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Report: R.I.P. Beetle

Well, we all knew this day was coming but it may finally be here: according to a report from Autocar, the Beetle will not return after the current generation fades away.

The publication spoke to Volkswagen’s R&D boss, Frank Welsch, at the Geneva Motor Show this week, who said that the new (both capital N and otherwise) Beetles were good, but that it could only last so long.

For the Beetle, “two or three generations is enough now,” Welsch told Autocar. VW made it “with history in mind but you can’t do it five times and have a new new new Beetle.”

Welsch’s comments weren’t just limited to the Golf-based, gas-powered Beetle, either. Not even a Beetle based on the coming all-electric MEB platform isn’t in the works.

The mantle of VW heritage model is instead being taken up by the I.D. Buzz, a retro-futuristic take on the Type 2 that has been confirmed for production in 2022.

“With MEB, you can do a bus and be an authentic vehicle with the original shape, and steering wheel mounted like the original,” said Welsch. “You can’t do that with an engine in the front. The shape you see on the concept is realistic.” That wasn’t possible with any of VW’s recent platforms.

Previous comments from VW have also suggested that they’re looking at the possibility of a Thing-inspired concept in the future, too. That, though, has not received the same love from VW as the Buzz. 

[source: Autocar]

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