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

[Billsbug]

I guarantee you it will be a smaller, cheaper, 'trendier design' hybrid vehicle. It will not be anything like an RSi.

[JuggBug]

Originally Posted by Billsbug

I guarantee you it will be a smaller, cheaper, 'trendier design' hybrid vehicle. It will not be anything like an RSi.

Well that's just depressing.

[Blue Smiley]

Saturday at our club Christmas Party we were told by the General Manager at our local dealership that VW had 4 new cars planned for the next few years. I don't remember one of them, but there will be a mini van that will be cheaper than the touareg, and a special version of the Jetta. The one that got everyones attetion was when he said that the Newest New Beetle will be a cross between a Beetle and a Porsche. The only design hints he gave was that you would really see the Porsche influence in the wheel wells. ?!?!?!? Sounds like something interesting and exciting. He said it should be out in 2009.

[XCman]

Originally Posted by Blue Smiley

Saturday at our club Christmas Party we were told by the General Manager at our local dealership that VW had 4 new cars planned for the next few years. I don't remember one of them, but there will be a mini van that will be cheaper than the touareg, and a special version of the Jetta. The one that got everyones attetion was when he said that the Newest New Beetle will be a cross between a Beetle and a Porsche. The only design hints he gave was that you would really see the Porsche influence in the wheel wells. ?!?!?!? Sounds like something interesting and exciting. He said it should be out in 2009.

Hmmm that sounds to me like a ragster possibility. with the chopped top and squatty stance. the ragster concept did look kinda like a Porsche. but I wonder that this will do to the ride hieght of the car? will it make tall ppl have to lay back to fit in the car? hmmm

[Billsbug]

Originally Posted by Blue Smiley

...the Newest New Beetle will be a cross between a Beetle and a Porsche...

WOW, I'd love to be totally and completely wrong about what I just said!

[BettyBug]

Originally Posted by Blue Smiley

He said it should be out in 2009.

lease is up in '09...

[TechnoTrix'd]

Originally Posted by XCman

Hmmm that sounds to me like a ragster possibility. with the chopped top and squatty stance. the ragster concept did look kinda like a Porsche. but I wonder that this will do to the ride hieght of the car? will it make tall ppl have to lay back to fit in the car? hmmm

My guess would be that they will use the Cayman as the basis for the "bolder" Beetle design.

It is now the entry level Porsche, runs a slightly smaller platform than the bigger 911 models and already has the "bubble" roof-line.

It would not surprise me one bit, as if you compare the Tourag and its more expensive sister the Cayenne, you are looking at about the same price point differences between the VW and the base Porsche model.

Love the Scirocco though, that will definately be on my future to-buy VW list...

TechnoTrix'd...

[SMG]

Originally Posted by TechnoTrix'd

My guess would be that they will use the Cayman as the basis for the "bolder" Beetle design.

..........LOL!

LOL!...........!!!!

VW couldn't even sell the Phaeton because it was too much to pay for a Volkswagen, the 'People's car'. You're nuts if you think they will make the Beetle, an iconic model designed to be fun yet affordable, into a super luxury car. People would reject it instantly. What a brilliant status symbol to drop 60+ grand on. A Porsche-based Volkwagen Beetle..

Also, why in the hell would VW base anything on a Porsche chassis when their MKV chassis is a beautiful piece of engineering? It's strong, handles amazing and when coupled with the right motor it's amazingly fast. I just totally fail to see your logic here. The Cayenne is based on the Touareg, and so is the Audi Q7, simply because VW developed the strong modern platform and shared it with other players in the VAG. Why would VW make a new New Beetle, a small car and just for the heck of it, base it on the Porsche Cayman. That my friend, makes no sense at all.

SMG

[Concept1]

It will most likely share the upcoming MkVI platform. It's not a joint venture between Porsche and VW. It will still look like a Beetle. I think it will have some aspects of the old Beetle such as a smaller, less curved windshield and longer roofline.

[SMG]

Originally Posted by Concept1

It will most likely share the upcoming MkVI platform. It's not a joint venture between Porsche and VW. It will still look like a Beetle. I think it will have some aspects of the old Beetle such as a smaller, less curved windshield and longer roofline.

[kcfoxie]

True new beetles lack trim level classification (and side markers)

There, I said it. Now the MkV ones can come out!

[TechnoTrix'd]

Originally Posted by SMG

..........LOL!

LOL!...........!!!!

VW couldn't even sell the Phaeton because it was too much to pay for a Volkswagen, the 'People's car'. You're nuts if you think they will make the Beetle, an iconic model designed to be fun yet affordable, into a super luxury car. People would reject it instantly. What a brilliant status symbol to drop 60+ grand on. A Porsche-based Volkwagen Beetle..

Also, why in the hell would VW base anything on a Porsche chassis when their MKV chassis is a beautiful piece of engineering? It's strong, handles amazing and when coupled with the right motor it's amazingly fast. I just totally fail to see your logic here. The Cayenne is based on the Touareg, and so is the Audi Q7, simply because VW developed the strong modern platform and shared it with other players in the VAG. Why would VW make a new New Beetle, a small car and just for the heck of it, base it on the Porsche Cayman. That my friend, makes no sense at all.

SMG

Wow, someone needs to go on the decaf....

And, someone needs to check their facts a little closer before they start talking out of their ..

I was simply responding to what Blue Smiley had posted above. "IF" VW and Porsche are going to do another co-development project car (see facts issue above), then the Cayman would probably be the basis for that new co-development project.

The Cayman actually starts around $45 grand, not 60, and using the Tourag/Cayenne pricing models that would put this "Super" Beetle into the mid 20's. (hum, Scirocco, Rabbit, how about a "Super Beetle"???)..

It's all marketing gang, don't get caught up in the 1930's branding of a "peoples car"... VW today is not in the business of making cars to bring social revolution to the people.. Please...

Now, having addressed that, I do agree that using the MkV platform makes the most business sense for any talk of a future Beetle.

Since the Audi TT and A3 are using it, it only makes sense to use it for any future VW product (i.e. Scirocco or Beetle).

SMG, no one here is the absolute expert on what VW A.G. has on the books. What we are trying to do is have conversations about it and throw out varying ideas. The nature of varying idea means that most of these will be in conflict with each other.

So, take a chill pill, get off the high horse and participate, but do not come on here and attack people because you don't agree with them.

Very poor character in my book, very poor...

[SMG]

I just can't believe that to you, a Porsche-based VW Beetle makes any sense.

The 'Beetle' will always have 'The People's Car' stamped on it's forehead and there's no getting around it.

I'm sorry for attacking you but it just seemed so ridiculous to me that I guess I just had to strongly disagree with you, a bit too strongly.

Sorry about that, no hard feelings.

SMG

[kcfoxie]

while i agree that vw has to change their image, the new beetle got parents back at the dealer, and the fast ads got the college kids with the GTI. I don't think VW wants to or cares to bring back the people's car when they can sell out a 198@the wheel 200HP at the crank GTI with subtle style and take a strong stake into the racing community. They've been present at H20i and Waterfest -- that was unheard of until the fast ads.

People's car... the beginning
I'd own a BMW but they're too prissy people's car... today.

If you don't like it, stick to what made you like them and be dated with the times. I'm doing that, thats why I have a 98 now -- i feel it's built better, it's definetly held up, and it drives different from any 2001+ model. I like it, I like what it stood for, and in NC only the 98 owners will sit and chat for a while if you bump into one. I wanna be part of that crowd, the "true believers" as I call them, those who stuck it out.

But anyway, I don't want to add fuel to the fire.

VW has and is changing, we have to accept it. Your kids grow up, your plants eventually die, the world continues to turn and the sun is still dying.

Part of life, my friend. Part of life.

[Billsbug]

Originally Posted by TechnoTrix'd

Wow, someone needs to go on the decaf....Very poor character in my book, very poor...

Just sounded like personal passion for the NB to me my friend, not a personal attack.

[XCman]

I test drove a 2006 NB and I have to say I like the creature comforts they have changed since the car first came out. Visor extension on the driverside on the roof handle (which in my mind was ONLY there for retro appeal) 6spd transmission although tiptronic does make for a smoother ride when shifting. and Highway speeds can operate at much lower rpm's.
Center console is a vast approvement over the old.
Engine compartment seemed to have plently of space in front of the firewall. Bigger engine still? maybe. But I remember that there is no space in my 1.8T yet there was in the 2.5L. They could probably still fit in a even bigger engine with some more work. Not that it's needed.

They are going in the right direction with the Beetle so far,

I'm still waiting for a navigation system in the Dash

[Lorem]

should be very interesting. I can't wait!

[neko]

Originally Posted by NBTurbo2000

What offends me is that the French "gender" for vehicles is female, as evidenced by the gender tense used "la", "cette", etc. Why does a modern language assign genders to inanimate non-living objects? Not only is gender irrelevant to a car, it is impossible to implement!

In fact, in our modern world, gender needs to be totally irrelevant except for procreation! That is its only function!!!

Whew, feel better now. Off soapbox.

Sue

But that is true in English too. I can't count the times I heard "She's a beauty !" referred to a boat or a car.

[Beetlemania]

I've heard that some Naval captains now refer to their ships as "she" and their daughters as "it."

[Pushing Fifty]

I'm an impatient person by nature, and with that said, I don't know what to think. There are MANY people on the Vortex who believe the NB's days are numbered. Someone over there said that the 2006+ NB's remained on the MK IV platform, and that is the kiss of death. Is the NB on the MK IV or MK V platform? I honestly don't know. Although it will take a while for a reply, I intend to ask VWoA just what their intentions are regarding a future for the New Beetle. Some have said they'll keep churning them out as long as they are steadily selling(they just sold #500,000 in North America since the release in 1998, btw), while others say it will be gone after 2010 or so. I want to know NOW........as I'm sure we all do.