What kind of car is that? It looks like a big Beetle! If ever there was
a car in search of a context and market, it was the VW Type 4.
Volkswagen's first foray into the upscale sector brought engineering
innovation to Wolfsburg. It also tried to convince worldwide buyers that
VW still had the right stuff. With design origins in the Porsche
consultancy, the signs were hopeful. However, globally, the automarket
was rapidly changing.
The VW Type 4's portfolio ran to unitary construction and fuel
injection, but had to face fancy competition from Detroit's European
subsidiaries. All the while, VW was searching for its future road, and
faced challenging developments. The fuel crisis and Japanese competition
in North America kept the pressure on at Wolfsburg.
Could the VW 411 and 412's solid traditional virtues carry the day? Then
and now the Type 4's unbreakable VW quality, and flat out
sustainability, appealed to air cooled devotees. The 411 and 412 brought
a new dimension in comfort to VW, and its hardware design was utilized
by the air cooled clan both on and off road. The Type 4 even had a
sports car connection, and never lost the power to surprise.