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VW Needs to Bring Back the Beetle as an Affordable EV.

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VW is in trouble. Again. it seems every few years the German giant has to either reverse course or change things around. At least in the US, their current models are all pretty boring and don’t really offering anything better or different. In Europe they are getting ready to lay off tons of people and shut down factories. And things are that rosy in China either. What they need is a cool inexpensive car. A new generation Beetle. It seems obvious to anyone but Vw itself. In Europe, Renault has just launched the super cute retro/modern Renault Twingo EV. Which is not hiding its 1992 roots from the first-generation Twingo. Citroen is getting a new 2 CV ready. And what is VW doing with the one that stated it all, the Beetle? Nothing…

The Twingo is actually Renault’s third retro EV. The new Renault 4 and Renault 5 are also heavily influenced by their decade-old predecessors. And I think it’s a great idea. And something VW needs to do.

An old European brand like VW has a huge advantage over the onslaught of new Chinese models currently invading the European market, and it’s its long history. VW has the Beetle. Something unique that has been beloved for decades around the world, and they’re doing absolutely nothing with it.

Instead, they have decided to revive the Polo for the electric age with the ID. Polo. A small, inexpensive EV hatchback. While the Polo is nice, it is very bland compared to what a new Beetle EV could be. And even next to these new Renaults. VW needs to come up with a way to bring back the Beetle as an EV based on the new ID. Polo platform. This time around, instead of making it a more expensive fashion statement like the New Beetle was, it should be even cheaper than the ID.Polo.

The VW brand should always have a Beetle in their lineup, in one form or another. An affordable Beetle EV would be a true car of the people, once again. Everywhere.

The illustrations shows a Beetle with 4 doors. Which is what it would have to be to get any decent sale numbers. However, I would rather see perfectly round headlights myself. (Matching the rear ones). However, it seems VW is against these for some odd reason. Even the ID.Buzz doesn’t have them. I guess that makes the illustrations above even more realistic in their imperfection…

Conversation 7 comments

  1. PT Cruiser vibes from the C-pillar to the rear wheel well. And, absolutely, round headlights are a requirement, VW.

  2. VW management ranks as low as Stellantis. I disagree about the Beetle though. VW needs to rethink their Golf. While they keep saying its all new every 5 or 6 years, its not. Its still quite small and hasn’t really done anything except add bad new trends, like shiny black plastic or an all-in-the-screen with haptic controls. And its a terrible value for something made in Mexico, not even factoring in VW’s reputation for service and reliability.

  3. Why would the company – which is bleeding cash – want to develop a limited volume electric vehicle that has minimal adaptability for actual usage? Very small chance that is going to happen.

  5. Yes, there is from the Ora brand. A sub-brand of Great Wall Motors. It’s been out for a few years.

  6. I feel like VW no longer understands its heritage and how to play on it…. see the current ID Buzz fiasco. That was a major $70k shipwreck. While its fine to make cutesy cars, it still has to perform, be affordable and have modern amenities tuned to people’s lives. two syllables, VW: Hy- brid! If you can’t figure it out, license it from Toyota.

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