New Beetle Final Edition

[Fowvay]

Actually I wrote... Volkswagen, you suck at two tone. That is all.

P.S. if you haven't figured it out yet... I'm Eunos94

[SMG]

Good it's about time VW killed it. I think this is really good news for all of us. It means that we probably will see a next-gen Beetle on a new platform.

As far as I know there is no true "MK6" platform now and that the new "MK6" Golf is simply a re-bodied MK5 in the same way that a NB is a MK4 with a different body.

[dbmcd]

Volkswagen is halting production of the New Beetle, the popular, iconic little car that took the country by storm a decade ago. It will make 3,000 more Final Edition versions. That's it.

It will be replaced in 2011 by "something Beetlish," says VW spokesman Steve Keyes at the L.A. Auto Show.

The New Beetle, designed strictly for the U.S. market unlike any other VW models, was launched in 1998. It set the auto world on fire on at the time. And now for its exit:

Half of those 3,000 remaining New Beetles will be coupes. The other half will be convertibles. They will go on sale in the U.S. next spring. VW says they will have unique trim and upgrades to mark them as the last of the line.

The New Beetle coupe Final Edition will be priced at $20,240 and the convertible at $27,170. All will be painted a light blue -- Aquarius Blue. The coupe will have a black top and the convertible will have a white folding top.

[UnBeetable69]

do you have a source

[williamadamsesq]

Looks like it's official

LA 2009: Volkswagen shows off "Final Edition" New Beetle models — Autoblog

Volkswagen killing the New Beetle - Drive On: A conversation about the cars and trucks we drive - USATODAY.com

All-New Volkswagen ?New Beetle? to Debut in 2011 - Car News - Car and Driver

I'm glad I got mine in June.

[AceJay]

Originally Posted by elancee

The colors in the last couple of years have gotten incredibly dull. What happened to the bright, stand-out look??

I saw an article somewhere that said most Americans prefer More dull colors which is probably right. Every other car on the road is White, Black, Silver, or Tan :<

They should keep Techno Blue.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by Fowvay

Actually I wrote... Volkswagen, you suck at two tone. That is all.

P.S. if you haven't figured it out yet... I'm Eunos94

Yes you did

And i kinda figured it was an orger who posted that

[DZLBUG]

No offense to anyone who is "older," but look at the average age of New Beetle owners...particularly the newer models and convertibles. 90% of them around here that I see are women aged 55-65. These "dull" and "pretty" colors are aimed directly at them. Loud and bright colors, not so much.

When the New Beetle first came out it was more geared towards younger people, hence the bright colors. Now, as the popularity in that age group has faded...VW has been marketing more to older women. Empty-nesters in the midst of their "midlife crisis" who want to feel young and hip again but no longer have to haul kids around everywhere. There is nothing wrong with that, its just facts. VW recognized this and catered to their target buyer.

This is also evidenced by the way they are equipped now compared to when they first came out. No more TDI. No more 1.8T. No more "sport" geared models. It never got the 2.0T, only the 04-06 TDI's got the DSG. Yeah you can get a manual transmission now, but I bet less than 5% of sales are equipped with a manual. For a few years now, if you wanted to buy a 'new' New Beetle, you were stuck with the 2.5 and the 6 speed slushtronic. Most cars on dealer lots are also fully decked out with leather and everything. Again, geared towards the older (and generally female) buyer.

I hope that the next-gen Beetle will get back to its roots, but I fear that VW will continue to gear it towards the baby boomer set as they have been doing recently.

[TrudysMom]

Yes, I am glad I got mine too. I am sure we all are, it is so sad and silly to stop making them. They should be doing new colors and making COMMERCIALS that are fantastic! Dumb to stop making them.

[newbie]

I think the problem over the past few years was Lame colors and un-exciting models... Turbos and Turbo S were not made past a certain point, which I think was stupid because personally I wouldnt buy a non-turbo version.
And what is up with the color choices, they went from bright, fun, exciting, and unique colors to flesh tones, metallic pastels.... Its a Beetle not a business car.. people dont normally buy one because of classy/grown-up-ness of it..
I think the beetle died when the CC's and 1.8t's, and crazy colors were discontinued... Just my opinion. I apologize if I sound like a hater. I'm REALLY not, as I love my car. Its just sad to see that they kind of abandoned what was working and what was exciting and fun...

[noR]

welcome back scirocco?

[CGK]

Well, it looks like VW will finally use up the last few gallons of Aquarius Blue paint and since they won't have enough to cover 1500 verts and 1500 coupes, they will need to cover some panels in white on the vert and the roof in black on the tin top.
Anyone who gets one of the verts with a white top should take pics before they leave the showroom since that top will never be white again after they leave!! Whew, I can't imagine what they'll look like after a few days of outdoor exposure.
Some of you folks with cream tops probably know that already.

Waiting with trepidation on the next generation Beetle to see what it will have in store for the U.S. market. I can only hope for TDI's, 6sp manual's, 2.0T's, Sport leather interior again, fog lamps, door panel courtesy lamps and new vibrant colors.

[TrudysMom]

I see people of allllllll ages in New Beetles. I enjoy seeing how many different people drive them. There are bright colors like the bright yellow, blue, yellow and green, but I chose blue because I wanted to not get tired of a bright color.

VW needs to keep doing new colors and have some great COMMERCIALS to show how different people enjoy them and they should show how our personalities can come out with this car. What a waste, not showing how great this car is. A gem that should just be improved and not stopped.

[digitalputty]

I love the color. Could do WITHOUT the two tone exterior. LOVE the hard top ... needs a turbo. :P

[digitalputty]

Originally Posted by newbie

I think the problem over the past few years was Lame colors and un-exciting models... Turbos and Turbo S were not made past a certain point, which I think was stupid because personally I wouldnt buy a non-turbo version.
And what is up with the color choices, they went from bright, fun, exciting, and unique colors to flesh tones, metallic pastels.... Its a Beetle not a business car.. people dont normally buy one because of classy/grown-up-ness of it..
I think the beetle died when the CC's and 1.8t's, and crazy colors were discontinued... Just my opinion. I apologize if I sound like a hater. I'm REALLY not, as I love my car. Its just sad to see that they kind of abandoned what was working and what was exciting and fun...

I agree!

[huck731]

lets get the vortex to sign a petition with us to try and prevent the death of the new beetle. oh and funny thing, i was in my ,local vw dealer the other day, and read a sign that explained why they make changes to the beetle, and on the bottom is said that they would never kill the beetle. oh the sense of dramatic irony

[elancee]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

No offense to anyone who is "older," but look at the average age of New Beetle owners...particularly the newer models and convertibles. 90% of them around here that I see are women aged 55-65. These "dull" and "pretty" colors are aimed directly at them. Loud and bright colors, not so much.

When the New Beetle first came out it was more geared towards younger people, hence the bright colors. Now, as the popularity in that age group has faded...VW has been marketing more to older women. Empty-nesters in the midst of their "midlife crisis" who want to feel young and hip again but no longer have to haul kids around everywhere. There is nothing wrong with that, its just facts. VW recognized this and catered to their target buyer.

This is also evidenced by the way they are equipped now compared to when they first came out. No more TDI. No more 1.8T. No more "sport" geared models. It never got the 2.0T, only the 04-06 TDI's got the DSG. Yeah you can get a manual transmission now, but I bet less than 5% of sales are equipped with a manual. For a few years now, if you wanted to buy a 'new' New Beetle, you were stuck with the 2.5 and the 6 speed slushtronic. Most cars on dealer lots are also fully decked out with leather and everything. Again, geared towards the older (and generally female) buyer.

I hope that the next-gen Beetle will get back to its roots, but I fear that VW will continue to gear it towards the baby boomer set as they have been doing recently.

Glad you mentioned it! I was going to say something about gearing their marketing toward more "seasoned citizens" but chickened out.

[buckbeetle]

Originally Posted by CGK

Well, it looks like VW will finally use up the last few gallons of Aquarius Blue paint and since they won't have enough to cover 1500 verts and 1500 coupes, they will need to cover some panels in white on the vert and the roof in black on the tin top.
Anyone who gets one of the verts with a white top should take pics before they leave the showroom since that top will never be white again after they leave!! Whew, I can't imagine what they'll look like after a few days of outdoor exposure.
Some of you folks with cream tops probably know that already.

Waiting with trepidation on the next generation Beetle to see what it will have in store for the U.S. market. I can only hope for TDI's, 6sp manual's, 2.0T's, Sport leather interior again, fog lamps, door panel courtesy lamps and new vibrant colors.

I think only the tops cover is white. I bet the top is black.

[lkchris]

The latest New Beetles look nice, but they're gas guzzlers with the 2.5 engine. IMHO the trend has been down for some time now.

[Kuplamies]

I agree Trudy´s Mom´s idea about extra commercials!

In fact, I haven´t seen a New Beetle commercial or a NB ad here lately! That is so odd. The only ads, I can remember, was published 10 years ago, when the NB-model was new.

In my opinion this car still has some potential left... Or at least had. There should have been more commercials and ads!
I think VW has missed an opportunity here about selling larger numbers of NBs (at least here in Finland).