Having enjoyed this podcast for years now, I couldn't help but feel some kind of weird parental pride while watching the Icons episode. All the buildup and excitement and dread finally realized the way that it was intended was very, very gratifying. Congratulations.
Perhaps I’m wrong but I’d argue that Akio Toyoda’s “Make Toyota Fun again” approach is the closest modern equivalent to Piech… He was directly involved in the development of cars like the LFA brought GR to the forefront. Made Toyota one of the leading sports car manufacturers in the world right now (yes not all of them are Toyotas at heart but if you think about it, he’s creating profit for the company whilst giving enthusiastic consumers a chance to own a sports car), and he brought Toyota back into the racing scene under the aforementioned GR brand…
The Golf key being the same as the Veyron one, nearly is my favorite Piechism and I love the fact it was outlined in the video. The Piechisode is upon us! I'm glad the podcast isn't ending... makes me really happy!
So, I learned something new today. Apparently, that e39 M5 you mentioned, in which VW stuffed a W10 engine... was so good that Piech turned it into his daily driver for a while. I WANT IT.
Someone needs to find this car and capture / share the experience. Can't imagine a W10 in an E39 chassis... but if I do, I suspect the chassis was a I6 with R&P steering, as the W10 would be long and narrow like the standard I6 M52/4 motor...
The V10 Diesel was gear driven which was great other than needing HIGH zinc oil to not wear the cam lobes because of the fuel pump. Nothing else I have owned has been able to tow as effortlessly. It was BRUTAL to accelerate 0-45mph.
'Ab jetzt werde ich die ganze Zeit auf deutsch sprechen' That might be the most German we ever heard you speak - which is a shame! Greetings from Ingolstadt!
Piech was just an honorary doctor (two times from Vienna and Zurich), but he was a real (part time) professor at University of Applied Sciences Zwickau where he held lectures Automotive technology.
Subaru was putting 4WD in passenger cars since 1972. Yes, it was on-demand AWD (although with option to manually lock central clutch making it effectively 4x4 with locked central diff) in budget and underpowered cars but it was available for years before Audi's Quattro and it arrived in WRC few months before Quattro, as Subaru Rally Team Japan (Subaru's world rally team didn't existed at the time) ran one of Leone-adjacent models with 4WD, winning Safari rally in group 1.
I loved the episode I am honestly a huge fan of both of you since you originally started this podcast. I didn't know much about the Godfather. I couldn't have picked a better duo to learn about him.
Just wanted to say i loved all three of these Piech pieces (pre-episode, the special, and this post-episode) and it was a great listen for a long time VW enthusiast. As I get older, I'm starting to understand why some people have a favorite era of their favorite automaker. It's hard to see VW ever recapturing the magic they had when Piech was at the helm.
Right after I started to notice Jason was wheezing when he inhaled, the bird popped up. Hilarious. Took me five tries to freeze frame to identify it !!!
Great episode and Ferdinand was my favorite CEO of any car company. He was a very hard but fair boss. He told you exactly what he wanted and helped give you all the tools you could ask for. But he didn't care for excuses and not getting results. He also cared for the workers more then the shareholders which doesn't exist in todays companies.
Jason, due to the fact you can speak in the Deutsch. Do you find speaking to German Engineers in German, there more likely to tell you the truth over what marketing and corporate wants into the public. Cause you always seem to find the "real" reason why German cars are set up in specific ways.
@@redlion145IIRC, Jason enrolled on Mech. Eng. but dropped out and got Law degree. He talked in one of the episodes, possibly the one on how to become an automotive journalist. But for sure, with a natural inclination to cars and car mechanics, he possesses a wide and strong technical knowledge, which is demonstrated with every episode here and on Hagerty.
Heya, it's not that they tell the truth, per se, but they're more comfortable talking in their mother language - so they're sometimes more willing to elaborate and have a full conversation rather than just answer the question as quickly and clearly as possible.
By frugal I think Derek means Ferry Porsche (a former SS member) refused to pay any fair compensation the the company's Jewish co-founder who was forced out prior to WW2. Today his fair share would be worth $70B "As the case went to court in late September 1950, a lawyer for Porsche and Piëch proposed a settlement to Rosenberger's lawyer: 50,000 deutsch marks [or $144,000] plus a car. Rosenberger was offered a choice: a luxury version of the Volkswagen Beetle or a Porsche 356, the first sports car under the family name, designed by Porsche's son, Ferry. Rosenberger was still in Los Angeles, caring for his wife, who was ill so his lawyer accepted the settlement without consulting him. Instead, he informed Rosenberger by letter after the matter was concluded. Rosenberger ended up picking the Volkswagen Beetle."
Y'all have threated this episode for awhile. No wonder my 5 cyl. Jetta Sportwagen is such a great driving car 100 mph in the rain or hilarious in Autocross...Great episode! ❤
Worth the wait. Not a VW/Audi guy here, but did Dr P have a hand in the A2 aluminum car in Europe too? Suspect it was left out due availability perhaps, which was also an impressive achievement for the masses. Thank you for top quality automotive important events/achievements JC and Team.
The A2 was a platform to extrude the pillar in production for the A8, plus the A2 3L 1.2TDi is a step forward from that, magnesium wheels, different panels, wiper, glass, alloy parts, insulation, fuel tank and if you can spot it the rear spoiler to get 90mpg.
Finally. Well worth the wait. Would've liked to hear a little about the 914 and the handshake deal with his brother Ernst's father-in-law Heinrich Notdoff. Great episode regardless :)
My thoughts on the Piech/Winterkorn battle is that it was over Piech finding out about Dieselgate and Piech wanting Winterkorn to change course and do it right with Winterkorn responding something to the likes of "you can't make me and there is nothing you can do about it." From that point on it was a battle that Piech would eventually lose. That, to me, is the most logical cause and effect based on the facts that I know them and the two people in question. I could still be entirely wrong on the matter but that is my current thought on the matter. So did Piech know? I think so but I think the entire fight between the two was Piech trying to get Winterkorn to stop and save the company from disaster. I don't think the right question is did Piech know about dieselgate. I think it is did he try to do something about it and the battle between him and Winterkorn and his resigning was over him trying to do something about it.
Well, you did it. I never was much a fan of Piëch’s, or most of the cars produced under his guidance, but you’ve adjusted my outlook. I have a new appreciation for the Piëch era now. I wasn’t ignorant of the milestones of his career. It’s just that I don’t particularly dig many of the things he’s credited with bringing into the automotive mainstream. All-wheel drive, Diesels, five-cylinder engines, turbocharging, not really my bag. And I’ll admit to spending a couple of decades being an absolutely insufferable snob about the superiority of Japanese quality and reliability (a few Mk3 and Mk4 VW products might have contributed to this attitude, too). I dismissed all those cars as little more than a waste of raw materials because it was so frequently an exercise in patience (and financial planning) to keep them running properly. Basically, if the cars were built and engineered so well, why did they break so often? But maybe there’s something to be said for ambition and experimentation. Maybe now that cars are so mechanically homogenized, there’s room for me to appreciate things precisely because they are an alternative to the things I normally enjoy. Maybe I don’t have to want a car to like it.
Great Episode Fellas - well worth the wait. My only gripe: The generations quote is from Otto von Bismarck - Piech might have used it but it does not originate from him ;)
I get why the Iltis wasn't brought up during the Icons episode, thanks for covering it here, but know that tech came from the Munga 4x4 and a Audi 100 trans was modified for the Iltis to use the same idea from the Munga :)
Skoda is not specific for emerging eastern europe economies. But rather are marketed as biggest in his class. For example the Skoda Superb Combi has a boot capacity of 660 litres.
My goodness, whata great episode, Jason. Honestly, it could have been a series of shows on each and every car in that video. Very well done, and shame on you for making me want another VR6 car.
Maybe Jason mixed up the words AWD and 4WD. 1970's Subarus were 4WD. Jason said that Audi's were first to 4WD a couple of times in the last few episodes but that's just not the case.
Yes and no. Yes in that Subaru beat Audi to it. No in that it was Audi's efforts with AWD that really made the car world take notice of AWD and start to use it as well. Subaru was never trying to beat anyone else in the car market. They were always content on doing their own thing. As a result no other company really cared about Subaru's AWD efforts.
@@a_random_tank_152mmera7 All-wheel drive is essentially a marketing term and is synonymous with 4WD. It means to drive all four tires. There are four types of 4WD: part-time, on-demand, full-time and active torque split. If you look at Subaru marketing, the terms 4WD and all-wheel drive are both used even after phasing out its on-demand 4WD found on the Leone.
About the diesel gate, the EPA demands were impossible to meet in that size category. The engines were too small to produce enough power to run the car and the accessories demanded in U.S market. So, instead of developing an entire engine family/car for one market alone, they tweaked the software. Those same engines run perfectly fine in other markets, on smaller cars with less stuff packed in, mainly AC compressor and smaller or no turbo. Possibly no power windows nor mirrors, lower average speed and more actual driving. The 1.9 TD pre chamber injection hit regularly 60-70 MPG and the 1.6 TD pre chamber injection did 75+ MPG after Cat and EGR delete and pump&boost tune. And that mk3 engine family was the high distance vehicle. With regular maintenance 600 000 km, 800 000 if careful. One car went over a million, then the coolant hoses started to come off one by one, eventually killing the engine. These were all Sedans and Wagons, although the Polo(Seat) had sometimes good engines too. In mk4 those numbers dropped to around 400 000 km while the engine displacement grew to 2.0, but the block never did. So those with the direct injection had all kinds of issues. OBD4 regulations were clearly too much for VAG, they haven't built a decent car since.
Hello! Just wanted to add in a possible fact (I haven't been able to confirm its validity from my research). Apparently one of the inspirations that led Ferry Porsche to disband the company from any involvement with the Porsche family was from Soichiro Honda who prohibited his son - Hirotoshi Honda; Founder of Mugen - from taking control of the Honda Motor Company and passed the reigns to outside professionals instead.
Also running the camshafts and engine accessories off of gears is how aircraft engines are designed. You guys stated Piechs education background is aeronautics and aviation. He probably looked to the design of aircraft engines when designing his own.
Missed one of the senior Porsche's more interesting projects - the Auto Union grand prix cars of the 1930s. 600HP, mid-engine, skinny rear tires - a definite driver killer.
You've outdone yourselves gentlemen and it's hard to believe the long awaited Piechisode has finally come to fruition. Jason I find it ironic that you were too scared to meet Piech because in a weird way you both are very similar in your respective careers. Piech made the ultimate CEO because he was an engineer first and understood what it took to extract the most out of men and machines. He never worried about the money because he knew that would come naturally by selling a quality product. By comparison I feel you are the best automotive journalist because you're able to combine your engineering background, law degree, and wise-ass upbringing to create content that is factual and entertaining. Others in the industry are too dry, while others are just too much fluff and not enough substance and you and your team continue to raise the bar with every production.
You missed one of Audi's biggest Motorsport achievements. 1994 when they entered the A4 Quattro into every single national touring car championship in the world and won them all that year. 😮
They didn't though? In 1994 not only Audi 80 was still in use by many Audi's factory teams around the world, neither A4 or 80 won all (or even most) national touring car championships around the world. Neither in driver or manufacturer's championships. BMW won in Germany Alfa in Britain Peugeot won in France Toyota won in Japan BMW won in Spain BMW won in New Zealand Both Audi 80 and A4 were really successful but they weren't dominating machines (outside of 1996 BTCC season when "aero wars" era started and it was regulatory shitstorm which ended with ban on AWD and heavy restrictions on RWD which killed both Audi and BMW in the series until the end of 90's).
37:00 There were plenty of Diesels here in europe before the "Pumpe-Düse TDI" you guys are talking about. There were lot's of NA Diesels still around and even VW sold "SDI" models new in 1998 iirc. The reason for the NA Diesel were that they were still more fuel efficient than any gas car, but also that Diesel fuel was cheaper than gasoline. So while not as fast, most people didn't care much. Where i live Diesel cars until maybe 5 years ago were the majority of cars sold, and at times almost 90% of new cars were Diesels. And we benefitted greatly from Turbodiesels, and then Pumpe Düse (which was the thing you guys talk about at 37:00) and then Common rail Diesels. Mostly because car tax here was calculated from the power of the engine since the 90's. And if you got a 90 hp NA gasoline car or a 90hp Turbodiesel car that cost the same to run but the TD was actually faster and used less fuel. And the Diesel cost less to buy too, as we had and still have a car cale tax (on new cars) that is calculated on the fuel consumption. That's why everybody bought Diesel cars here since the late 80's. 1:06:00 The Veyron: It's not like they didn't struggle with that... It took them several years longer than expected because they couldn't get it to do what it was supposed to do reliably.
At long last! Gotta say, I disagree with your opinion about the R8, Jason. That car was the most successful halo project in the modern history of the automobile. It served as the shining symbol to the masses that Audi was back and that their lineup was new and improved. Maybe you couldn't afford the R8, but you could see yourself in an S5. It's still one of the most head turning and beautiful cars ever made. I count it as a brilliant marketing stunt. It only just so happens to have been done for Piech's favorite child. P.S. 1:17:16 you missed a dove here, Jake.
I can atest to the pedal position being the culprit to "unintended acceleration" My 2nd car was an 84 audi 4000. (thank you again Mom!) brillant car and even after I hit the wrong pedal reversing (into a tree) the car was amazing! you could not kill it! Would love to find another one, so far Ive only been able to find a matchbox car of it, in oceania blue just like mine
This was awesome episode listening to it twice 😂😂😂. Two legends talking about legend of automotive industry. Keep up with great work, and you should come to Europe to test out Cupra, Seat, Škoda brands😊😂
The path to the 917 was set off by the change in endurance rules for the prototype class after 1967. The FIA had decided they didn't want those nasty, bellowing American V8s and reduced the limit on the prototype class to 3 liters. When Ferrari decided not to develop a new prototype design for these rules in 1968, it was a gift to Porsche. (Ferrari didn't have a successful 3 liter car until the 312PB started winning in 1972.) The 907 swept the Daytona 24 Hours in 1968 with a 1-2-3 overall finish and when the 908 came out, it was the top car in the prototype class in 1968 and 1969. But the rules had a loophole. There was also a class with a 5 liter limit that required that 50 cars be built for homologation. Ford had produced a limit run of a road version of the GT40 for discerning enthusiasts who prized noise and discomfort. They made enough of these that the GT40 met the homologation rules for the new class, and John Wyer began field a team to prepare and enter GT40s in the World Sports Car Championship Wyer's cars won the WSC championship in 1968 and Le Mans in 1968 and 1969. I imagine that after losing Le Mans in 1968, Porsche/PIech decided that the way to go was to build a car for the 50-examples class. They basically joined two 911 engines nose-to-tail for a 4.5 liter flat-12, which was entered at Le Mans in 1969. The car was hella fast, but unreliable. And the combination of extreme top speed and poorly developed aerodynamics meant the drivers really needed adult diapers on the Mulsanne straight. Porsche provided cars to Wyer to run in 1970 and someone (Piech? Wyer?) developed the upswept rear end that cost a bit of top speed but made the car manageable. Ferrari introduced the 512 in the class for 1970, but it never really was able to match up with the 917. The FIA switched the rules again after 1971 and eliminated the 5 liter class. The 917 was clearly a car that was too fast for the tracks on the time. It was faster around Spa than F1 cars - 14 seconds a lap faster -with an average speed of over 160 MPH.
Having enjoyed this podcast for years now, I couldn't help but feel some kind of weird parental pride while watching the Icons episode. All the buildup and excitement and dread finally realized the way that it was intended was very, very gratifying. Congratulations.
It was like denying an orgasm for several years
@@johnbacon4997 The Pi-ëdge-isode, if you will.
I’m listening to this as an active Porsche technician. The car fixed itself after hearing Ferdinand Piëch’s name.
Underrated
Nice! A/C is dead on my hooptie 986. Going to go out and yell "Piëch, Piëch, Piëch" at it and see if she'll self-mend. Cheers!
@@amyboehm802 Piëch said he doesn't suffer from heat and used to dismantle air conditioners in the hotels. So might not help your case...
Yep i was listening to this in my audi and the check engine light went away when they said piëch
Funny!
The pigeon poking his head up behind Jason’s shoulder was a nice touch 😂
Spaces and Hyphens of all latitudes and longitudes - assemble! Piëchisode is here!!
an unbelieveable crisp clap from DTS: it's really here the piechisode
Perhaps I’m wrong but I’d argue that Akio Toyoda’s “Make Toyota Fun again” approach is the closest modern equivalent to Piech… He was directly involved in the development of cars like the LFA brought GR to the forefront. Made Toyota one of the leading sports car manufacturers in the world right now (yes not all of them are Toyotas at heart but if you think about it, he’s creating profit for the company whilst giving enthusiastic consumers a chance to own a sports car), and he brought Toyota back into the racing scene under the aforementioned GR brand…
Yes!
Now you guys have to do one on Antoine Brodözer, inventor of the lift kit
+2
And his business partner Herbert Needledick
The Golf key being the same as the Veyron one, nearly is my favorite Piechism and I love the fact it was outlined in the video.
The Piechisode is upon us! I'm glad the podcast isn't ending... makes me really happy!
It's incredible that the Piëchisode is finally real, we've been waiting since the time Carmudgeon was on Issimi!
The pëich-tacular follow up....
The longest ICONS episode to the longest Pëich-mudgeon episode... Im hoping it's somehow got Sacco Easter eggs too ..
Haha. that little bird hooting on Jasons shoulder around 15 min and throughout was way too enjoyable.
So, I learned something new today. Apparently, that e39 M5 you mentioned, in which VW stuffed a W10 engine... was so good that Piech turned it into his daily driver for a while. I WANT IT.
Someone needs to find this car and capture / share the experience. Can't imagine a W10 in an E39 chassis... but if I do, I suspect the chassis was a I6 with R&P steering, as the W10 would be long and narrow like the standard I6 M52/4 motor...
The V10 Diesel was gear driven which was great other than needing HIGH zinc oil to not wear the cam lobes because of the fuel pump.
Nothing else I have owned has been able to tow as effortlessly. It was BRUTAL to accelerate 0-45mph.
'Ab jetzt werde ich die ganze Zeit auf deutsch sprechen'
That might be the most German we ever heard you speak - which is a shame!
Greetings from Ingolstadt!
I actually thought the 407th episode would be the piechisode.😂😂😂
The passion you two gentlemen show in this episode is infectious, well worth the wait, thank you for all you do
Piech was just an honorary doctor (two times from Vienna and Zurich), but he was a real (part time) professor at University of Applied Sciences Zwickau where he held lectures Automotive technology.
Amazing.
New idea for next 4 years: Saccosode!
The Episacco
Subaru was putting 4WD in passenger cars since 1972. Yes, it was on-demand AWD (although with option to manually lock central clutch making it effectively 4x4 with locked central diff) in budget and underpowered cars but it was available for years before Audi's Quattro and it arrived in WRC few months before Quattro, as Subaru Rally Team Japan (Subaru's world rally team didn't existed at the time) ran one of Leone-adjacent models with 4WD, winning Safari rally in group 1.
One of the pre Quattro dark age Audis had it as well, I would have to dig around for it.
@@CoreyGolphenee I think it was still under NSU brand but I am not sure about this one.
Your editor needs a raise. The clip after "he was horny" killed me.
finally after 3 years the piechesiode
Literal, Audible Gasp came out of my mouth! My coworkers probably thought I was crazy! So excited for the ACTUAL PIECHISODE!!
I loved the episode I am honestly a huge fan of both of you since you originally started this podcast. I didn't know much about the Godfather. I couldn't have picked a better duo to learn about him.
Just wanted to say i loved all three of these Piech pieces (pre-episode, the special, and this post-episode) and it was a great listen for a long time VW enthusiast. As I get older, I'm starting to understand why some people have a favorite era of their favorite automaker. It's hard to see VW ever recapturing the magic they had when Piech was at the helm.
Oh man what I would give to actually hear an entire carmudgeon show episode where Jason only speaks German
The piechisode was an absolute masterpiece. You guys never disappoint
I love that CARmen, the Cardmudgeon pigeon made its introduction on the PIECHISODE episode. How iconic!
Always a joy listening to Jason talk about VWs. ❤
LOL the little bird at 15:26
🐦
I’m just happy I own a 5 cylinder car thanks to Piëch. I’ve waited for this episode and Icons episode for so long! Thank you!!!
WTF? Cute bird popping up over Jason's left shoulder at ~15:26?!
A couple more times, too. Easter (parrot) eggs!
…with sound effects :-)
Right after I started to notice Jason was wheezing when he inhaled, the bird popped up. Hilarious.
Took me five tries to freeze frame to identify it !!!
I think its a Morning Dove, because he sounds like one when he was wheezing :D
@@erics3596 mourning*
Great episode and Ferdinand was my favorite CEO of any car company. He was a very hard but fair boss. He told you exactly what he wanted and helped give you all the tools you could ask for. But he didn't care for excuses and not getting results. He also cared for the workers more then the shareholders which doesn't exist in todays companies.
IT'S HERE!!!!!!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!!!!!
Thank you Jason for that Boeing rant. We all pissed off at them.
Jason, due to the fact you can speak in the Deutsch. Do you find speaking to German Engineers in German, there more likely to tell you the truth over what marketing and corporate wants into the public. Cause you always seem to find the "real" reason why German cars are set up in specific ways.
Pretty sure Jason has a mechanical engineering degree. Whether it's knowing that "language" or the German fluency, he does tend to get the answers.
@@redlion145yep
It's the same with Davide Cironi's interviews of Italian automotive icons instead of anyone in English using an interpreter.
@@redlion145IIRC, Jason enrolled on Mech. Eng. but dropped out and got Law degree. He talked in one of the episodes, possibly the one on how to become an automotive journalist. But for sure, with a natural inclination to cars and car mechanics, he possesses a wide and strong technical knowledge, which is demonstrated with every episode here and on Hagerty.
Heya, it's not that they tell the truth, per se, but they're more comfortable talking in their mother language - so they're sometimes more willing to elaborate and have a full conversation rather than just answer the question as quickly and clearly as possible.
25:00 loved the cute birdy 🐦🦜
Wow just wow. Thank you guys. Amazing piece and a great follow up to the Icons episode. VW group is now a much larger blip on my radar now.
Piech also did the VW W2 Nardo, which no one ever talks about, even though it was a really cool supercar.
By frugal I think Derek means Ferry Porsche (a former SS member) refused to pay any fair compensation the the company's Jewish co-founder who was forced out prior to WW2. Today his fair share would be worth $70B
"As the case went to court in late September 1950, a lawyer for Porsche and Piëch proposed a settlement to Rosenberger's lawyer: 50,000 deutsch marks [or $144,000] plus a car. Rosenberger was offered a choice: a luxury version of the Volkswagen Beetle or a Porsche 356, the first sports car under the family name, designed by Porsche's son, Ferry. Rosenberger was still in Los Angeles, caring for his wife, who was ill so his lawyer accepted the settlement without consulting him. Instead, he informed Rosenberger by letter after the matter was concluded. Rosenberger ended up picking the Volkswagen Beetle."
.....well that's lovely.
Not buying it.
Y'all have threated this episode for awhile. No wonder my 5 cyl. Jetta Sportwagen is such a great driving car 100 mph in the rain or hilarious in Autocross...Great episode! ❤
Appreciate the amount of knowledge and history in this ep, must watch for any enthusiast
The diesel car before the TDI in Europe was the Mercedes Taxi.
Well, it's been a great run. Thanks for all the episodes guys
Worth the wait. Not a VW/Audi guy here, but did Dr P have a hand in the A2 aluminum car in Europe too? Suspect it was left out due availability perhaps, which was also an impressive achievement for the masses. Thank you for top quality automotive important events/achievements JC and Team.
The A2 was a platform to extrude the pillar in production for the A8, plus the A2 3L 1.2TDi is a step forward from that, magnesium wheels, different panels, wiper, glass, alloy parts, insulation, fuel tank and if you can spot it the rear spoiler to get 90mpg.
You guys forgot Subaru. They put 4WD in the Japanese market 1972 Leone wagon (DL/GL in the US, we got the 4WD ones in 1975).
Loved that Icons. Best yet!
After years, it's finally here!
Fantastic episode, worththe wait. You guys are impressive with your depth of knowledge, and entertaining narration!
Finally. Well worth the wait. Would've liked to hear a little about the 914 and the handshake deal with his brother Ernst's father-in-law Heinrich Notdoff. Great episode regardless :)
It was truly amazing work from everyone involved. Thank you, so very much. Can we get an out take episode. Please...😊😊
My thoughts on the Piech/Winterkorn battle is that it was over Piech finding out about Dieselgate and Piech wanting Winterkorn to change course and do it right with Winterkorn responding something to the likes of "you can't make me and there is nothing you can do about it." From that point on it was a battle that Piech would eventually lose. That, to me, is the most logical cause and effect based on the facts that I know them and the two people in question. I could still be entirely wrong on the matter but that is my current thought on the matter. So did Piech know? I think so but I think the entire fight between the two was Piech trying to get Winterkorn to stop and save the company from disaster. I don't think the right question is did Piech know about dieselgate. I think it is did he try to do something about it and the battle between him and Winterkorn and his resigning was over him trying to do something about it.
Well, you did it. I never was much a fan of Piëch’s, or most of the cars produced under his guidance, but you’ve adjusted my outlook. I have a new appreciation for the Piëch era now.
I wasn’t ignorant of the milestones of his career. It’s just that I don’t particularly dig many of the things he’s credited with bringing into the automotive mainstream. All-wheel drive, Diesels, five-cylinder engines, turbocharging, not really my bag.
And I’ll admit to spending a couple of decades being an absolutely insufferable snob about the superiority of Japanese quality and reliability (a few Mk3 and Mk4 VW products might have contributed to this attitude, too). I dismissed all those cars as little more than a waste of raw materials because it was so frequently an exercise in patience (and financial planning) to keep them running properly.
Basically, if the cars were built and engineered so well, why did they break so often?
But maybe there’s something to be said for ambition and experimentation. Maybe now that cars are so mechanically homogenized, there’s room for me to appreciate things precisely because they are an alternative to the things I normally enjoy. Maybe I don’t have to want a car to like it.
Great Episode Fellas - well worth the wait.
My only gripe:
The generations quote is from Otto von Bismarck - Piech might have used it but it does not originate from him ;)
44:22 - 44:42 the last remaining braincell from being sick and crafting the Piëchisode checked out lol
I get why the Iltis wasn't brought up during the Icons episode, thanks for covering it here, but know that tech came from the Munga 4x4 and a Audi 100 trans was modified for the Iltis to use the same idea from the Munga :)
Maybe can we have a Marchionne episode in the future?
12:55 Turns out it’s much harder to run a company when you can’t exploit slave labour for your(and your family’s) own benefit.
Skoda is not specific for emerging eastern europe economies. But rather are marketed as biggest in his class. For example the Skoda Superb Combi has a boot capacity of 660 litres.
Great episode!! I learned so much more than I thought I knew cheers 🍻
Just a note, The B5 Passat never had the VR-6, that was in the B3 and B4 Passats. The B5 Passat had the 30V V-6 from the Audi lineup.
My Way Or Else: The Ferdinand Piech Story
This was absolutely fantastic. Thank you.
Awesome episode. Throughly enjoyed. The icons video was brilliant as well.
My goodness, whata great episode, Jason. Honestly, it could have been a series of shows on each and every car in that video. Very well done, and shame on you for making me want another VR6 car.
Audi's first AWD passenger car was 1980, Subaru's first was 1972. Japan "responding" to Audi/Germany's AWD cars is FAKE NEWS!
Maybe Jason mixed up the words AWD and 4WD. 1970's Subarus were 4WD. Jason said that Audi's were first to 4WD a couple of times in the last few episodes but that's just not the case.
Yes and no. Yes in that Subaru beat Audi to it. No in that it was Audi's efforts with AWD that really made the car world take notice of AWD and start to use it as well. Subaru was never trying to beat anyone else in the car market. They were always content on doing their own thing. As a result no other company really cared about Subaru's AWD efforts.
@@a_random_tank_152mmera7 All-wheel drive is essentially a marketing term and is synonymous with 4WD. It means to drive all four tires. There are four types of 4WD: part-time, on-demand, full-time and active torque split. If you look at Subaru marketing, the terms 4WD and all-wheel drive are both used even after phasing out its on-demand 4WD found on the Leone.
Speaking of Elon / Tesla , Sandy Munro had a break down rant this week. Please give some view on this , pretty please😊
Woooo!! FINALLLY!!! ❤❤🎉🎉🎉 also orded a shirt n hoodie...hopefully the shipping time from u.s to aust isnt too long (west coast that it)
About the diesel gate, the EPA demands were impossible to meet in that size category. The engines were too small to produce enough power to run the car and the accessories demanded in U.S market. So, instead of developing an entire engine family/car for one market alone, they tweaked the software. Those same engines run perfectly fine in other markets, on smaller cars with less stuff packed in, mainly AC compressor and smaller or no turbo. Possibly no power windows nor mirrors, lower average speed and more actual driving. The 1.9 TD pre chamber injection hit regularly 60-70 MPG and the 1.6 TD pre chamber injection did 75+ MPG after Cat and EGR delete and pump&boost tune. And that mk3 engine family was the high distance vehicle. With regular maintenance 600 000 km, 800 000 if careful. One car went over a million, then the coolant hoses started to come off one by one, eventually killing the engine. These were all Sedans and Wagons, although the Polo(Seat) had sometimes good engines too. In mk4 those numbers dropped to around 400 000 km while the engine displacement grew to 2.0, but the block never did. So those with the direct injection had all kinds of issues. OBD4 regulations were clearly too much for VAG, they haven't built a decent car since.
Instead they have sold us the ev scam. With a healthy 'tax credit' to swallow the lie.
Hello! Just wanted to add in a possible fact (I haven't been able to confirm its validity from my research). Apparently one of the inspirations that led Ferry Porsche to disband the company from any involvement with the Porsche family was from Soichiro Honda who prohibited his son - Hirotoshi Honda; Founder of Mugen - from taking control of the Honda Motor Company and passed the reigns to outside professionals instead.
Wonderful episode! It was worth the wait.
Also running the camshafts and engine accessories off of gears is how aircraft engines are designed. You guys stated Piechs education background is aeronautics and aviation. He probably looked to the design of aircraft engines when designing his own.
Years. In. The. Making.
I wish I could superlike this video, the demand for this episode has finally been satiated.
The engine blocks @48:12.
LOLOL
Missed one of the senior Porsche's more interesting projects - the Auto Union grand prix cars of the 1930s. 600HP, mid-engine, skinny rear tires - a definite driver killer.
Now that the Piechisode is done it’s time for the episodes discussing how Porsche was saved. Teased us with your knowledge about it at 42:30
GREAT episode(s) guys, thanks!
The only thing missing from this episode was the Peter Graves impression "Tonight, on Biography..."
You've outdone yourselves gentlemen and it's hard to believe the long awaited Piechisode has finally come to fruition. Jason I find it ironic that you were too scared to meet Piech because in a weird way you both are very similar in your respective careers. Piech made the ultimate CEO because he was an engineer first and understood what it took to extract the most out of men and machines. He never worried about the money because he knew that would come naturally by selling a quality product. By comparison I feel you are the best automotive journalist because you're able to combine your engineering background, law degree, and wise-ass upbringing to create content that is factual and entertaining. Others in the industry are too dry, while others are just too much fluff and not enough substance and you and your team continue to raise the bar with every production.
Definitely worth the wait.
15:26
Ah, you beat me too it...
Is there a prize for seeing the pigeon at 45:34? Anyway the episode is great so far!
It’s about time. Nice pigeon!
You missed one of Audi's biggest Motorsport achievements. 1994 when they entered the A4 Quattro into every single national touring car championship in the world and won them all that year. 😮
And forgot their back to back dominance of pikes peak.....
They didn't though?
In 1994 not only Audi 80 was still in use by many Audi's factory teams around the world, neither A4 or 80 won all (or even most) national touring car championships around the world. Neither in driver or manufacturer's championships.
BMW won in Germany
Alfa in Britain
Peugeot won in France
Toyota won in Japan
BMW won in Spain
BMW won in New Zealand
Both Audi 80 and A4 were really successful but they weren't dominating machines (outside of 1996 BTCC season when "aero wars" era started and it was regulatory shitstorm which ended with ban on AWD and heavy restrictions on RWD which killed both Audi and BMW in the series until the end of 90's).
37:00 There were plenty of Diesels here in europe before the "Pumpe-Düse TDI" you guys are talking about.
There were lot's of NA Diesels still around and even VW sold "SDI" models new in 1998 iirc.
The reason for the NA Diesel were that they were still more fuel efficient than any gas car, but also that Diesel fuel was cheaper than gasoline. So while not as fast, most people didn't care much.
Where i live Diesel cars until maybe 5 years ago were the majority of cars sold, and at times almost 90% of new cars were Diesels.
And we benefitted greatly from Turbodiesels, and then Pumpe Düse (which was the thing you guys talk about at 37:00) and then Common rail Diesels.
Mostly because car tax here was calculated from the power of the engine since the 90's.
And if you got a 90 hp NA gasoline car or a 90hp Turbodiesel car that cost the same to run but the TD was actually faster and used less fuel.
And the Diesel cost less to buy too, as we had and still have a car cale tax (on new cars) that is calculated on the fuel consumption.
That's why everybody bought Diesel cars here since the late 80's.
1:06:00 The Veyron: It's not like they didn't struggle with that... It took them several years longer than expected because they couldn't get it to do what it was supposed to do reliably.
And if you are thinking of the car purchase as a run it til the wheels fall off, it’s hard to beat an NA diesel in terms of longevity
@@CoreyGolphenee Undeniably.
I'm over an hour in and I'm still shocked the W12 Nardo wasn't mentioned.
Oh I'm sorry, a PRV did exactly what now? Did the car catch on fire at anytime during that process?! What a great episode guys.
Cant believe we got the Piëchisode before GTA VI... 🤣
At long last!
Gotta say, I disagree with your opinion about the R8, Jason. That car was the most successful halo project in the modern history of the automobile. It served as the shining symbol to the masses that Audi was back and that their lineup was new and improved. Maybe you couldn't afford the R8, but you could see yourself in an S5. It's still one of the most head turning and beautiful cars ever made. I count it as a brilliant marketing stunt. It only just so happens to have been done for Piech's favorite child.
P.S. 1:17:16 you missed a dove here, Jake.
I can atest to the pedal position being the culprit to "unintended acceleration" My 2nd car was an 84 audi 4000. (thank you again Mom!) brillant car and even after I hit the wrong pedal reversing (into a tree) the car was amazing! you could not kill it! Would love to find another one, so far Ive only been able to find a matchbox car of it, in oceania blue just like mine
I genuinely thought It wasn't going to happen. I thought it was going to be a running joke a this point!
My first car was a manual 2000 Passat wagon that I bought in 2007 for $5500 cash with 88k miles at a used dealer in Nashville.
I wish there would have been more reverence in the Haggerty special.
Can't believe it's actually here, after all this time 😁🥰
The Doves were a nice touch :)
This was awesome episode listening to it twice 😂😂😂.
Two legends talking about legend of automotive industry. Keep up with great work, and you should come to Europe to test out Cupra, Seat, Škoda brands😊😂
Now the Bruno Sacco episode 😁
BTW Saying 🖕 the EPA is the most American thing ever. VW TDI
what's up with the pigeon at 15:34 ?
It crops up with Jason's nostril noises because it sounds like a pigeon. Very subtle, and made me go back for a double take.
The path to the 917 was set off by the change in endurance rules for the prototype class after 1967. The FIA had decided they didn't want those nasty, bellowing American V8s and reduced the limit on the prototype class to 3 liters. When Ferrari decided not to develop a new prototype design for these rules in 1968, it was a gift to Porsche. (Ferrari didn't have a successful 3 liter car until the 312PB started winning in 1972.) The 907 swept the Daytona 24 Hours in 1968 with a 1-2-3 overall finish and when the 908 came out, it was the top car in the prototype class in 1968 and 1969.
But the rules had a loophole. There was also a class with a 5 liter limit that required that 50 cars be built for homologation. Ford had produced a limit run of a road version of the GT40 for discerning enthusiasts who prized noise and discomfort. They made enough of these that the GT40 met the homologation rules for the new class, and John Wyer began field a team to prepare and enter GT40s in the World Sports Car Championship Wyer's cars won the WSC championship in 1968 and Le Mans in 1968 and 1969.
I imagine that after losing Le Mans in 1968, Porsche/PIech decided that the way to go was to build a car for the 50-examples class. They basically joined two 911 engines nose-to-tail for a 4.5 liter flat-12, which was entered at Le Mans in 1969. The car was hella fast, but unreliable. And the combination of extreme top speed and poorly developed aerodynamics meant the drivers really needed adult diapers on the Mulsanne straight. Porsche provided cars to Wyer to run in 1970 and someone (Piech? Wyer?) developed the upswept rear end that cost a bit of top speed but made the car manageable. Ferrari introduced the 512 in the class for 1970, but it never really was able to match up with the 917.
The FIA switched the rules again after 1971 and eliminated the 5 liter class. The 917 was clearly a car that was too fast for the tracks on the time. It was faster around Spa than F1 cars - 14 seconds a lap faster -with an average speed of over 160 MPH.
One thing, common rail direct injection first commercialized by Fiat on the 1986 Croma TD-ID.