Super engineer who shaped the entire Volkswagen Group has just resigned from all missions – he was trying to freeze out the CEO, but was instead himself ostracized. In this interview with German auto motor und sport in 2010 he talks about how Audi’s Quattro AWD system came into being, and he also tells of their car ownership.
There was a abruptly terminated on the career within the Volkswagen Group for Ferdinand Piëch. He was Chairman of the Board for many years and tried to end “freeze out” the company’s CEO Martin Winterkorn – but it backfired, and now he and his wife Ursula Piëch left all assignments at Volkswagen.
Ferdinand Piëch had a huge influence on where Volkswagen is today. German Auto Motor und Sport interviewed him in autumn 2010 and received among others know what Piëch have in the garage – you can read about below.
In addition to moving up the Audi on premium steps Ferdinand Piëch been involved in large investment in the four-wheel drive system Quattro, and the crazy engineering projects Bugatti Veyron and the Volkswagen Phaeton.
The classic racing legendary Porsche 917 is just one of the impressive projects that Ferdinand Piëch behind. Porsche 917 was very successful in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• Who originally came up with the idea of all-wheel drive of the Audi?
“The idea I had before my time at Audi. It is thus much older than many people think. When I was still Porsche. The development manager and I had bought two Jensen from England, one with four-wheel drive and a two-wheel drive. The wheel drive was much faster on the slippery track because the chassis of the car with four-wheel drive was so badly set. We endeavored not to improve Jensen’s four-wheel drive. We thought that the British had already made the best of the situation and the subject was forgotten. “
” The next step was a winter trip with Volkswagen Iltis. Despite its high center of gravity was superior to all front wheel drive cars on slippery roads. After The journey asked Audi’s head of chassis and powertrains if he could not get to experiment with the Iltis-components. They fit perfectly in a Audi 80 “.
• Four-wheel drive of the Audi was thus a kind of” undercover- Project “?
” It was secret work. Therefore, we needed approval from Volkswagen Development Director Ernst Fiala. We showed our four-wheel drive Audi 80 for him in Vienna and his wife went straight to a parking lot. In the driveway locked up wheel drive and the car jumped the curve. After it did not want, Ernst Fiala drive the car more. But the car had still proved its advantages on slippery roads and he said that if we tweaked ‘jumping’ this could be absolutely fantastic. “
The relationship between Volkswagen boss Martin Winterkorn and the group’s chairman Ferdinand Piëch became increasingly infected by the end. Piëch has repeatedly quickly dismissed managers who did not deliver. This picture was taken at an earlier time.
• But the head of development was not the only obstacle?
“After him, we have to convince the sales manager of Volkswagen, since it was they who marketed the Audi at the time. He became convinced in Turracher Höhe -passet in Austria. We managed to run faster uphill workout with four-wheel drive than any other with front wheel drive and tire chains. “
Ferdinand Piëch says he convinced the head of the Volkswagen Group, Toni Schmücker, the benefits of all-wheel drive on a hill Ingolstadt fire department had watered to make the ground slippery. The manager had to drive a rear wheel drive BMW 3 Series (when he got stuck after a third), a front wheel drive Audi 80 (fixed for half) and a four-wheel drive Audi 80 (here he came all the way up).
• How important was motor sport Quattro?
“It was easy to introduce the message of the four wheel drivers. Walter Röhrl said that even a trained monkey could win with Quattro.”
• But at the beginning there were some problems with all-wheel drive?
“The first system was designed so that the border had all wheels as much power. It is more difficult to handle than under- or oversteer . Today you put on easily over steering on four-wheel drive. In this way, even a layman to zone …! Previous considered absolute neutrality to be the fastest. On a track where the car may slightly faster, but when you lose the car can almost did not catch it. It was difficult to manage the border. “
• What was the most important contest success of the Quattro? The victory in the Pikes Peak in the USA?
“It was one of them. It would be interesting to see if Walter Röhrl would be faster with a Bugatti Veyron with 1200 horsepower. Then we had a peak power of only 650 horsepower … “
• In rallying world showed up more and more mid-engine cars. Why did not the Audi any?
“We built one, of course, in secret. And I think it was auto motor und sport that ratted on us in an article As the project was stopped by Volkswagen. The car stands today at the Audi museum in Ingolstadt. “
• How is it that so many rally and racing applications made to the Quattro was put into series production?
” In motorsport you can of about three months to see if you are a good or bad engineering. In series production, you need two to three years. In addition, motiviationen much higher. If you then transfer it to series production is very good. “
• What is the next step in the four-wheel drive?
“Electrification. Then you can send the right amount of power to each wheel. And you can really approach the limit in terms of both acceleration and braking. “
Interview: Auto Motor und Sport
The cars that Ferdinand Piëch has been in the garage
Bentley Continental GTC Speed
I am convinced that Volkswagen will do well even without Piëchs help.
No comments:
Post a Comment