Quote:
Originally Posted by Pushing Fifty
I have always found it bizarre how VW is handling this issue. The Beetle is what defines Volkswagen, yet they keep us guessing until practically the last minute as to what the NB 2 will look like. And so much so that there are still many who aren't 100% convinced that there will even BE a NB 2. In fact, as recently as the Sep 2010 issue, Car and Driver said the Beetle was dead! This was around the same time I got a letter from VW Corporate saying that there WILL be a NB 2.
Here's the difference a few years can make: When VW unveiled the Concept One back in 1994, we got a 4-year preview of what basically became the New Beetle. Now, we MIGHT see the succesessor in a couple of months, which will be less than a year before it is said to go into production. Even VW salespeople don't know what's going on.
Maybe other auto manufacturers have done likewise, but of course my focus (and likely everyone else's on here) is on the Beetle. One would think that VW surely must realize that we want to know NOW.
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I agree 100% on how frustrating it is for us who love the NB, and who want to see what's in store next. But from a manufacturer's point of view, I can understand why they keep things tight lipped.
Giving info about a possible new model, yeah, they can give you that info YEARS in advance. But to push out info on it's replacement, that's a trickier business. They want to keep selling what's on the lots now (i.e. the existing NB). They don't want people seeing the next gen and thinking, "WOW! That's what I want", and then have their current inventory sitting on the lot because no one wants to buy it.
All manufacturers do the same thing. That's why most of the time, what you find online are spy shots. All manufacturers try to keep those pictures hidden as long as possible, because it can definitely affect the sales of the model currently for sale. To give hints about a new generation, even possible engine choices, models, yeah, they'll let some of that out. But when it comes to pictures, that can really cause people to decide to hold out on making a purchase.
And let's face it, a bird in the hand is worth two in a bush. They'd rather sell what they have on lots right now, than have people holding out for something that won't be out for another year or two.