click above image to view high-res gallery of VW New Beetle renderings
It's one of the hardest tricks for a designer to pull off: redesign a retro car that takes its styling cues from an iconic classic. Volkswagen has already refreshed the design of its New Beetle once, though the redo was kept to a minimum and included things like new headlights, slightly more creased fenders, and new taillights. The time will come, however, when the New Beetle needs a new look, and according to Brenda Priddy's illustration artist, the next-gen people's car will be inspired by VW's series of up! concepts that have been trotted out at recent auto shows around the world. And truly, doesn't it make sense? Adding the up! bumper to the New Beetle gives its face a cheery smile that one would expect from a car that comes standard with a flower vase in the dash. The same goes for the rear bumper that gives a grin to passerbys as if to say, "Make love, not war!". Even the new head and taillights in these renderings look more like actual eyeballs than on most cars. Whether or not these illustrations have a grain of truth to them remains to be seen, but the fact can't be denied that VW needs to somehow update the New Beetle's design without losing any of its inherent charm.
So far this year, the New Beetle coupe is down 9.8% in sales while the convertible is off -19.7%. What will help a redesign gain traction with buyers are new features being planned for the next-gen Bug, including availability of a DSG gearbox and even a speedster model that could hint at a performance variant. Hmmm... kind of looks like Walt Disney's version of a Porsche Boxster.
[Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.]
From Brenda Priddy:
We're expecting a new look for Volkswagen's retro-styled New Beetle in 2012, as well as a new variant – a "speedster" model.
Our illustrator, working with information he's picked up along the way – as well as some VW styling cues that have been recently detailed at Auto Shows around the world – has put together these three renderings.
The 2012 New Beetle will be riding on the new Golf VI platform, and will offer a nice selections of powerplants, as well as VW's DG dual-clutch gearbox.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
CJ @ Dec 18th 2007 1:11PM
Those pictures were in Auto Motor & Sport a couple months ago...how does Priddy take credit for them????
John R @ Dec 18th 2007 1:12PM
pass
Ligor @ Dec 18th 2007 1:12PM
just as ugly as ever, it'll still sell to the 70 smoking pot crowd adn the wanna be 70 smoking pot crowd
hope it doesn't have the flower vase
500 @ Dec 18th 2007 1:15PM
Wow, the 2012 Beetle will look nearly identical to the '98?
How's this for a radical idea: give it a little chrome, make it look MORE like the original. The 50's and 60's Beetles were much prettier anyway.
CastleCharles @ Dec 18th 2007 3:40PM
How about a thing? How about a Karman Gia? seriously... I mean, where do you go with the design. It's no shame retro. Just go go all out.
MUSASHI66 @ Dec 18th 2007 1:15PM
So they changed the bumpers and headlights and called it a day?
There is only one cool New Beetle, and that is the sweet one with AWD TT set-up, and I can't remember the tuners name.. HPA maybe?
Andy @ Dec 18th 2007 1:18PM
This is all SPECULATION. Nothing has been set in stone yet.
Jimbo @ Dec 18th 2007 1:22PM
I think it would be more interesting if it used the Up! platform. Bring it back to its rear-engined roots. Who cares if that platform doesn't accommodate anything larger than a 3-cylinder? It's not like you see people driving the New Beetle like a road rocket.
Farris @ Dec 18th 2007 1:32PM
Actually, there are a lot of people driving them hard and tuning them for tons of performance. I've seen quite a few over on newbeetle.org, where I am a member.
The thing is, that the Beetle tuning crowd tends to keep to themselves because the other V-Dub tuners (cough.vwvortex.cough) always flip us crap.
Cip @ Dec 18th 2007 1:30PM
The usual ugly VW design. All of their new cars look kinda ugly and what is it with the rabbit looking like an evolution of an old geo metro???
WillDaThrill @ Dec 18th 2007 1:40PM
How long will VW beat the dead horse? Let's hope it stays speculatory.
CastleCharles @ Dec 18th 2007 3:36PM
They sold to old beetle for 30-40 years......
Galley @ Dec 19th 2007 9:02AM
Actually, the original Beetle (Type 1) was in production for 65 years from 1938 - 2003.
fordboy97f150 @ Dec 18th 2007 1:53PM
all in all its still a bug
Albert @ Dec 18th 2007 2:12PM
I've seen other renderings that look a LOT better than this. This looks like nothing more than a photoshop combo with a 98 NB press picture and an Up! Trust me, the 2012 Beetle will be entirely different than this.
Don't pick on New Beetle owners. I myself bought one in 98 as a 99 model and have loved it for the last 9 years, and it still looks as good as the day I picked it up, and performs better than the factory intended, and no I'm not part of the 70ish pot smoking crowd, or want to be 70ish pot smoking crowd for that matter. Try under 30, alpha male with a love of VWs and their history. I've owned over 15 aircooled VWs, and for a VW nut as big as me who lives in the northeast, the New Beetle is the perfect car to keep someone happy.
jg @ Dec 18th 2007 3:06PM
Having to point out that you're an 'alpha male' says all that needs to be said about the Bug.
Albert @ Dec 18th 2007 4:27PM
Well what you have put jg? There's nothing wrong with being a male and liking this car, so I don't know what you're trying to say.
David(Postal) @ Dec 18th 2007 2:21PM
man that is one ugly smile!
Kumar @ Dec 18th 2007 2:25PM
Should be a 5 door....make the front doors smaller and add suicide doors for the rear. There's too much unuseable space forward of the cabin. Obviously it would have to grow a bit, but hasn't just about every remake lately?
Would look nice with one of those giant sunroofs too, porsche style.
Kotse @ Dec 18th 2007 2:35PM
An NB redesign must include a mild CHOP TOP!