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

[ASurroca]

From What A Car

VW promises 'more courageous' design
01 December 2006

Follow the link for the full article, but I'll summarize the important bits.

Volkswagen is going for more aggressive design. In other words, the Scirocco and Tiguan are the future of Volkswagen. If you love the way they look (I do), then you're going to love the VWs to come.

Instead of Volkswagen's old strategy of trying blindly to fill every niche (read: jack of all trades, ace of none), VW is going to keep it simple and focus on improving the model types they aleady have.

In the engine department, as we already know and expect, VW is betting on their joint venture with Mercedes, Bluetec diesel, on expanding their efficient TSI gas engines, and broadening the usage of their DSG transmission. In other words, if all goes well, we'll have a whole model lineup using Bluetec diesels or TSI gas engines, all mated to DSG trannies.

And the part we really want to hear: "Bernhard also confirmed there will be a replacement for the Beetle that is 'bolder' than the current retro car." Since there hasn't been news on the New Beetle redesign in a few months, it's good to hear this. Yes, the New Beetle full redesign is still a go. Fingers crossed. Let's see how long it takes before a "concept" in the vein of the Scirocco and Tiguan concepts (read: thinly veiled production models) hits the auto show circuit!

[niki]

You said replacement... are they redesigning it or replacing it?

[Herbie3Rivers]

I'm betting it'll be an entirely new replacement car that will carry the Beetle name somehow. I mean now with the Audi TT being redone that leaves the NB as the only remaining MK4 chassis car for the US market. VW will have to update the NB somehow to acomodate the MK5 platform. I could see something similar to the Ragster concept but with more flair and maybe more options such as 4motion awd.

[Sky]

In Mars 06, Dr. Pischetsrieder (Volkswagen AG), had already given an exclusive interview with the French magazine “L'Auto-journal ”. He had already announce that New Beetle will be replaced by a new model...

Look this !

[marvins_dad]

Originally Posted by Sky

In Mars 06, Dr. Pischetsrieder (Volkswagen AG), had already given an exclusive interview with the French magazine “L'Auto-journal ”. He had already announce that New Beetle will be replaced by a new model...

Look this !

Sorry, but only users granted special access can read topics in this forum.

And I signed up....bummer...

[Sky]

Originally Posted by marvins_dad

Sorry, but only users granted special access can read topics in this forum.

And I signed up....bummer...

I mention simply the fact that the project of a "New New Beetle" is not a surprise. The German and French press speak about it since Mars.

This article simply referred to the interview with the French magazine. One finds there simply the remarks of Pischetsrieder on the New New Beetle.

Dr. Bernd P. : "A quelques rare exceptions, le style rétro n'engendre pas le succés. Et encore celui-ci se limite-t-il à quelques niches, je citerai la Mini, la 911 et. la Beetle.
Au sujet de cette dernière, elle connaîtra une descendance. Quant au Minibus, il n'existera pas sous cette forme, nous allons produire un véhicule en collaboration avec Chrysler et exclusivement destiné au marché américain. D'un format identique, il coûtera moins cher à fabriquer que le Minibus : une exigence imposée pour des questions de rentabilité et aussi parce que ce marché n'offre plus les même espérances de volume qu'il y a cinq ans.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by Sky

I mention simply the fact that the project of a "New New Beetle" is not a surprise. The German and French press speak about it since Mars.

This article simply referred to the interview with the French magazine. One finds there simply the remarks of Pischetsrieder on the New New Beetle.

Wa? No Se. Me no speekie french, sorry. I'd sure love to know what it says though.

[Moviequill]

at least they are not killing it off like some people speculated

[NBTurbo2000]

My highschool and college French are practically nonexistent. Even the shopkeepers in the French Cantons of Switzerland were offended, but I'm going to give this a try. Bear with me.

*Dr. Bernd P. : "A quelques rare exceptions, le style rétro n'engendre pas le succés. Et encore celui-ci se limite-t-il à quelques niches, je citerai la Mini, la 911 et. la Beetle.*

"Dr. Bernd said, 'With a few exceptions, the Retro styles were not a success. And also (no idea, something about the limited niche), I'm talking about the Mini Cooper, the Porsche 911 and the New Beetle.' "

I think that what Dr. Bernd said essentially was that the Retro's weren't successful, even the Mini Cooper, the 911 and the New Beetle, that they turned out to be a limited niche market.

On we go:

"Au sujet de cette dernière, elle connaîtra une descendance."

"On the last subject, (she) was contrary to (modern technical developments?)."

I think that what he said was that the New Beetle, based upon the old Beetle shape, proved to be too difficult to evolve into a modern vehicle with all of the modern standards of safety, performance and driver experience. That's crap. VW could never get the electrical system integrated into the miserable computer so that the New Beetle wasn't bug-ridden. He's blowing smoke here.

On we go:

"Quant au Minibus, il n'existera pas sous cette forme, nous allons produire un véhicule en collaboration avec Chrysler et exclusivement destiné au marché américain."

"As far as the Minibus goes, it is not of a set formula, we are going to produce a vehicle in collaboration with Chrysler and it will be destined exclusively for the American Market."

"D'un format identique, il coûtera moins cher à fabriquer que le Minibus : une exigence imposée pour des questions de rentabilité et aussi parce que ce marché n'offre plus les même espérances de volume qu'il y a cinq ans."

"On one identical design, it will be tailored (something about making it suitable for a rental vehicle and something about being able to expand the Minibus line over or in the next five years)."

Okay, that was really butchered, but the essense is: Old styling is out, new styling is in with Chrysler steering the VW American Minibus Line in the next five years.

Oh, joy.

Sue

[dnyed]

I would love to see the previously promised MicroBus. And, I would hate to see the New Beetle ended. I hope to have another one someday.

I hate not having any control over VW........

[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

[Breez]

I would love to see the mirco bus!

[Toad]

All i gotta say is that if it looks anyhting like hte iroc or the touran, i'm gonna cry.

[niki]

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

My Bugzzi is definitely a girl though. I've seen her parts. How do you explain that?

[Audiophil]

Considering it is still the 3rd best selling car for VWoA (behind the Passat and Jetta), the NB is not going anywhere.

Updates/redesigns are inevitable, but I think VW remembers what happened to their sales when they dropped the original beetle in the late 70s from the US market.

[Color-rado]

they need to make the car on the polo chassis, and they need to put a big motor in it like the 2.0fsi... then it would be faster than the GTi and that would be sweet

[CoriBug]

Originally Posted by bmxbugzzi

My Bugzzi is definitely a girl though. I've seen her parts. How do you explain that?

Yup Daisy is a girl no doubt too. Cars have been referred to as females since the 50's. Not a big deal. Besides, Daisy's 'gender' is quite relevant, since her name and gender sorta go together!

Cori

back to the original topic -- I hope VW doesn't change the Beetle too much. Just a few updates, like Bluetooth, leatherette standard, and lots of color choices. The more colors the better.

[Beetlemania]

I still wouldn't mind the Beetle going back to its roots, being a very basic entry level car. Not something cheap, just inexpensive and simple. And Bug-like, of course!

[mgwerks]

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

Well, you might as well whine about Spanish, Italian, Portugeuse, and a host of other languaguages that have genderized noun forms. It comes from having no nonspecific pronouns in the tongue. Besides, French and Italian are arguably the most beautiful languages to the ear. Alors, c'est la langue le plus belle!

If you want to rant about some sexist cause, please do so in Hot Topics. That's the place for it, not here. Tilting at windmills won't get you anywhere anyway.

P.S. - "Only function"? Not even close - what about writing your name in the snow?

[Hollywood]

Please, oh pretty please

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...lr%3D%26sa%3DG

"Hollywood"