At the end of the Second World War the responsibility for Volkswagenwerk was passed to the British Military Government. Major Ivan Hirst took over the war battered factory and began dismantling it in order to bring it back to the UK. However he struggled to find interest from potential British buyers. The company remained in Germany and began producing cars for the British Army. In 1948 control was passed back to Germany and the Type 1 Beetle was born.
Production of the Type 1 grew rapidly after a slow start, and the company began designing new models to compliment the Beetle. In March 1950 the now much loved and sought after Type 2 went into production, creating a larger product with more versatility. In 1956 the Transporter, now a hugely popular van with many variants, acquired it's own plant in Hanover. This was the start of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle brand we see today. In 1964 Volkswagen bought Auto Union who owned Audi. In 1969 they also purchased NSU Motorenwerke AG, and merged the two to form the Audi brand we know today.
In 1973 the Passat went into production, with a range if engines topping off at 110bhp. In 1974 the first of Volkswagen's now much beloved Golf rolled off the production line at Wolfsburg. The Golf's popularity is almost immediate, and it is crowned the successor to the Beetle. 1975 saw the Polo for the first time, and in 1976 the GTI was added to the Golf line up, now one of Volkswagen's most iconic cars. The sports feel must have appealed to Volkswagen because Scirocco hatchback was released in the same year, a sports car which was relaunched again in 2008 and proved very popular both first and second time round.
The 1980s and 1990s were a relatively quiet time for Volkswagen. The American market fell sharply in the 1980s, rising with the new car introductions, they promptly falling again. The next generation of Golf went into production in 1983 (who can forget the famous advert featuring Paula Hamilton in a fur coat?) and the Lupo TDI was launched in 1999 as the first production car to be able to offer fuel consumption of 3 litres per 100 kilometers. In 1982 Volkswagen signed a cooperation agreement with SEAT, which they bought outright by the end of 1986.
In August 2002 the Touareg luxury off roader came into production opening up a whole new market for Volkswagen, the popular high end 4x4 segment. The Touareg was well equipped and more affordable than many other vehicles in this area, with a range of petrol and diesel engines available. In December of the same year the Touran compact van/people carrier was introduced, available with 5 or 7 seats, and proved very popular with families requiring the flexibility of space it offers. In 2008 the Tiguan, a baby Touareg was rolled out, with a facelift due in 2012.
Things didn't go as well as planned for Volkswagen upon the original launch of the Phaeton luxury limousine in 2003. Maybe as a victim of their own success 'the people's car' company had launched a vehicle well beyond the means of the masses. The Phaeton was great value for money, but with such a high price tag many who could afford it did not associate the marque with the class of vehicle it was trying to penetrate. The cars depreciated quickly from new, but proved more popular on the second hand market as a truly affordable luxury car. While the VW Phaeton has not been given the credit it may deserve in the UK, the second generation proved popular in China in 2010.
Volkswagen have always strived to produce the best, budget friendly, high quality cars they can produce. From hot hatches to people carriers, sports coupes to luxury limousines, Volswagen have gained a high profile in almost every sector they have touched. New innovations and great marketing, as well as impressive engineering and high build quality have helped keep this historic mark at the front of our minds when iconic cars are discussed, from the Beetle to The Thing, the Golf to the Scirocco.
Volkswagen's history has been varied and never dull, with new inspiration, ideas, and models filling the years. Peter Cooper Volkswagen Group based on the South Coast have a wide range of used Volkswagen used cars in Hampshire, as well as all the services you'd expect from a leading main dealership including Volkswagen servicing, body repairs, Motability and more.
Philip Loughran is a freelance author who writes about a variety of companies. For Southampton garage services he recommends www.petercoopergroup.co.uk
Production of the Type 1 grew rapidly after a slow start, and the company began designing new models to compliment the Beetle. In March 1950 the now much loved and sought after Type 2 went into production, creating a larger product with more versatility. In 1956 the Transporter, now a hugely popular van with many variants, acquired it's own plant in Hanover. This was the start of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle brand we see today. In 1964 Volkswagen bought Auto Union who owned Audi. In 1969 they also purchased NSU Motorenwerke AG, and merged the two to form the Audi brand we know today.
In 1973 the Passat went into production, with a range if engines topping off at 110bhp. In 1974 the first of Volkswagen's now much beloved Golf rolled off the production line at Wolfsburg. The Golf's popularity is almost immediate, and it is crowned the successor to the Beetle. 1975 saw the Polo for the first time, and in 1976 the GTI was added to the Golf line up, now one of Volkswagen's most iconic cars. The sports feel must have appealed to Volkswagen because Scirocco hatchback was released in the same year, a sports car which was relaunched again in 2008 and proved very popular both first and second time round.
The 1980s and 1990s were a relatively quiet time for Volkswagen. The American market fell sharply in the 1980s, rising with the new car introductions, they promptly falling again. The next generation of Golf went into production in 1983 (who can forget the famous advert featuring Paula Hamilton in a fur coat?) and the Lupo TDI was launched in 1999 as the first production car to be able to offer fuel consumption of 3 litres per 100 kilometers. In 1982 Volkswagen signed a cooperation agreement with SEAT, which they bought outright by the end of 1986.
In August 2002 the Touareg luxury off roader came into production opening up a whole new market for Volkswagen, the popular high end 4x4 segment. The Touareg was well equipped and more affordable than many other vehicles in this area, with a range of petrol and diesel engines available. In December of the same year the Touran compact van/people carrier was introduced, available with 5 or 7 seats, and proved very popular with families requiring the flexibility of space it offers. In 2008 the Tiguan, a baby Touareg was rolled out, with a facelift due in 2012.
Things didn't go as well as planned for Volkswagen upon the original launch of the Phaeton luxury limousine in 2003. Maybe as a victim of their own success 'the people's car' company had launched a vehicle well beyond the means of the masses. The Phaeton was great value for money, but with such a high price tag many who could afford it did not associate the marque with the class of vehicle it was trying to penetrate. The cars depreciated quickly from new, but proved more popular on the second hand market as a truly affordable luxury car. While the VW Phaeton has not been given the credit it may deserve in the UK, the second generation proved popular in China in 2010.
Volkswagen have always strived to produce the best, budget friendly, high quality cars they can produce. From hot hatches to people carriers, sports coupes to luxury limousines, Volswagen have gained a high profile in almost every sector they have touched. New innovations and great marketing, as well as impressive engineering and high build quality have helped keep this historic mark at the front of our minds when iconic cars are discussed, from the Beetle to The Thing, the Golf to the Scirocco.
Volkswagen's history has been varied and never dull, with new inspiration, ideas, and models filling the years. Peter Cooper Volkswagen Group based on the South Coast have a wide range of used Volkswagen used cars in Hampshire, as well as all the services you'd expect from a leading main dealership including Volkswagen servicing, body repairs, Motability and more.
Philip Loughran is a freelance author who writes about a variety of companies. For Southampton garage services he recommends www.petercoopergroup.co.uk
