VW considering speedster, SUV variants of new New Beetle
Click above to view the VW Ragster concept in hi res
With retro rides – from the Fiat 500 to the Dodge Challenger – popping up left, right and center, it would be all to easy to forget the vehicle that started the trend: Volkswagen's New Beetle. Now with ten years on the road since introduction in 1998, the New Beetle is getting a little long in the tooth, but VW is preparing to launch its successor. However, while the current version is available only in two versions (coupe and cabrio), the next iteration may come with a few new twists in the lineup, mirroring the steadily-evolving range of variants of the MINI. That is, if the latest reports are to be believed.
Engineering is tipped to already be underway in Germany, with styling being carried out in California and production confirmed to continue in Mexico. Among the new body styles reportedly under consideration in Wolfsburg are a two-seat speedster version, as previewed by the Ragster concept from Detroit '05, and a potential SUV like the 2000 Beetle Dune concept. The next Beetle is tipped to be based on the current Mk5 Golf/Rabbit, rather than the upcoming sixth-generation platform.
Gallery: 2005 VW Ragster Concept
[Source: 4Car]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jrejre 7:49PM (6/22/2008)
That's one ugly car.
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Jrejre 7:50PM (6/22/2008)
That's one ugly car.
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Ohso Clutch 7:57PM (6/22/2008)
I dig the wheels.
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IK47 12:22AM (6/23/2008)
they look like the s2000 type S wheels
Soul Shinobi 12:55AM (6/23/2008)
Yeah, they don't match the car one bit, thank god. God forbid the New Beetle ever have a real sense of style.
Michael 8:14PM (6/22/2008)
No. Just... no.
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iCameiSawiConquered 8:27PM (6/22/2008)
EPIC FAIL.
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John Johnson 8:43PM (6/22/2008)
Don't.
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Yar 9:21PM (6/22/2008)
And out of left field...
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Reader 10:47PM (6/22/2008)
Is this Porsches influence? First the Cayenne, now the SUV Beetle?
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LloydChiro 10:50PM (6/22/2008)
It's not that bad. There are uglier cars out there. (Prius, Ford products, French cars)
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Seanross 12:36AM (6/23/2008)
An ugly car list and the Aztek wasnt number one???
Adam 11:16PM (6/22/2008)
If they redesigned it a bit, maybe. That one is just sinful.
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pmiddle5 11:17PM (6/22/2008)
Make it rear engine and rwd and I will buy it and accept its VW inherit flaws.
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Bryant 11:46PM (6/22/2008)
Everything from the pillars up looks like a GTR. Below the pillars... ugly beetle :(
A GTResque beetle might not be a bad idea, but I'm not sure how it would look.
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almost Dr. G.. 1:11AM (6/23/2008)
someone seriously efed up the stitching on the front drivers seat..
and yeah its ugly..
a new new beetle has been overdue for a while now.. but they need to scrap it or do something all-new.. rear engine sounds nice.. and they were trying it with the up!
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psarhjinian 1:33AM (6/23/2008)
Jeeze.
VW just doesn't understand it, do they? They have all sorts of problems (quality, cost control, Porsche) and what are they doing? Screwing around with their lowest-volume model.
This is head-in-the-sand management at it's worst, kids! Don't let it happen to you!
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Yar 1:53AM (6/23/2008)
?
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Michael 1:59AM (6/23/2008)
There's no way they'll make a SUV variant of the new beetle, not with the tiguan out now.
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sdcarnut 2:02AM (6/23/2008)
The only way you should buy the beetle is if you live within walking distance from a a dealer ! every single owner i know of the beetle has had nothing but problems and dealer visits over and over, ( and lousy incompetent dealers ) , for a car thats been out for 10 years and basically no changes to it, is completely unacceptable ! If you would have told me in 1998 that this car will be around in 2009 and still have major glitches and problems i would have laughed in your face..
So hey VW you wanna change the beetle how about start first with reliability issues, quality control and dealers, then design the car around that !!!
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