A newly published 40-page brochure looks at six decades of research and development at Volkswagen, from early prototypes in the 1950s to the autonomous driving of today.
In Ahead of the time, the German car manufacturer recounts its R&D history. Milestones covered include 1955’s EA 48 study vehicle with its front-wheel drive and unitary body, the first crash tests in 1965 and the ESVW I research vehicle from 1972, which helped significantly improve the safety of subsequent production models.
The publication also looks at Volkswagen’s interest in ‘driving without actually driving yourself’, something it has been pursuing since the 1972 creation of its Future Research department. Development of the digital cockpit is also covered, from the first digital speedometer – DigiFiz – in 1986, to trip computers, multifunction displays and Active Info Display.