In the 1970s, Volkswagen was considering a successor or complementary vehicle for the extremely popular Beetle. This new vehicle would fit between the Polo and Golf models where the Beetle was at the time.
That search for a new model included commissioning famed industrial designer Luigi Colani. To understand this odd-looking, but somehow compelling frog-like Colani Prototype, we have to look at the designer himself.
Luigi Colani was most famous for his 1950s work where he designed cars for BMW, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Volkswagen, and others. During that time, he dropped his birth name of Lutz in favor of the more international Luigi. By the time Volkswagen asked Colani to work on this new Beetle replacement, the designer had moved on from automotive and made a name for himself in a myriad of other markets like furniture, ballpoint pens, televisions, uniforms, and even entire kitchens. The Pegasus grand piano is probably his best-known design today and is still manufactured by Schimmel.
In the 1970s, Colani was operating his own studio, Colani Design (where most of these photos come from). Based in Germany, the studio was inside Harkotten Castle. He’d designed the Eifelland Formula One car in 1972, and begun taking his organic and fluid designs into Asia. Especially to Japan.
VW asked him to design the new prototype after seeing his RFB Fanliner wankel-powered sport plane. Obsessed with fuel economy, Colani set out to design the VW prototype with that as a primary focus.
A two-door hatchback with flowing lines, a perforated grille, and sleek airflow bodywork with no sharp edges was the result. The Colani Prototype was designed to be aerodynamic, efficient, and to offer a large interior space. Plus show off the unique Colani penchant for organic round shapes. The green color all but cinched the “Frog” nickname for the car.
Volkswagen showed the Colani Prototype at some shows and events in 1977, but never considered it for production. The prototype then disappeared and its whereabouts today are unknown.
Photos courtesy of Colani Design.
