Volkswagen will relaunch the iconic Beetle In early 2011. The VW Beetle coupe – scooped here in our latest spy photos – arrives first, followed by the cabriolet later in the year.
The original rear-wheel-drive Beetle sold 21.5 million units over 65 years. Its successor, the front-drive New Beetle launched in 1998 in the
United States, soon became the darling of a predominantly female fashion- and lifestyle-oriented clientele which was not even remotely interested in flower power songs or the anti-establishment mantra of the roaring Sixties.
Designed in California by J Mays and Freeman Thomas, the success of the reinvented VW bubble car turned out to be short-lived; despite sporadic product enhancement efforts such as the 224bhp RSi version based on the Golf VR6, by 2009, sales dropped to an all-time low of little over 30,000 units.
The new VW Beetle Mk3: all about the new 2011 Beetle
In spring 2011, the second-generation New Beetle known internally as VW324/325 is due to see the light of day. It exceeds the current car by 90mm in length, sports a flatter roofline and a more upright windscreen, and has a more dynamic stance thanks to the wider track and the reduced front overhang. You can see all of these in our new spyshots.
The extended rear end accommodates a larger cargo area (up by 40 litres – it was tiny before) and a more spacious passenger compartment which offers 30mm more headroom. From some angles, the notably more grown-up shape is reminiscent of the Ragster concept on display at the 2005 Detroit show.
