Classic Beetle gets the "Mexican" treatment

"Vochol" is derived from the colloquial term "Vocho" used in Mexico for the VW Beetle, and "Huichol", the name of the ethnic group that is native to the mountains of the Sierra Madre Oriental.

Created by eight Huichol artisans from the Mexican States of Nayarit and Jalisco, the Vochol uses over two million glass beads to imaginatively integrate the diversity of Mexican folk art onto the body of a Volkswagen Beetle. Sixteen kilos of special resin, wool yarn and paint were used to attach the 2,277,000 glass beads to the Beetle's body. The eight-man team spent more than 9,000 hours on the project.

Originally unveiled in Mexico's Museo de Arte Popular (Museum of Popular Art), the Vochol went on a world tour, taking in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Denver and Paris, before coming to Germany for the first time in December. The Vochol is now on display at the 'Autostadt', VW's theme park and educational centre in Wolfsburg.

"As a Volkswagen Group communications platform, the Autostadt is an ideal place to introduce the 'Vochol' in Germany," explained Autostadt CEO Otto F. Wachs. "The car's colourful bodywork unites the history of Wolfsburg with Mexican tradition."

Following the display at Autostadt, the Vochol will be presented in Frankfurt and Brussels before being offered for sale at an international auction. The proceeds from the sale will go to the friends of the Museo de Arte Popular to support indigenous art in Mexico.

The Vochol will be on display at Autostadt until January 5th, 2013.

Images: Alejandro Pedra Buena, Copyright Museo de Arte Popular, courtesy of VW Autostadt