No more VW Beetle?

[A930Rocket]

Are they really going to kill off the Beetle?

The Volkswagen Beetle will soon be squashed | Fox News


Volkswagen is exterminating the Beetle.

The automaker’s head of research and development, Frank Welsch, has confirmed that the brand’s iconic compact car will not be replaced when the current model ends production.

The executive broke the news to Autocar at the Geneva Motor Show, telling the publication that "two or three generations is enough now."

Welsch said that the Beetle was "made with history in mind but you can't do it five times and have a new new new Beetle".

Instead, the VW lineup’s “heritage” slot will be filled by the upcoming electric Microbus, which blends retro styling with a high-tech battery-powered drivetrain that promises long, strange 300 mile trips between charges when it goes on sale in 2021.

Welsh didn’t say when the Beetle is kicking the bucket, but it’s been on sale since 2012, so it could be nearing the end of its lifecycle.

Or not. The “New” Beetle that preceded it was sold between 1997 and 2011, while the original was in production for over six decades.

[kach22i]

February 6, 2015
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Beetle
January 2015
1,389
-31.7%

It was 5th down on the list, a shabby looking list number wise.

2016 and 2017 steady at about 14,000 units YTD.

https://media.vw.com/releases/963

Not their best seller at any stretch.

I'm guessing the next one will be all electric and they just are not ready.

[impactbumper]

Thanks God they kill that pos


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[widebody911]

Originally Posted by impactbumper

Thanks God they kill that pos

This. The last one that I cared about rolled off the line in 1967

[kach22i]

Dismiss it all you want, but in dim lighting 250 feet away coming at you there is still a hint of Porsche DNA in it.

Only when it gets closer does the disappointment set in and you realize it isn't a Porsche, not even a water cooled one.

[ckelly78z]

Will Mexico still produce the old style ?

[stomachmonkey]

https://jalopnik.com/video/3480847?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=Jalopnik

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by impactbumper

Thanks God they kill that pos

+1

I owned a 2002 1.8T and an '03 Passat wagon with same.

Passat was twice the car (and it was a PITA).

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

https://jalopnik.com/video/3480847?utm_medium=sharefromsite&utm_source=Jalopnik

I saw one curved windshield Super Beetle (white), all the others were flat windshield models.

Anyone see different?

[Tobra]

I always loved my 1979 Super Beetle, sweet handling car. 1979 was the last year of the bug for me.

[svandamme]

the new beetle never worked for me
Front engine front drive, That's not a beetle.

IF they would make it RWD, now that would be something worthy...

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by svandamme

the new beetle never worked for me
Front engine front drive, That's not a beetle.

IF they would make it RWD, now that would be something worthy...

I agree.

I bought a brand new 1973 Super Bug. $2,700 bucks. I paid it off in one year. I saved for a few months and ordered my 1974 914 2.0 I traded the 73 in and they gave me $2,000 since it was in pristine condition.

[scottmandue]

They killed it (the new[est] beetle) when they up-styled it and tied to make it look more sporty to try to sell them to men. The original "cute" new beetle was primarily targeted at women IMHO (flower tail lights, flower aluminum wheels, hello kitty wheels, a flower vase on the dashboard).

Just another case of the bean counters trying to be everything to everyone.

My wife loved the first gen new beetle, me, I would just get a Golf, same car with more interior room.