- by Brian Byrne. The man who made the controversial decision to move VW from its traditional rear-wheel-drive of the Beetle to the FWD of the Golf has died at the age of 92.
Kurt Lotz was only CEO of VW for three years after he succeeded the two decades-plus reign of Heinrich Nordoff, but he was responsible for the initial development of the Golf, Polo and Passat.
He also acquired Auto Union, which became Audi, and during his short tenure also initiated a programme of leadership training within VW that is arguably responsible for where the Group is today.
