[Cody Dawg]

Isn't that cool?

This is in Munich Germany.

Any German MacNN members parked a car there?

[analogika]

That's not a public parking lot.

That's a car storage facility at VW (all cars are brand new; none of them have number plates, and they're all VWs).

I'd also venture that it's not in Munich, but in Wolfsburg, where VWs are built.

In fact, a brief Google Image Search verifies that:



The tech will not remain exclusive, though, so we will be seeing public facilities in the future.

[Cody Dawg]

Thanks, Analogika!

COOL.

[analogika]

Beautiful, isn't it?

[Cody Dawg]

Yes, absolutely beautiful.

This should be a thread about beautiful architecture, like the new Apple 5th Avenue Crystal Store.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by analogika

The tech will not remain exclusive, though, so we will be seeing public facilities in the future.

In fact, such facilities already exist in Japan, though FAR less elegant than VW's (certainly NOT "beautiful architecture"). Anyone see the final episode of the Amazing Race this week?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/38053/...e_parking_lot/

[angelmb]

This should be a thread about beautiful architecture

If you think that is beautiful architecture… here you go, TRUE beautiful architecture:



Left (first pict): Mercedes-Benz Museum
Right (second pict): Mercedes-Benz Center Stuttgart

[The Godfather]

There's one in my Metro area It is freaking cool!

http://roboticparking.com/home_broadband.php

[Socially Awkward Solo]

Don't the BMW sales centres all have a mini one of those?

[TETENAL]

Originally Posted by Socially Awkward Solo

Don't the BMW sales centres all have a mini one of those?

There must be dozens of these.

[d4nth3m4n]

to cut and paste the email i sent to my father the other day-

sort of, this is at the volkswagen factory (notice the lack of license plates and how every car is a VW). there was something somewhat similar to this at the smart dealerships, but i don't think there is quite the technology to implement this into everyday parking garages.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/automobiles/parkade.asp

check out these links to pictures of the assembly plant where the phaeton is made-
http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1837641

you'll see a similar structure where completed cars await their new owners who will pick them up.

[rambo47]

I'm glad it's not a public lot. What a recipe for disaster that would be! In a garage in NYC someone I know had a mishap with his brand new Jaguar and the car elevator. He didn't want to let the attendant pull it onto the elevator for fear the guy would ding the door so he pulled it on himself, over the protests of the staff. He then got carefully out, taking great pains to not let the door hit the side of the elevator. As the elevator began to rise he walked toward the attendant's booth and suddenly there was a loud CRASH. He left the car in neutral rather than park and it rolled backwards off the elevator, falling four feet and coming to rest with the rear bumper on the floor with the front wheels still on the elevator platform. But hey, at least he didn't scratch the door! True story.

[Trygve]

There is a similar VW facility in Dresden.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

I hate to be the one to have to say this but...

[badtz]

much better effort into design than most buildings in the US :X

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by badtz

much better effort into design than most buildings in the US :X

agreed. Check out the assembly line!

[The Godfather]

OMG. Where do they get the money for that snazzy factory floor

[himself]

Originally Posted by The Godfather

OMG. Where do they get the money for that snazzy factory floor

Scuff the floor... and you're fired.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by The Godfather

OMG. Where do they get the money for that snazzy factory floor

From the customer, of course

-t

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Socially Awkward Solo

I hate to be the one to have to say this but...[/img]

But what ?

-t

[Kerrigan]

Originally Posted by badtz

much better effort into design than most buildings in the US :X

now if only those folks at VW would start focusing on cars

[villalobos]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak

agreed. Check out the assembly line!

I believe that's the glass factory where VW builds its biggest flop ever, the Phaeton. Not sure what they are going to make there once they get rid of that car from their lineup.

[Kerrigan]

Is the Phaeton really being axed?

[villalobos]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Is the Phaeton really being axed?

It is in the US. It is time VW returns to its roots and focus on more affordable fun-to drive and RELIABLE cars. Like you mentionned, they had lost their focus. The new GTi looks good as it is, i am waiting to see how it fares reliability wise.

[voodoo]

Originally Posted by angelmb

This should be a thread about beautiful architecture

If you think that is beautiful architecture… here you go, TRUE beautiful architecture:

Reminds me of this:





V

[CMYKid]

Has been? Already has... What did they sell, like 5 or some sad number? Not literally of course, but pretty close to it...it was a miniscule percentage of they number they expected to sell.

it happens to be a great car, but just at all the wrong times.

[analogika]

That's the Phaeton assembly line, not a regular one.

The customer who buys the top-end high-class limo pays for that floor.

[CMYKid]

ah, here's the current numbers. not so good...although, not as dismal as the number of Jetta wagons they're (not) selling...

[zmcgill]

Originally Posted by CMYKid

ah, here's the current numbers. not so good...although, not as dismal as the number of Jetta wagons they're (not) selling...

But if they were to throw an Audi badge on there, it would sell a ton better. No one in America wants a $90,000 VW. Same reason we have Infinity, Acura, etc.

[andi*pandi]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak

In fact, such facilities already exist in Japan, though FAR less elegant than VW's (certainly NOT "beautiful architecture"). Anyone see the final episode of the Amazing Race this week?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/38053/...e_parking_lot/

I did, and that's the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread!

Anyone who has ever had to park in the old parking garages in downtown boston, would welcome this kind of garage. Little chance of banging into an inconvenient pillar in a narrow space, not having to worry about jerks that park too close to your doors so you can't open them, not having to walk thru dank drippy creepy places... priceless.

Of course without the parking garage where would all the action happen in tv and movies.

[CMYKid]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

But if they were to throw an Audi badge on there, it would sell a ton better. No one in America wants a $90,000 VW. Same reason we have Infinity, Acura, etc.

yeah, even then I wonder... Lotta factors all came together separately to make it a bad idea...too bad tho.

[badtz]

I wonder why in the US we don't focus on design. It's all about designing something that is "passable" and maximize your MONEY. Strip malls anyone? pft.

[olePigeon]

Dont' they have those types of parking places in Japan?

[Hal06]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

But if they were to throw an Audi badge on there, it would sell a ton better. No one in America wants a $90,000 VW. Same reason we have Infinity, Acura, etc.

The ironic thing is that Audi badge has to be one of the ugliest badges in the market.

[zmcgill]

Originally Posted by Inside Man

The ironic thing is that Audi badge has to be one of the ugliest badges in the market.

That's subjective :shrug:
I'd rather see four rings than this, though:

[villalobos]

Originally Posted by Inside Man

The ironic thing is that Audi badge has to be one of the ugliest badges in the market.

that's one of my favorite..... along with this one