Wolfsburg, June 2008. “Volkswagen AG” – according to a recent study by the renowned German “Center of Automotive” (CoA) – “is the automotive corporation with the greatest innovative strength of the year.” The reasoning of the CoA with headquarters in the Cologne metropolitan area: “For the third year in a row, the Wolfsburg-based corporation was able to increase its innovative activities relative to its competitors.” A strong complement.


Researching for the world of tomorrow

One of the focal points of these “innovative activities” is Volkswagen Group Research. The ideas for the world of tomorrow are developed here in cooperation with all of the Group’s brands. One theme standing out more than ever as a central focus is the use of intelligent electronics. That is because it helps to improve the safety, dynamics, economy and ecological balance of automobiles. Across the globe, more than 700 researchers work for the company in Germany, the USA, China and Japan. They are continually striving to network the car more intensively to its environment, to other vehicles and finally – via intuitively operated human-machine interfaces – to the drivers themselves. The Group showcases a line-up of its latest innovations once a year on the occasion of what is known as “Research Day”.


Bundled technologies for production

Lane Assist and chassis control. Just how vigorously research project findings flow into production development is well represented on the Group's latest sedan: the Passat CC from Volkswagen. Upon request, this recently launched model can bring together more assistance and vehicle dynamics systems than any other model. Take the example of “Lane Assist”: This lane-keeping assistant that is being introduced to production on the Passat CC was initially presented at Research Day 2004; back then it still carried the name “Lane Departure Warning”. Or the example of “DCC adaptive chassis control”: this system offers three different chassis and steering characteristics at the press of a button. Functions like these were presented on a Passat prototype named CARmäleon at Research Day 2007.

Park Assist and distance control. “Park Assist” was also presented initially by Research at a driver assistance systems workshop it hosted in 2004; today it is offered on the Touran, Tiguan, Passat sedan, Passat Variant and new Passat CC. Also debuting as a research project was “Adaptive Cruise Control”, or “ACC” for short, which is used today as an “automatic distance control system” on the Phaeton, Touareg and all Passat versions. The new Passat CC marks the first time that “Lane Assist”, “DCC”, “Park Assist” and “ACC” can be ordered together as bundled technology.


Quicker brakes for greater safety

PyroBrake. Just as the systems now implemented on the Passat CC were still “pie in the sky” technologies until just recently, research projects are continually flowing into production development. Volkswagen Group Research is presenting the current range of these projects at “Research Day 2008”. Take the example of the “PyroBrake”: the pyrotechnically ignited “PyroBrake” becomes active when nothing else will work and an accident is about to happen. Key data: the system can initiate emergency braking within 80 milliseconds – that is well in advance of an accident – and it can thereby reduce the impact velocity by five km/h on average. In a crash this could make a world of difference. The “PyroBrake” is being presented on a Passat and a Golf.

Accident research. Demonstrating the eminent importance of research and development of such technologies is the example of ESP. It was ten years ago when Volkswagen Accident Research analyzed the potential of the electronic stabilization program. The results were so positive that later in the same year the Golf was launched in Europe with ESP as standard equipment.



Read on:

• Electronic test driver
• Support in parking structures and in front of supermarkets
• Accident avoidance by relieving the driver
• Networking cars to one another