engine to allow for Europe’s severe winters and to avoid overheating on mountain roads. It was built to be light weight and streamlined to allow the 996cc engine to power the car efficiently and a small amount of fuel. The 4-cylinder engine was mounted in the rear and drove the rear wheels. This engine, with its low height, permitted the Volkswagen to have a streamlined, fastback shape. With its rear-mounted, air-cooled engine, the VW Beetle looked and sounded like no other car on the road.
During the second world war the Wolfsburg plant was used to construct Volkswagens for military use, changes on the car made it efficient in Africa’s deserts and in Russia’s snow and ice. There was even an amphibious VW made that worked.
After the war Hitler honored Porsche and was quoted, “I have many generals, but only one Porsche.”
The German government privatized the Volkswagen plant and construction boomed. The Volkswagen Beetle dominated the market for many years, during which few modifications were made on the original design. In 1972, the beetle beat the Model T Ford at being the world’s most-produced car. An incredible 21 million Beetles were built. Volkswagen started making other vehicles using similar techniques used in the Beetle. The bug-like shape of the European car represented an appealing combination of look and economy that remained popular for more than four decades.
Now the production of an all new Beetle is underway. It’s been nearly two decades after the last newly built Volkswagen Beetle was sold in the United States. The 1999 new Volkwagen Beetle is available this spring. The basic body design of this car is about all that is the same as it’s predessor. “It is not a car we will sell in mass volumes, like the previous car,” said Tony Fouladpour, spokesman for Volkswagen of America Inc. “It will be a car for people who want to distinguish themselves, something that’s very different and in keeping with VW’s tradition of being different.” The new car meets all requirements in high safety standards and it also has forward-looking drive technology. The vehicle will have a modern, transverse straight-type, economical 1.9 litre turbo-diesel engine with direct fuel-injection and 110 horsepower. There are also two low-consumption 105 and 150 horsepower otto engine are being planned. The engine in the new car will instead be in the front and liquid cooled. The new Beetle will have standard dual front and side air bags and antilock brakes. It is larger inside and out than its predecessor. The planned price for the car is between $15,000 and $18,000, compared to the $3,599 price for the ’77 coupe and $6,495 for the ’79 convertible.
The Term Paper on Hybrid Cars Gasoline Engine
The cars we use all over the world are detrimental to our Earth's environment. In the United States, air quality often fails to meet federal standards. Air pollution, water pollution, global warming, and ozone depletion are some of the problems we face each day that reflect the consequences of our actions. The cars we drive emit exhaust gas, whose harmful elements cause acid rain and global ...
The Beetle has been through a lot through out the years. It started as a idea, then went to the drawing board. When it was shown to manufacturers it was sent away. Then Hitler gave funding to have it built. After that it boomed for nearly four decades, until production was halted because of new emission standards. Now, it’s back, becoming popular again and creating hype in the automotive industry. What will future years have in store for this little bug-eyed classic?
Comparing Features
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Old model New model
Power Rear wheel Front wheel
Cost $800 in 1949 $15,000-$18,000
Weight 1,800 pounds 2,200 pounds
Engine 1.6-liter 4-cylinder;2.0-liter 4-cylinder;
48 horsepower 115 horsepower
Height 59.1 inches 59.4 inches
Length 159.8 inches 164.4 inches
Wheel base 94.5 inches 98.8 inches
Made in Germany, then Mexico
Mexico in 1978
