So much for Herbie: 2010 Volkswagen Beetle going full modern. Amidst the board-room shakeups and in-flux product plans following the quasi-takeover by Porsche, a few things have nevertheless stayed on course at Volkswagen Central in Wolfsburg, Germany. One such project is the replacement for the not so new New Beetle, which is reportedly on track for a 2010 launch. Set to share a platform with the next-generation Rabbit and upcoming Scirocco, the 2010 Beetle will once again be styled in California and engineered in Germany, according to our sources. That, however, is where the similarities will end. Despite its overall success as a revival of the iconic original design, Volkswagen is looking to move away from the "chick car" image of the New Beetle. Designers have reportedly been ordered to create a more modern and sleek style for the next-gen Beetle that will be bigger than the outgoing model and make better use of available interior space. The cutesy bug-eye look, rounded shape, and bulbous roofline are binned in favor of a more aggressive -- and more traditional -- style with a sportier stance and coupe-style roof as depicted in the drawings. The new car is being designed so it can be easily adapted for a wide variety of model variants. The potential Beetle plan may also explain why VW has hesitated bringing the Scirocco -- a vehicle that would be similar in scope -- stateside. A soft-top cabrio will come shortly after the hatchback's launch, with a sport wagon with small rear doors reportedly coming shortly thereafter. Other variants on the table include a micro-van, a pickup, and a sport wagon-based crossover -- with hotted-up versions also part of the product mix. While plan to move away from the classic Beetle shape may end up backfiring if carried out, it's an understandable move for Volkswagen to attempt to create a sub-brand using the Beetle name -- much like what BMW is attempting with its Mini lineup. 2010 Volkswagen Beetle - Future Vehicles - Auto News I like this better than the Scirocco, but I still think VW has one too many hatchback type cars on the drawing board. M
Re: Motor Trend - Next Generation VW Beetle Note sure I like that direction... but I guess they can't really rehash the same thing time and again, so full modern sounds like their only real option. :t-hands:
Re: Motor Trend - Next Generation VW Beetle The hard top doesn't look like a beetle. I hope it won't look anything like that. Other than that I think it's a good idea to introduce a Mini, especially when Mini and Fiat are selling buck loads of their legends. Hopefully the new one will have a universal appeal. You can't drive the current one unless you are woman under the age 25 years old or above 50 years old.
New Volkswagen New Beetle coming out in 2012 Martin Winterkorn has only one aim: he wants Volkswagen to be one of the top selling carmakers worldwide. And every single model is important to achieve this ambitious target. The Volkswagen New Beetle is nowadays a secondary model in the Volkswagen range so it will be replaced by an all-new car in 2012 in order to boost sales. The 2012 New Beetle, as anticipated in this rendering from Auto Motor und Sport, will feature a new look, closely inspired by the previous model. The most notable differences are in the front air intake, that is now similar to the one on the Volksvagen Up! concept, and in the new LED front lamps. The most important innovations, however, will be under the hood: the next-gen New Beetle, that will be built on the Golf VI platform and will feature the newest FSI, TSI and TDI engines made in Wolfsburg, giving a much needed breath of fresh air to the technical specs of the old model. We can also expect to see the excellent DSG dual-clutch gearbox on the 2012 New Beetle. News, Auto + Produkte- VW Beetle: Groß-Rundgebung - auto motor und sport
Re: New Volkswagen New Beetle coming out in 2012 The Beettle will become a problem for VW (as will Mini for BMW)... once people get bored with it (which is happening now I believe) they can't really do anything about it. Rehashing the design with a more modern feel probably won't cut it, while radically changing the design will make it "just another car", so both ways they are ****ed.
Re: New Volkswagen New Beetle coming out in 2012 A new New Beetle? Oh please... NO! -Just stop making the damn thing once and for all.
Re: New Volkswagen New Beetle coming out in 2012 mini will never get a problem for bmw - i see it with the beetle, because it has already happend there is one big difference with those two vehicles - one is designed to be a retro car and the other not, the last one is applied to the mini
Re: New Volkswagen New Beetle coming out in 2012 The Beetle needs to be revived as the car it once was. A reliable and cheap peoples car. It needs to offer something more than just the iconic name and design. Right now the Beetle is nothing but a mediocre car, compared with the Mini which is fun to drive. For the new Beetle to last more than 3 years it needs a dominant selling idea and offer some value for people buying it.
Re: 2010 Golf Cabrio - News & Rumour Thread VW Beetle: New rendering of VW Beetle Sedan, Cabrio and Roadster The 2010 Volkswagen Beetle will try and ditch the whole Herbie ‘aww that’s so cute’ look and will be offered in three different variants including a sedan, convertible and a roadster/speedster. The car will be designed in California and will be engineered in Germany where it will be built on the same platform as the Volkswagen Rabbit and the upcoming Volkswagen Scirocco. Photo Renderings: 2010 VW Beetle Sedan, Cabrio and Roadster
Re: 2010 Golf Cabrio - News & Rumour Thread Articles wrong already lol -Scirocco platform is PQ45 -Golf platform is PQ35 PQ35 is the most likely platform New Beetle family will be based on although there is the whole new platform system VW have just announced to be in use.
