2026 VW Karmin Ghia

[M.D. Holloway]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsYYpgSRNao

No confirmation, however, if/when this becomes a reality, I will pay for one in cash same day!

What do you think???

[ryans65]

That's clearly an old Ghia and also that's an AI video.

Also- It took VW 25 years to dump this "bus" on us and it's a major flop so I'll almost guarantee moving forward they'll stick with their ****ty little SUVs and an automatic only gti.

[afterburn 549]

I bet they don't..
However, it would be great!
We could buy body parts again?

[Deschodt]

I think the Ghia is one of the prettiest car ever made in period, at least all pre 1970 models (no big tail lights or canoe bumpers for this guy). The Low headlights (50s) are the sexiest.
I will admit that they are crap to drive though. I had a cab, restored it end to end, and it drove like a handful of spaghetti al dente. The minute I discovered the 356 the Ghia was for sale.
Not a fan of modernizing its looks, but to each their own. If I had one again, I'd weld the chassis to the body, add a cage or something to make it stiffer, a 912 big bore engine and disc brakes all around. Would give a 356 a run for its money.

[Deschodt]

PS: the KArmann Ghia script in itself is a friggin' work of art...

[herr_oberst]

Sorry Michael,, no disrespect, but I turned off that video after less than 5 seconds.

I like the way vintage KG's look, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the driving experience would be very underwhelming.

This bondo-bucket has been for sale for years. The owner is asking 12,000 US dollars, yes, twelve thousand, and there isn't a straight body panel anywhere on it. It needs a total restoration and it hasn't moved in the whole time I've lived in this neighborhood. (He keeps it under a cheap tarp in the rainy season)

[M.D. Holloway]

[Otter74]

That is some terrible AI.

[afterburn 549]

They prolly should have been a mid engine car .
Then it would have been everything!

[rcooled]

Yes, that's an original Karmann Ghia in the video that's been customized...nothing remotely like what VW would build if they decide to revive the name. I guess it was just grabbed off the 'net by AI to use as a reference. A bit misleading though...

[Deschodt]

This ^ is a real Ghia ;-) I'll take a coupe (2 colors) as well.. Not the customized thing.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

This ^ is a real Ghia ;-) I'll take a coupe (2 colors) as well.. Not the customized thing.

The world's slowest "sports car" ever.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The world's slowest "sports car" ever.

The Karmann Ghia was never marketed as a true sports car, but rather as a 'sporty' alternative to a Beetle, which shares all of its mechanicals. It's easy to build a bigger engine that'll make driving one a bit more interesting, but it's overall performance will always be limited by its rudimentary chassis & brakes. Later models added front disc brakes, and the swing axles were replaced with true IRS, but you're still at the mercy of its basic 1930s-era technology. Best to always drive one with the car's limitations in mind.

Some people will spend serious $$$ on upgrades in an attempt to turn a Ghia into a real sports car, but I think they'd be better off just buying a car that was designed from the ground up for that purpose instead...like a 356.

[sc_rufctr]

[Bob Kontak]

Same car different design. Last year there were 10 different 2025 57 chevy models. It's horse puckey.

[Por_sha911]

The black AI video looks awesome but manufacturers have a tendancy to put out awesome looking future concepts that hit the showroom with a lot of styling taken away for the sake of manufacturing costs.

Also, a full EV with doom it to a 'no-way-in-hades' category for a lot of folks. Besides being an EV, Vdub has had a plethora of electronic issues that would make British Lucas electrical systems proud.

[NY65912]

I would be on board for a KG like that. I miss my '71 KG. I sent the engine case out to Claudes Buggies for all kinds of machine work, new heads, cam, 1835 big bore kit, etc. I grafted in a 904 trans as well.
I painted it guards red, it was sweet.
I used to challenge new 911 SCs when ever I could. Stuck with them, they were surprised when I took threw 5th gear. Made about 120hp.
.

[stevej37]

In the early 70's, my buddy in HS had an Aunt that bought a new Ghia convertible. She gave us a ride in it a couple times and she floored it and said "It's got good get-up and go"

I think it was slower than a Beetle of the same year.
It's a timeless look though...I wish I would have bought one when they were a good price.

[Monkey Wrench]

vws were great because they were uncomplicated easy to fix and had no unnecessary electronic parts. any garage could fix them and you could buy bumpers for 50 bucks gas stations stocked headlights. mot parts were interchangable with a VW bug and they were cheap and common. engine swap could be done very easily, they dint have 40.000 dollar proprietary batteries that limited their useful lifetime. the batteries they hasd were compatible with most other vehicles and were designed to be disassembled and recycled easily.

I find htis new stuff way to overcomplicated for me. too much plastic to much dependance on proprietary electronics. poor compatibilty poor factory support with manuals necessary tools etc. difficulty finding used parts or non dealer support.
having never owned a car with no ashtray or with antilock brakes, Im quite happy and that stuff I can fix all by myself. I have never made a payment or needed a loan, never needed to hire a mechanic, never been on a car lot or put up with pushy salesman jabber.. never paid over 2K for a car.. and 45 years of driving fun. I have 6 older cars so I really don't need this mew junk..

although not rare or expensive cars they are all appreciating in value each year. I do not need to buy collision insurance , never have. I could afford to write any of them off. I would not have bought my house if I had decided to waste money buying new and quickly depreciating cars. Anywhere I go I seem to have the oldest car in the lot and I even get some admiration when I stop for gas. I dont ebven own a garage. one goes down the other soldiers take the brunt. I do some maintenance each summer. two aare colletable vehicles,mostly kept just for the fun, my porsche 944 and volvo 122..

its not a system that works for everyone , sure, but I'm quite happy to not ahve a "payment plan"
all I really buy is parts and tires. wreckers vanished so Il lbuy a car for parts and disassemble it occasionally. I mostly drive 90's volvos they dint change all the parts so often and there were enough so that most parts are still available. easy to fix, all rear wheel drive. lots of room for the hands, no turbos not much electronics.

the most repliable car is my 122 why? robustness and simplicity. No electronics, decent power good mileage. I did a few performace upgrades, balancing rebore polished ports hotter cam, its a little screamer and it idles like a singer sewing machine.

Much like the VW carmon ghia the volvo 122 has a counterpart, the sporty looking P1800, same drivetrain basically. similar design comparison. both were simple well engineers cars that lasted.and the factories then didn't break the mold every year, they made sensible upgrades over time as tech developed.

I feel that all car makers lost their direction. I certainly do not want a car with a computer screen.
I feel I get enough of compuuter screen time outside of my car. why would I want one in my face when driving my car?