Next Gen New Beetle Rumors

[from Margaritaville...]

Originally Posted by Audiophil

... I guess they figure if it is more average in looks it will sell to more people looking for average cars (look how many cars Toyota sells vs. VW).

If they make one that's cheap to own and cheap to keep, they'll sell more than they could ever dream of. That's why they sold so many of the air-cooleds through the decades...

[mgwerks]

Originally Posted by mel72349

Here's the poll so far:

VOLKSWAGEN Beetle, the next generation - How do you find the Design?
Wow, a genuine jump forward. 48,43%
Bääh, does not please me at all. 20,17%
Makes the Beetle a genuine mini competitor 15,47%
Only interesting to Americans 15,91%

B.S. At best, "it's just a jump to the left... and then a step to the riiiiiight."

[mgwerks]

Originally Posted by dunno513

If the New Beetle looses its round lights then it's doomed. If they can somehow engineer to keep the lighting structure round on both the front and back, then i think they can get away with a dramatic redesign and still have followers.

I'd like tp see thme go back to the taillight concept of the old beetle, pre-1973; not round, but in housings mounted off the fenders. The 73-79 beetle taillights were fugly! I bet Ferdinand, Ferry and Heinz N. are spinning in their graves!

[pdoel]

I'm always amazed when people speculate that VW is going to radically change the appearance of the Beetle.

The New Beetle is radically different than the original, but there's absolutely no mistaking it for a Beetle.

VW isn't stupid. They aren't going to turn it into something else. It will always look like a Beetle. The size may change, the options may change, they may tweak bumpers, grills, stuff like that, but there will never be a problem recognizing it as a Beetle. If that were the case, they would drop it all together.

[angieisgroovy]

I totally agree with the focus comparison. I really hope this is someones sick joke and not a reality!

[jyeesf]

If they are trying to go after the Smart Car market, they could easily reduce the size of the Beetle, lighter and make it much more fuel efficient. Just like the original Beetle.

[Billsbug]

Originally Posted by jyeesf

...reduce the size of the Beetle, lighter and make it much more fuel efficient. Just like the original Beetle.

[dunno513]

In all reality, the only thing that the original VW has in common with our cars are the distict fenders. everything else is as different as a honda or toyota.

So any redesign really only needs to focus on those main points, oh yea, and the bud holder

[71beetle]

VW has enough problems selling cars here without destroying it's Icon. Then again you give your Beetle design to those Paris Hilton type nitwits in California you get what you deserve. ZERO SALES.

[JuggBug]

Originally Posted by 71beetle

VW has enough problems selling cars here without destroying it's Icon. Then again you give your Beetle design to those Paris Hilton type nitwits in California you get what you deserve. ZERO SALES.

I've heard of pen*s envy. I didn't know there was such a thing as state envy too.

California rocks!

[Billsbug]

Originally Posted by 71beetle

Then again you give your Beetle design to those Paris Hilton type nitwits in California you get what you deserve. ZERO SALES.

Dood, better lay off the

[gilligan]

Those concepts remind me alot of the chrysler crossfire.

[Green Arrow]

OMG. My friends sister works at a Chrysler dealership and they made her drive a Crossfire for a week. She said it gave her sooo much back pain. She said it was the most uncomfortable vehicle she has ever driven. She is only 23, so imagine how serious the pain must have been. I think it is mostly older men that buy these cars. I bet they end up wishing they didn't!

[mel72349]

From the CarConnection.com

VW Reshuffles Product Deck

There's a great debate about whether the next Beetle should be an evolution of the current model," added [VWoA's CEO] Hallmark, "or a re-evolution back to the original concept, an incredibly efficient and cheap car." While the British-born executive admitted the latter might be the right strategy for boosting sales of the iconic nameplate, "that scares the pants off me," because it would be difficult to develop and build a car in that segment."

Full article at:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto...2330.html?pg=1

[2nd_BugMan]

I would like to see a new basic Beetle. I've had a 1974 Beetle, 1998 NB, and now a 2002. I loved the origional Beetle smalled size and basic-ness.

[Concept1]

"There's a great debate about whether the next Beetle should be an evolution of the current model," added Hallmark, "or a re-evolution back to the original concept, an incredibly efficient and cheap car." While the British-born executive admitted the latter might be the right strategy for boosting sales of the iconic nameplate, "that scares the pants off me," because it would be difficult to develop and build a car in that segment."

How about something in the middle? They could start by offering a 2.0 Bluetech TDI for starters. Simple.

[Mr.Yellow]

The CrossFires were a failure!!!.

[mel72349]

Originally Posted by Green Arrow

She said it gave her sooo much back pain. She said it was the most uncomfortable vehicle she has ever driven.

We tested one last year just for fun-they were piling on an obscene amount of discounts and incentives to move them.

While the driving performance itself was really good, I could not get comfortable. The seat was all the way back, but I needed another two inches. Felt as if I were scrunched up against the wheel and pedals. I'm 6 feet & 178 lbs, but felt claustrophobic in it.

[oldfart]

Originally Posted by mgwerks

B.S. At best, "it's just a jump to the left... and then a step to the riiiiiight."

Looks like someone's doing the Time Warp again....

[SMG]

I'd love to see a cheaper, more basic Beetle. When my car is paid in 2009, I'm keeping it, making it my project car and I've love to be able to buy something new. I'd be sold on a cheaper, more basic Beetle.

Basic isn't always bad. It's nice to have a car with less things to go wrong, easier to work on, etc.