Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Volkswagen
Rendered Speculation: VW Porsche-fying next-gen New Beetle
Here's a rendering of the new, new, New Beetle, courtesy of AutoBild. The 2009 edition of the remade icon still hasn't been shown in public, but that hasn't stopped artists and prognosticators from sharing images of a likely form for this most legendary people's car. In a sort of twist on the normal gameplan, it is believed that the cabrio will debut before the coupe this time around, and there's even a talk of a Microbus variant in the mix! The Beetle should share the VW Golf VI platform, but the Microbus would likely use older Golf and Touran parts. Either way, the new look of the Beetle is sportier, with a hint of Porsche in the front fascia. Okay, more than a hint. Looking at the clipped pic at right, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a 997. The new Beetle should also share powertrains with the Golf VI, and therefore the Golf V, as most are expected to carry over from the current models. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
[Source: AutoBild via TheGermanCarBlog]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jaymez 7:44PM (7/31/2007)
How can the new New Beetle have a hint of Porsche in the front end? All Porsches look like VW variants. They always have. Yeah, Ferdinand Porsche designed the first Beetle and the first Porsche was a Beetle with a long nose, but, the designers never drifted from that design theme.
Reply
john riley 7:46PM (7/31/2007)
There is a beetle pickup concept in among the photos on that site.
Reply
john riley 7:47PM (7/31/2007)
forgot the link:
http://www.autobild.de/projektor/galerie.php?pos=16&artikel_id=14746
Jonathan Fung 7:49PM (7/31/2007)
Phew. Thank god the title didn't read "Rendered Speculation: Porsche VW-fying next-gen 911." A little matching vase in your 911. Hot.
Reply
Rambo 7:50PM (7/31/2007)
The Bettle really is a pointless car. It was replaced by the Rabbit/Golf decades ago with good reason. Unless they can bring the price down below the $10K mark there is no point.
Reply
nosmas 5:43AM (8/01/2007)
Rambo, I think Jame's point is that the Beetle looks different than anything else out there - that's the point! That's why people buy coupes over sedans even though most sedan derived coupes are the same, minus two doors. Also, along those lines, both coupes and sedans would be pointless because why would people choose those over wagons that perform the same, yet have more room? Frankly, I like seeing variety on the road, makes my commute more interesting. Even if that were the Beetle's sole purpose, that's good enough.
James_604 8:00PM (7/31/2007)
Theres no point for the Beetle? Then I guess you think there is no point for the Miata ot Solstice either? It is a car that appeals to wants over needs, and there is a market for a cute 'VW' rather than a 'normal car' golf. If emotional desires did not come into play, everyone would drive a 4cyl diesel minivan.
Reply
Rambo 8:16PM (7/31/2007)
Come on, you can't say the Miata and Solstice are in the same market as the Beetle. The Miata and Solstice are sports roadsters. Every quality the Beetle has the Golf/Rabbit does the same or better with virtually no differance in price. Sure, it satisfies a certain female buyer but many of those have jumped to the Mini now.
James_604 8:43PM (7/31/2007)
The point i was making was that all three mentioned vehicles are two door, 'sporty'(yes i know two are RWD roadsters) convertibles with room for little else than one passemger and a duffle bag....They are also all in the same price category. If there was a golf cabriolet for the same price or less, i could see your argument. Here is another example of your point:
Why should I buy a Chevy Corvette when i can buy a Pontiac GTO with the same motor, two extra seats for less money? The answer: Different target markets and needs.
Really there is no need for a Miata when a MazdaSpeed 3 can probably run a better lap time..or at least a very similar one.
Rambo 9:18PM (7/31/2007)
I agree, in the sense that the Golf Cabrio has been dropped in favor of the Eos and now the Beetle Cabrio is a more affortable soft top. But, please don't call the Beetle sporty. There is no sense of performance when behind the wheel of a Beetle.
The GTO is a low cost, heavy 2+2 coupe. The Vette is light weight 2 seat high performance coupe. The Beetle and Golf share the same platform and nearly identical interior dimensions. I can't see the similarity.
VK 8:55PM (7/31/2007)
Even the current Beetles look good in certain colors and rims. I can't wait to see how this turns out, i really would love to own a vintage beetle, a current one, and a new one. Sad i know.
Reply
wushu 9:51PM (7/31/2007)
I always thought the 911 looked like someone cut off the back half of a VW Beetle and stuck it onto the back of a car. Hideous. The Cayman, on the other hand, is a gorgeous car. Porsche should give the Cayman a bigger engine and LSD and price the coupe version lower than the convertible version.
Reply
Jason 11:27PM (7/31/2007)
A decent face-lift, but hardly a new car.
Reply
pat 2:21AM (8/01/2007)
"A decent face-lift, but hardly a new car."
??? I guess you're missing the point. The New Beetle replacement is not going to change too much as how the new Mini got redesigned. These "designated" models should be subtle evolutionary design, not a radical one like how many Japanese and American models got dumped, replace or totally change on the design theme. All or few Buick models or Mitsubishi models survive from 5 or 10 years. RESALE! RESALE! RESALE! Think of comparing McDonald's menu to In & Out's menu. Heavy changes or constant replacements is not always good...
Reply
MiniMe 6:20AM (8/01/2007)
Volkswagon has completely forgotten what made the original Beetle such a hit, namely high build quality and good reliability, and not the styling. Todays VWs are unreliable, dour looking junk.
Air-cooled, rear engined cars were hardly unique in Europe in the early 1930's, Porsche in fact stole the basic design for his Volkswagon Beetle from the Czech company Tatra:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Beetle
Just another example of how the German reputation for automotive engineering excellence is largely a myth. They churn out some kinda junk nowadays.
Reply
ebm14 1:17PM (8/01/2007)
I would love to see an updated version of the Bettle since it really needs a major update. Mini was very smart not to do the update too late and this explains that it is a hot car that people such as myself want to get into. I would consider the Beetle if it didn't have that long dash board area that resembles a Chrysler mini-van as well as some of the odd blind sports upfront and around the hood of the car. Also, VW should really bring out an AWD model and even a dune buggy-street version that is practical for everyday use. A microbus would also bring followers from around the world back into showrooms thanks to Little Ms. Sunshine and Scooby Doo ( I think that was either a VW or a Dodge?). Anyway, these upcoming vehicles would be great if they also followed Chrysler's
life time warranty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply