Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsVolkswagen did not build a road-going hover car. Its 2012 Hover Car was a user-inspired concept from the company’s People’s Car Project in China, and the “test drive” that brought it to life was a promotional film simulating the idea.
What was Volkswagen’s Hover Car?
The Hover Car was one of three user-inspired concepts Volkswagen presented at Auto China 2012 in Beijing. The company described it as a two-seat, zero-emission urban vehicle that would hover above the ground and might travel on electromagnetic road networks. Those were imagined features, not specifications for a vehicle Volkswagen offered for sale.
The other concepts on display were called the Music Car and Smart Key. Volkswagen’s announcement named them but did not provide enough detail for a meaningful comparison of their functions.
How did Volkswagen crowdsource the concept?
Volkswagen launched the People’s Car Project in China eleven months before its May 2, 2012 announcement of the concepts. The project invited people to submit ideas for future cars. Volkswagen reported more than 119,000 ideas and 33 million website visits across the project; these figures were not Hover Car submission totals.
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- AUTHENTIC DESIGN: Highly detailed 1:32 scale replica of the iconic 1962 Volkswagen Bus classic emblem
- INTERACTIVE FEATURES: Features pull-back motor action and opening side doors for enhanced play value and display options
- QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Built with durable die-cast metal body, rubber tires, and detailed plastic components for lasting durability
- PERFECT SIZE: Measures approximately 5 inches in length, making it ideal for collectors and play
- REALISTIC DETAILS: Includes authentic interior detailing, chrome-look trim, and classic two-tone paint scheme characteristic of vintage VW buses
The company presented the submissions as a way to understand what Chinese drivers wanted. Simon Loasby, then Head of Design at Volkswagen Group China, said: “The creative ideas from the ‘People’s Car Project’ give us a valuable insight into the wishes of Chinese drivers.”
Luca de Meo, then Volkswagen Group and Volkswagen Passenger Cars Marketing Director, described the initiative as involving customers in shaping cars and learning their preferences, needs and design requirements. He said any vehicle produced from the project would combine customer views with Volkswagen’s brand tradition. That was a conditional statement about the project—not a promise to manufacture the Hover Car.
Rank #2
- [Product Size] 4.96×2.36×1.69 inches(1:36 scale). Package weight: Approx. 0.41 pounds. Suitable for playing.
- [Good Quality] Detailed interior and exterior trim, using high grade alloy die-cast into form.
- [Great Diecast Toy Car] Made of non-toxic paint spray, doesn’t contain harmful substances, protecting the safety of children greatly.
- [Funny Pull Back Car Model] Left and right doors can be opened. Place the car on the ground, press down on the body and pull it back, the car will move forward.
- [Awesome Toy for Kids] Sturdy body, fine workmanship. Suitable for collections, birthdays, Christmas and decorations. Great for kids, boys, girls and adults.
Did Volkswagen really build a hover car?
No. The available project descriptions characterize the vehicle as a simulation in a promotional film. GOODSTEIN’s case study says Volkswagen brought one girl’s idea to life by making a film in which her parents test-drove the imagined car. That means the idea was visualized for viewers; it does not document a functioning vehicle, road test or production program.
GOODSTEIN reports more than 80 million combined Facebook and YouTube views for the film. That figure is attributed to GOODSTEIN, not Volkswagen, and the case-study page does not state a year for it.
Rank #3
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- Volkswagen ID. Buzz Bomb Van in a Stylish White & Purple Finish!
- Number 4/10 in the HW Euro Set! Number 86/250 in the Overall Series!
- 1:64 Scale Diecast Toy Vehicle
What happened to the People’s Car Project?
Volkswagen used the project to present customer-inspired ideas and learn about Chinese drivers’ wishes. Its 2012 announcement showcased three concepts at Auto China, but left future production conditional. The sources describing the Hover Car establish a concept and a film treatment—not a subsequent vehicle launch or a commitment to build it.
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Rank #4
- AUTHENTIC DESIGN: Highly detailed 1:32 scale replica of the iconic 1962 Volkswagen Bus classic emblem
- INTERACTIVE FEATURES: Features pull-back motor action and opening side doors for enhanced play value and display options
- QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Built with durable die-cast metal body, rubber tires, and detailed plastic components for lasting durability
- PERFECT SIZE: Measures approximately 5 inches in length, making it ideal for collectors and play
- REALISTIC DETAILS: Includes authentic interior detailing, chrome-look trim, and classic two-tone paint scheme characteristic of vintage VW buses
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