2012 VW New Beetle to get More Interior Room

VW Beetle Up citycar artist rendering / Copyright by Larson

A big step forward

The president and CEO of Volkswagen America, Stefan Jacoby, has revealed new details about the 2012 Beetle.

During a German press event, Jacoby said the Beetle will be "more of a halo car" with improved packaging and additional interior room. He commented that number one complaint about the current model, besides the dated styling/platform, was the miniscule rear seat.

Jacoby also believes the redesigned Beetle has a "great opportunity" to surpass the limited sales-success of the current model (only 26,477 units were sold in the US last year). To this end, Walter de' Silva has promised the Beetle's styling "will be a big step" forward.

Source: autoweek

2012 VW Beetle teased on Oprah - 275 given away
(24 comments)
Next-generation VW Beetle spied testing in Europe
(15 comments)
Next-gen VW Beetle set to feature 'radical' styling
(15 comments)
Second Generation VW New Beetle to be Launched in 2011
(10 comments)
Rendered Speculation: 2012 VW Beetle Second Generation
(23 comments)

Add a Comment

Comments (21)

newest first oldest first

Subscribe to comments

archytype

When your stigma is overly flamboyant and feminine, and both men and women prefer cars to have at least some aggression. The styling should follow the popular trend. This car while more modern, merely softens the ladybug design.

October 13, 2009 11:11 am

report abuse | reply

1 reply

pscs

So do you need another Hitler to design the new Beetle lol? The original Beetle was really popular... and was really cheap and compact. They just threw these two points out the window. The current Beetle is too big and heavy and it's way more expensive compared to the original. And looks like this one is getting even bigger.

October 14, 2009 12:14 am

report abuse | reply

mn07

This looks like the fiat 500.

October 13, 2009 11:20 am

report abuse | reply

4 replies

alessandro

Yes it does. Same here.

October 13, 2009 11:31 am

report abuse | reply

serraxtrem

Maybe they don't know about the Fiat 500 ... Poor germans are working too hard...

October 13, 2009 11:41 am

report abuse | reply

Max_Speed

October 13, 2009 4:34 pm

report abuse | reply

Max_Speed

It's a rendering, not the official thing ...

October 13, 2009 4:35 pm

report abuse | reply

nederina

I guess the New New Beetle is going to be based on the next Golf or modified Polo platform. The rear engined rear wheel drive compact and spacious Mitsubishi i is close to the spiritual of the original Beetle than this. Maybe VW should build the original rear-engined Up! instead.

October 13, 2009 11:25 am

report abuse | reply

Bristol411S3

I agree with nderina. I would MUCH rather see a Beetle based on a rear engined Up! Faced with the options of innovating or producing a slef proclaimed style icon, I fear they'll chicken and plump for the latter route though. And what does de Silver mean, the new Beetle will be s big step forward? How can I be when this is a model that ONLY exists to draw parallels with the past? A big step forward would be binning the name and the plagiaristic styling and designing a People's Car that meets the needs of today, from the ground up.

October 13, 2009 11:51 am

report abuse | reply

alessandro

That car should sell well in America. A strange place where part of resourceful people went to the real estate (immobility) sector to create economic bubbles and afford to Lexus. More self-confident incompetency was trying to remain in real economy and screw up something more mobile with(no)Chinese. Rest in between is about buying a Rabbit.

October 13, 2009 12:10 pm

report abuse | reply

GHERNAS

it is very nice car but it had vey high Co2 immession

October 13, 2009 12:29 pm

report abuse | reply

andrewB

Im glad im not the only one who saw the fiat 500 in it there has to be a end to the brought back models sometime soon before its too late

October 13, 2009 12:35 pm

report abuse | reply

1 reply

alessandro

That rendering made outside the VW. So rest of the world drifting around in their Golfs anyway.

October 13, 2009 12:50 pm

report abuse | reply

alamak

haha.............New Beetle..........like I care!!

October 13, 2009 1:03 pm

report abuse | reply

trailer

If its gonna be rear engined, then they should get in touch with their new sister PORSCHE... But like ALAMAK says " who cares"...

October 13, 2009 1:23 pm

report abuse | reply

politz

actually, the 'cute-cult-car' market was created (or recreated) altogether by this very own car. i don't think vw should try to make it more masculine, but instead, should try to make it more user-friendly, more spacious and a little more affordable.

October 13, 2009 4:04 pm

report abuse | reply

theoldman

Yes!!! At Long Last!!!!!! ive been waiting for this moment for six years!!!! AND IT's FINALLY COME!!!! This heralds a new era for the bug!

October 13, 2009 7:25 pm

report abuse | reply

jerry05cod4

the problem with this car is its pricing 26-30k for this, come on.

October 13, 2009 7:35 pm

report abuse | reply

alex_w115

recent concept (& renderings) tred looks to be moving away from the 'gaping-grille' theme. Oh no, what is audi going to do!

October 13, 2009 10:54 pm

report abuse | reply

Captain Scarlett

looks like the fiat 500 squashed down a bit.

October 14, 2009 12:48 am

report abuse | reply

DasherFan

This is awful! At least the UP concept looked like it would be affordable and more along the roots of what a VW should be. This thing looks even less like a Beetle than the previous bastardization! It'll just be another overpriced poorly built oil-sucking toilet by a formerly decent company! FAIL!

October 15, 2009 2:18 pm

report abuse | reply