VW to bring back BEETLE???

[karmakid]

In a leaked document, Volkswagen's plans for a rear-engined, RWD city car based on the up! concept (http://jalopnik.com/cars/top/frankfurt-auto-show-volkswagen-up-concept-car-revealed-297992.php)have been unveiled. Measuring 3.5 meters in length, the 3-door version should retail for €8,950 and, in true VW style, will serve as the platform for a number of additional models. Manufacture is expected to take place in Skoda's Vrchlabi factory in the Czech Republic, with sales expected in Europe, India and Russia starting in 2010. A plug-in hybrid power train is expected to accompany the usual range of diesel and gasoline engines. Bizarrely, a source within the company describes the project as "new territory." But, an affordable, rear-engined car for the people sounds like a welcome return to form for the creators of the original people's car. [Automotive News Europe via Motor Authority (http://www.motorauthority.com/)]

credit(s):


1:15 PM (http://jalopnik.com/cars/leaked/vw-to-bring-back-beetle-310902.php) ON MON OCT 15 2007
BY WES SILER


(jalopnik)

[Rento_VW]

Hmmm... What's going to to that "New Beetle"?

[Pireboi251]

"SLUG BUG!!" :hammerh:

[T-Red]

The redesigned New Beetle will no longer resemble the old Beetle. Neither will the Up!

Sales of the New Beetle continue to decline 20% or more every year. Anyone who wants one has probably already got one. The production line in Puebla really needs to be switched over to something that can be sold in high volumes. I have no idea what it will be, but VW really should have shut down NB production in 2004 or 2005 -- there is just no reason to keep making them.

[Pireboi251]

i say re release th RSI editon bettle ^_^...

[Rento_VW]

Yeah, they should've made the current New Beetle a one or two year thing. Pretty useless now.

I think VWOA needs to smarten the hell up and quit fiffle-faddling around and importing the Polos and Sprinter Pick-ups. If they want to cover the whole car market in the US, they better add small economic sized pick-ups. By this, I am talking EXACTLY about the VW Sprinter pick-up. Than add some medium and full size pick-ups.

But yeah, they should bring Polos here... And perhaps the Mark I (or was it Mark IIs?) Citi Rs.

[T-Red]

Yeah, they should've made the current New Beetle a one or two year thing. Pretty useless now.

I think VWOA needs to smarten the hell up and quit fiffle-faddling around and importing the Polos and Sprinter Pick-ups. If they want to cover the whole car market in the US, they better add small economic sized pick-ups. By this, I am talking EXACTLY about the VW Sprinter pick-up. Than add some medium and full size pick-ups.
A TDI-powered pickup about the size of the Ford Ranger/Dodge Dakota, getting 30+ mpg, would be a big seller. When you say "Sprinter", are you sure you don't mean "Pointer"? I've seen a few of them with Baja plates, and they are not worth importing.

There is still a 25% tariff on imported pickups, imposed back in the early 1980s in retaliation for a European Common Market tariff on imported chickens. The barrier against American chickens was lifted a couple decades ago, but the tariff on pickups is still there. However, if they were built in a NAFTA plant (Puebla MX?), then no tariff.

The Polo is a no-brainer. And they need to build the Rabbit somewhere besides Germany -- the exchange rate is a killer.

[Rento_VW]

Yeah, Pointer, my bad.

[mario]

i liked that car better when it was called the SMART car.


(as i've said before)

[mike]

You know people at VW read these threads right???? :smokem:

From what I've seen and heard, its supposed to be a fighter for the Smart car......

Well a lot of existing ROW cars don't meet current EPA or DOT standards for emissions or crash worthiness. Like the Polo or the Pointer, hell you can still but a MK1 NEW in Africa. When I was at the dealer, I would see MK3's float through from Mexico that had solid MK1 disc brakes in the front and an 8V from a MK2 with a carb or throttle body injection, with no airbags! Junk! I agree, VW needs to open their eyes and get more in touch with their roots as a peoples car, a basic car that is reliable and inexpensive, but high quality like the old beetle rabbit, MK2 and to a lesser extent, the MK3 was.

The Asians can build a damn fine car that is reliable and cheap, if they ever figure out how to build one with a nice fit and finish with high grade materials, VW is done for. VW builds crap now for the most part, I have had numerous issues with one of my MK5's, the GLI, the other a 2.5 has never been back to the shop for anything in two years which is unheard of for any car, let alone a VW and its the exception to the rule.

For starters, my biggest rant, make the damn R32 competitive power wise with the japanese like the EVO and STI, sure the R has a nicer interior, but then you have a comfortable seat for a view of your ass kicking. I would never buy one until it has a leg up on the competition power wise, extra money, sure, as long as I know I'm getting my $$$ worth.

Make a cheap, reliable entry level car to get people moving and accustomed to VW Brand and quality (?)

Make a better options list, I know its hard for a small company to individually option cars, but I wouldn't mind ordering what I want and waiting, or picking one off a lot and getting it close, but I don't want my shit in packages. If I want Climatronic, I want to tick a box marked Climatronic, not Climatronic and everything but the kitchen sink. Or my sunroof that costs me $2K because it comes with leather and and premium sound.

Work out your quality control issues! VW makes a damn nice car fit and finish with nice materials (except that damn peeling soft touch, which after 8 model years is now finally getting phased out), if they were more reliable, their resale wouldn't be shit and I wouldn't be afraid to keep it after the warranty is over. VW's warranty claims in dollars per VIN are literally causing them to bleed money in N.A. That money has to be made up somewhere. Thats right, your next new VW.

I agree that the NB is wasting valuable production line space in Puebla that could be used to bring the Rabbit here even cheaper due to the Euro/Dollar exchange rate and slaughter Kia and Hyundai, not to mention Honda and Toyota. We are all paying for the botched Phaeton (nice car BTW), and other misadventures, like the Tiguan, but that should sell like hotcakes since there is no shortage of new moms and college girls that want a small SUV, I would drive one if it had the balls for the dirt like the Toureg.

Did you take notes? We'll see..........................

[T-Red]

That reminds me, the Tiguan goes on sale in Germany next month -- 10,000 have already been pre-ordered. I guess it's not just Americans who want a small SUV.

[Rento_VW]

You know people at VW read these threads right???? :smokem:


That's like the 5th time I read that this month lol.

And yes, I'll state it again because you brought it up.

WE WANT THE DAMNED POLO, WE WANT THE NEW IROC, AND MAKE A DAMN CHEAP MINI TRUCK.

[NaKoRuRu]

I made a thread on Vortex about when we will get the Polo:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3405460

And I agree with Mike for the most part. I still think that a GERMAN car should be built in GERMANY. My Rabbit is and should all VW's but I understand the exchange rate issue. And having special ordering cars a la Mini Cooper is what VW should do in the states. IMO. of course with individual options and not packages like Mike said.