VW Promises "More Courageous" Design / New Beetle Redesign Still Go

[SMG]

Complete junk.

Here's a classic example of why I HATE these RETARDED concept renderings. Here's a few versions of how people thoughts the MK6 Golf might look.









And here's what the real deal turned out to be. The rumourmill really nailed it eh?



So don't even waste your time speculating. We're not going to have any idea what the new NB is going to look like until we get some REAL spy shots, or VW releases official photos.

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by mattyross

What do you think of these renderings...
http://autobahnautonews.blogspot.com...vw-beetle.html

The back is OK, the front is HIDEOUS!

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by mattyross

What do you think of these renderings...
http://autobahnautonews.blogspot.com...vw-beetle.html

I'm not diggin it. The car will work under another name, but not with the new beetle moniker.

[mattyross]

I'm not completely keen on that conceptualization either, but I think that is the direction I would like to see the beetle go. An ultra-cheap econo box, would take that car back to its roots.

I read complaints on this forum that we should not even discuss these conceptual renderings, but I disagree. I like to have a place to talk about these concepts. We all know that they are artist renderings and none of them are from VW. But the point of being here is to discuss the car and its design, so I ask that people continue to post these. If you dont want to look at them then dont participate in the thread.

[SMG]

[bockegg]

That doesn't look like a beetle. More like a VW Polo.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by bockegg

That doesn't look like a beetle. More like a VW Polo.

Precisely.

If they want to bring it down to that size, fine, but keep the beetle shape intact. The beetle shape shouldn't be jacked with. Even the NB in it's current state, shares the original shape, after a fashion.

thankfully, these are artists renditions.

[bockegg]

Originally Posted by scarabY2k

Precisely.

If they want to bring it down to that size, fine, but keep the beetle shape intact. The beetle shape shouldn't be jacked with. Even the NB in it's current state, shares the original shape, after a fashion.

thankfully, these are artists renditions.

That's right. As is the NB is a rolling AD for VW.

[N3W B33TL3-450]

Originally Posted by VW Lady Bug

Now that pic doesn't look as bad as some of the others I've seen... I'm not sure what to think about the rag top - kinda old school. It looks like the windows are chopped though, similar to the dodge magnum (had one as a rental car), which is not cool. Now, as a perpetual arm out the window driver, that's just not practical; you wind up hurting your shoulder to get your arm up high enough! Not sure about the wheels either, or the front end (I like the grill, but am a fan of the Turbo S turn signals ).

I think they were going for an old skool look as there are many details reminiscent of the classic vw; I dont see how you can compare a beetle to a magnum; windows aren't for arms just to look out of and the occasional passerby admiring your car

Originally Posted by marknuck311

I like the impression on the hood, reminiscent of the original Beetle.
Otherwise, nothing really ground breaking here, as the rumours insist.

look at the small details in the lights they are raised much like the classics and the choped window which flattens the roof line also the "pointey-ness" of the car. Its has the boxy, racing, look of the RSI and the chopped, muscle look of the Ragster concept




These are only artist renditions of what they think is possible for the new beetle, not VW, so I wouldn't get too upset over these nor to attached as they real new beetle 2 will most likely be very different from most artist renditions not put out by a VW designer that is working on the project.

[katwalk]

I have a better idea, let's design our own. I bet our ideas could be less ugly.

[bockegg]

Originally Posted by katwalk

I have a better idea, let's design our own. I bet our ideas could be less ugly.

I agree. Hope the NB actually turns out better than those.

[jeromiej]

HOPEFULLY this that is not the finished product for the U S market for 2010. If so, I will be grabbing one of the last of the 09’s. I won’t get too worked up over it until I see the “official” photos from VW. Any Idea when those might be surfacing? Even a "spy" photo would be nice at this point.

[beej]

No matter what it ends up...it will be just like the aircooled community...spilts don't like ovals, don't like large windows, don't like supers.

[SMG]

I honestly hope not..

As an outsider looking in, I find the 'hardcore' members of the aircooled community to be really snobby. I showed up at an aircooled meeting once to take photos, etc and the reception was ice cold.

[Dre]

I really hope they do NOT change the design of the Beetle..It's too iconic. Like the Porsche 911, the fundamental design over the years has consistently remained the same.

I hope VW takes a page out from their Stuttgart brethren and keep the Beetle in tact.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by SMG

I honestly hope not..

As an outsider looking in, I find the 'hardcore' members of the aircooled community to be really snobby. I showed up at an aircooled meeting once to take photos, etc and the reception was ice cold.

That's sad man. I haven't run into any aircooled snobs here. I usually get and uneasy snobby vibe from the watercooled MK snobs, not all, but some. Heh, you'd think i was driving a Ford with a small-block Chevy engine it it.

[vwgary]

Originally Posted by SMG

I honestly hope not..

As an outsider looking in, I find the 'hardcore' members of the aircooled community to be really snobby. I showed up at an aircooled meeting once to take photos, etc and the reception was ice cold.

I agree with your statement. While the majority of localized VW clubs are a mix of air and water cooled cars there is only a level tolerance of the h20 cars by some of the vintage guys. Usually, those are the early or rare model owners tho, but they certainly did give off that aire. I had both and could not have cared less what model VW you had on the show field, it was the marque I was there to promote. Spending 20 years doing the show circuit, earlir with airsuckers and post 02(our1st NB purchase) with both types I just let the disdain roll the like the water off a ducks back. But some hardcores can come around. We had an older high roller member of our local club who wrote for one of the vintage VW mags and who had a sizeable collection of aircooled cars. Not one, but 2 Hebmullers, split era verts (very rare), zwitters, the lowest mileage ghia in the world, etc. He wouldn't look at a water cooled VW of any model. When word came out that VW was releasing the New Beetle in 98, he was the 1st inline to place an order. Funny how the NB can change a person

Originally Posted by scarabY2k

That's sad man. I haven't run into any aircooled snobs here. I usually get and uneasy snobby vibe from the watercooled MK snobs, not all, but some. Heh, you'd think i was driving a Ford with a small-block Chevy engine it it.

Another point I agree with and I'm not sure why it happens. I've long since stopped trying to be part of the VW MK anything scene for that same reason. It harkens me back to the air VS water thing and I don't feel welcomed or comfortable. Plus I don't have that many tattoos or piercings


And if you all haven't, check out my aircooled pics under the other rides section

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by vwgary

Another point I agree with and I'm not sure why it happens. I've long since stopped trying to be part of the VW MK anything scene for that same reason. It harkens me back to the air VS water thing and I don't feel welcomed or comfortable. Plus I don't have that many tattoos or piercings

And if you all haven't, check out my aircooled pics under the other rides section

those types are so ingnorant... ignorant as in stupid- i just don't get it. You'd think we were driving up in another brand of car, like showing up in a Honda or a WRX; we're driving VW's for crying out loud. I wonder if way back when did the drivers of squarebacks get razzed by beetle drivers etc. I would tend to say no- much more solidarity i believe. I guess that undiscovered country called change, is still a tough one to accept.

And i'll walk on over to your thread and check out your air-cooled action.

[vwgary]

Originally Posted by scarabY2k

those types are so ingnorant... ignorant as in stupid- i just don't get it. You'd think we were driving up in another brand of car, like showing up in a Honda or a WRX; we're driving VW's for crying out loud. I wonder if way back when did the drivers of squarebacks get razzed by beetle drivers etc. I would tend to say no- much more solidarity i believe. I guess that undiscovered country called change, is still a tough one to accept.

And i'll walk on over to your thread and check out your air-cooled action.

To some extent there were differing opinions about the Type3's coming onto the scene. Both the beetle and bus had become iconic already by the early 60's. And the Karmann Ghia introduced for the 56 model year was considered a sports car and not utilitarian like the bus or bug. When VW decided to expand the market with the introduction of the type3 (fasty & square) in the early 60's they weren't greeted well in the early VW scene. The notchback was never sold thru the US dealer network so they were scarce till the mid-late 60's.
Now the type 3 Karmann Ghia, that was a courageous design (added to stay relevant to this thead )

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by vwgary

To some extent there were differing opinions about the Type3's coming onto the scene. Both the beetle and bus had become iconic already by the early 60's. And the Karmann Ghia introduced for the 56 model year was considered a sports car and not utilitarian like the bus or bug. When VW decided to expand the market with the introduction of the type3 (fasty & square) in the early 60's they weren't greeted well in the early VW scene. The notchback was never sold thru the US dealer network so they were scarce till the mid-late 60's.
Now the type 3 Karmann Ghia, that was a courageous design (added to stay relevant to this thead )

Hey thanks for that info- i didn't know that. I has becum mor smartur today