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Autocar has learned that Volkswagen is about to sign off a new version of the Beetle, with the project going to the company’s management board for final design approval.
The new Beetle will, like the current model, use shared Golf components. Company insiders insist that it will stand apart from the current car and will definitely position the driver ahead of the roof curve – one common criticism of the current car is that it’s styling appears to put the front occupants in the back seat.
The current Beetle is still based on the mechanical platform of the mk4 Volkswagen Golf – the European model in the corporate line-up to use this component set. Despite its age, sales of the current version have been doing well recently, apparently helped by increasing interest in other retro-styled models like the new Mini and Fiat 500.
VW clearly believes it can make a business case for another version – which could be with us as early as 2010.
Steve Cropley
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