The current VW Beetle was all the rage when it debuted in 1998. VW also managed to sell 83,434 New Beetles in 1999, but since then sales have continued to decline to only 26,477 units last year. Over 10 years since it was released, the Beetle now barely registers on the radar and has been overshadowed by other retro vehicles like the Mini. Well VW is finally working on a successor that will arrive in 2012 and according to Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, the next model will have better packaging and a larger back seat.
According to Jacoby the major complaint about the Beetle, besides its age is that it has a cramped back seat. The new Beetle will indeed have a bigger back seat, but Jacoby was quick to state that that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be bigger.
Jacoby also stated that he sees the next Beetle as more of a halo car for the brand.
Full Story: AutoWeek
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Comments (4)
"According to Jacoby the major complaint about the Beetle, besides its age is that it has a cramped back seat. The new Beetle will indeed have a bigger back seat, but Jacoby was quick to state that that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be bigger."
This man should be a politician - says 'indeed' it will have a bigger back seat, and in the same sentence says 'that doesn't mean it will'. Whatever man.
Instead of the seat, maybe they should look at the build quality. VW and Audi, too, to some extent, have over the decade cheaped out on the electronics, using smaller gauge wires in places that it shouldn't, causing melted plastics in various places from ignition switches to the fuses. A professional mechanic told me that, so its not out of my head. Mechanical problems should be addressed, not one of a small back seat.
Posted by wvo | October 13, 2009 7:15 AM
Posted on October 13, 2009 07:15
How about putting the car on a more updated platform for starters.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | October 14, 2009 12:02 AM
Posted on October 14, 2009 00:02
How about less "cab forward"?
I mean sit in the passenger seat...the dash is in your knees. I could put a 20" pizza box on the dash and still have room for cheese sticks...
To be twice the weight, and probably 30% larger than the original it does a great job of feeling just as cramped.
Posted by Brian | October 18, 2009 9:11 AM
Posted on October 18, 2009 09:11
how about can it? the golf and gti are good cars, what is the point of this? its like a metrodome on wheels, arghh. get rid of both and i will be happy. if they made it different like rear engined, it would be pretty neat.
Posted by mark ross | October 24, 2009 11:00 PM
Posted on October 24, 2009 23:00