In August (2015), I visited the Autostadt in Wolfsburg. It was my second visit in nearly 10 years. So I assumed that a lot had changed in that time and that I’d be able to enjoy many new experiences and exhibits.

The weather was so-so. But I didn’t let that stop me from heading out in a T-shirt and shorts. It was the height of summer, after all! In hindsight, this seemed a bit too optimistic in some respects.

To avoid any potential wait times, I bought an online ticket in advance. Unfortunately, the innovative spirit that the automotive industry thrives on seems to have gone missing somehow.
After I paid for the ticket online, I received a message stating that I had to print this ticket and exchange it for a “real” ticket at the entrance.

A printer? Stand in line? What’s the point?

Well, luckily I wasn’t too spontaneous and managed to find a printer.

Two days later, the time had come. I entered the lobby around 9:30 a.m. and exchanged my printout for a plastic card - without any wait at all.

But now to the main event - the Autostadt

The House of Time

Since it was still extremely empty, I headed straight for the Zeithaus. Inside, you’ll find automotive history, treasures, and milestones. These aren’t just from the VW Group, and they’re displayed in such a way that the space doesn’t feel crammed—there are no obtrusive barriers, and you can get a good look at the vehicles from all sides.

I highly recommend the small movie theater. It shows commercials from the 1950s in 3D.

All in all, I spent a good two hours at the Zeithaus. Unfortunately, the sun still hasn’t made an appearance. So I decide to quickly grab a drink and then visit the Porsche Pavilion.

Getting a drink turns out to be more difficult than expected, since the outdoor stands aren’t open yet at 11:30 a.m., so you have to go into a restaurant.

The Porsche Pavilion

The pavilion opened in June 2012, and I was curious to see what awaited me. Well, what can I say? Inside, it’s kind of dark. A wide variety of Porsche road and race cars are lined up as silver-metallic plastic sculptures on a 1:3 scale. The lighting intensity keeps changing, creating different plays of light and shadow. In front of them are a current 911 Cabriolet and a Cayenne that you can touch and sit in. Overall, it’s rather disappointing—you get more at any Porsche center.

Meal

So I leave Porsche and set out in search of a light lunch. The outdoor food stands are now open. The selection is limited and somehow not what I had hoped for. I can only remember the thyme-seasoned chicken breast and can’t recall what I actually ended up eating.

Lamborghini

From what I’ve heard, Lamborghini has already launched several new models since 2005. So I figured I’d have the chance to take a closer look at one of these cars in the pavilion. So I opened the door… and was in for another disappointment. Nothing had changed. A Murciélago was still hanging behind bars on the wall, set off with sound and smoke effects. Well, at least cell phones have come a long way, and I can record a video of it.

Youtube Video: Lamborghini Murciélago at the Autostadt

Slowly but surely, disappointment is setting in, and I’m scaling back my expectations.

Audi Pavilion

Off to Audi. I can remember that part even more clearly. An aluminum model of the then-current A6. A wooden model of the first Audi TT. Oversized sports seats for fun photos. An LMP1 Audi and a Quattro concept car.

You’re greeted at the entrance and handed a white plastic ball. If I understood correctly, this ball accompanies you through the pavilion and can even be personalized. I don’t have the patience for that, so I just start exploring. It begins with an Audi R8—followed by various S models. The technology is explained in display cases and on monitors. Here, you need the ball to activate the display, which now lights up and changes color depending on the section.

I quickly walk through the whole thing. At the end, a current Audi TT is waiting, and before you know it, you’re back outside. Of course, you have to turn the ball in again.

After that, I’m not in the mood for the brand pavilions at all, so I head over to the Premium Clubhouse.

Premium Clubhouse

I have no idea what to expect here. So I step into the pavilion and am dazzled.

At the center stands a mirrored Bugatti Veyron, and the floor and walls of the room are also covered with mirrors. All of this creates a different effect from every angle and is a successful showcase of this extraordinary powerhouse. At the end, you can catch a glimpse of the Bugatti Veyron’s impressive 16-cylinder engine.

Unfortunately, I’m disappointed here as well. The description of the Premium Clubhouse reads: “The shape of the pavilion is modeled after a section of the Le Mans racetrack. It was on this famous circuit that the fame of the motorsport legend Bentley was established in the 1920s and 1930s.”

There’s no sign of Bentley anywhere to be seen. Things were different back in 2005. Visitors could get a glimpse of the luxury class in the form of a Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur.

To wrap up my visit, I’d like to check out the Panorama Cinema.

Panorama Cinema

This Panorama Cinema is relatively new at Autostadt and is located in the Konzernforum.

In the Konzernforum itself, you can learn a lot about mobility, car production, and *cough* sustainability.

But now, off to the theater. You sit in comfortable leather armchairs, so after all that walking around, you can relax a bit.

Various short films on the theme of “Germany, Land of Cars” are shown on a 120° screen. They’re very entertaining, ranging from heartfelt to amusing.

On my way to the exit, I stop briefly at the Autostadt shop. Here you can find everything from books to model cars to clothing—anything remotely connected to the VW Group’s brands.

Conclusion

In the end, it sounds as if I was just disappointed and can only advise against visiting the Autostadt. But that’s definitely not the case. Anyone who wants to spend a nice day with the family and is interested in cars should definitely visit Autostadt at least once. The entire grounds are beautifully landscaped and have a park-like atmosphere. The food at the restaurants is excellent, and I also recommend staying until the evening, as the grounds are beautifully lit up. Furthermore, there are frequent special events that make a visit even more enjoyable.

Still, I have to say that I had hoped for more changes. After all, 10 years have passed since my last visit. What I particularly missed was the history of the individual brands. The only thing that stands out here is the Zeithaus. Ultimately, though, I mustn’t forget that the VW Group wants to showcase itself through the Autostadt—and, of course, through its current and future products.

So if you’re buying a Volkswagen and have the chance to pick it up at the Autostadt, be sure to combine the two. On my first visit, I also took a factory tour and drove a VW Touareg on the off-road course. Note: SUVs were still relatively new on the market back then and somehow cooler than they are today.

All of this further enhances the visit and makes the time fly by.

On the drive home, the clouds finally cleared.
Too bad—it was too late, but I was wearing shorts!