IN SEARCH OF JOSEF GANZ - AUTOLINE AFTER HOURS 140

EV Channels Review

This episode of Autoline After Hours delves into the fascinating, albeit controversial, history of the Volkswagen Beetle's origins, focusing on Jewish engineer Josef Ganz. Author Paul Schilperoord presents compelling research suggesting Ganz conceptualized the "people's car" and the Beetle's core design elements before Ferdinand Porsche. The discussion highlights the complexities of tracing automotive innovation, acknowledging Porsche's influence while emphasizing Ganz's foundational role. The program also touches upon the current state of electric vehicles, with a skeptical view from hosts John McElroy and Peter De Lorenzo, contrasting with David Kiley's more optimistic stance, particularly regarding government incentives. Additionally, the Mazda CX-5's "clean sheet" design and driving dynamics, including its innovative weight-reduction strategies, are praised, with a mention of its upcoming diesel variant for the US market. The revised Volkswagen Beetle's aesthetics are also positively reviewed.