Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Next New Beetle will have bigger back seat]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/report-next-new-beetle-will-have-bigger-back-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/report-next-new-beetle-will-have-bigger-back-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/report-next-new-beetle-will-have-bigger-back-seat/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2009 Volkswagen New Beetle - Click above for high-res image gallery

The "New Beetle" was a smash hit when it debuted in 1998, and the cutesy little Bug immediately jumped to sales of 83,434 the next year. Over the next 10 years, however, Volkswagen left the spiritual successor to the original Beetle out to dry, and sales have steadily dropped down to near nothingness. AutoWeek is reporting that Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of VW of America, confirmed at a press event in Germany that a long overdue redesign of the New Beetle is coming in 2012, and packaging will be vastly improved.

The current back seat of the New Beetle is a real problem being far too small and uncomfortable for a vehicle in the small car segment. Jacoby says the next Beetle will have a larger rear quarters and better packaging, without growing much beyond its current dimensions. Jacoby says the Beetle will also be used by VW as a kind of low-cost halo car, showing that the German automaker has returned to its roots of building cars for the people.

It's great that VW is finally getting around to making the next New Beetle, but with 14 years between redesigns, we're thinking VW needs to knock the next little Bug out of the park if it once again wants to catch the eye of the car-buying public.


Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle


[Source: AutoWeek]

REPORT: Next New Beetle will have bigger back seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for high-res renderings of a possible New Beetle

When designing a retro-style automobile like the revived MINI, Mustang or VW Beetle, the first generation is the easy one. The second go-round, on the other hand, is a tougher nut to crack, and the easy thing to do is to maintain the status quo. Volkswagen did just that when it revised its New Beetle back in 2006, but the third-generation of today's Bug is expected to ratchet things up a bit design-wise. We're expecting something more mature, perhaps along the lines of the Ragster concept from 2005, which emphasized its low-slung bodywork with a chopped top reminiscent of the Porsche Speedster. Flashier lights and more angular sheetmetal are also distinct possibilities.

Whatever the case, it won't be an easy redesign. VeeDub could stay the course by keeping the cute and charming nature of the current New Beetle intact or it could spice things up with something much more sporty. Could the German automaker do both? That's an option for the future, and current rumors indicate that VW has considered at least two separate Beetle models, one based on the Golf and another using the underpinnings from the yet-to-be-released Up! microcar. The current state of the economy, though, makes a plan like that much less likely to bear fruit.

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle - renderings


[Source: Car Magazine]

New details emerge about 2010 VW Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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]

VW considering speedster, SUV variants of new New Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.]

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle - renderings

Continue reading Rendered Speculation: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle, Cabriolet and Speedster

Rendered Speculation: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle, Cabriolet and Speedster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BusinessWeek has trolled the NHTSA files to find out which automakers have had to recall their brand new 2007 models the most, and the winner is Volkswagen thanks to a recall of just over 1 milion 2007 New Beetles because of potentially faulty brake light switches. Of course, Ford announced a major recall of 3.6 million vehicles earlier this month for defective cruise control switches, but none of the vehicles affected were 2007 models and so don't count for this list.

We've complied the rest of the data for you in a handy list after the jump, because we hate having to click through BusinessWeek's 15-part slideshow, and we suspect you might, too.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Continue reading What company has the most recalled 2007 models?

What company has the most recalled 2007 models? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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