VW may leave New Beetle un-redesigned

VW product strategist Stefan Krebsfanger recently said that the New Beetle could be "a one-cycle car", meaning that it will keep to a single form before going kaput. But when, Stefan Krebsfanger, when will this kaputting happen? He responded, "Remember the old Beetle? It lasted 40 years. It could be 40 years of New Beetle. I doubt this, but at this point in time there is just no commitment to a redesign." Gee, thanks for being specific, Krebsy. This whole not-being-redesigned brouhaha brings to the fore the question of the New Beetle's success, which has been pretty good in the U.S. but rather weak in Europe. VW is apparently considering introducing a smaller model, perhaps MINI Cooper size, to appeal to those fickle modern young people.