Ferdinand Piëch has died

The Volkswagen group is in mourning. Professor Ferdinand Piëch, petit-fils de Ferdinand Porsche, et ancien grand patron de l’entité allemande, est décédé le week-end dernier à l’âge de 82 ans.

The DPA press agency specifies that it was informed of the sad news by an email from the family's lawyer, citing the words of Ferdinand Piëch's wife.

Before becoming the great captain of industry at Volkswagen, Ferdinand Piëch had officiated on the technical level, integrating Porsche in the 60s. His first feat of arms came quickly with the creation of an engine block with an architecture that had become legendary and still in force near Weissach: the flat 6-cylinder.

Also to his credit is one of the cars that gave Porsche some of its finest hours: the 917, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

After Porsche, it was towards Audi that Ferdinand Piëch turned in the 70s. Here again, Piëch's genius was expressed with the development of a technology which would revolutionize the history of the firm with the rings: the Quattro.

Once again, competition will prove to be the most logical field of experimentation and development, and the Audi Quattro will crush world rallies for a time in the mid-80s. For Ferdinand Piëch, however, the time has come to rise to the top of the Volkswagen group.

In addition to Audi, Piëch is working to develop the Wolsbourg firm by initiating several brand integrations, including Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti. Remaining at the head of VW until 2002, before becoming chairman of the supervisory board, Ferdinand Piëch left this position in 2015 just before the now famous Dieselgate affair which would seriously shake the group.

CARhebdo extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Professor Ferdinand Piëch.