Spy Shots: 2011 Volkswagen Beetle reborn

Volkswagen will relaunch the iconic Beetle In early 2011. The VW Beetle coupe – scooped here in our latest spy photos – arrives first, followed by the cabriolet later in the year.

The original rear-wheel-drive Beetle sold 21.5 million units over 65 years. Its successor, the front-drive New Beetle launched in 1998 in the United States, soon became the darling of a predominantly female fashion- and lifestyle-oriented clientele which was not even remotely interested in flower power songs or the anti-establishment mantra of the roaring Sixties.


Designed in California by J Mays and Freeman Thomas, the success of the reinvented VW bubble car turned out to be short-lived; despite sporadic product enhancement efforts such as the 224bhp RSi version based on the Golf VR6, by 2009, sales dropped to an all-time low of little over 30,000 units.

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dl767captain - 10/10/2010 12:18:52 AM

+4 Boost

Is the front end the final design?

WorldofLuxury - 10/10/2010 1:11:03 AM

+4 Boost

At this moment, I'm staring at two Volvo advertisements. They're both about the S60, but the one on top is in Chinese. o.O

Larrybel2000 - 10/10/2010 8:43:04 AM

+3 Boost

In the article it states that they are trying to appeal to the younger crowd which I agree with. In the same sentence they are trying to appeal to the hippie fan-club which leads me to believe they are out of touch with what people want out of this vehicle.

uaw_lax - 10/10/2010 11:39:23 AM

-4 Boost

I just cant see this car selling much after the first year.

PUGPROUD - 10/11/2010 8:13:21 AM

+1 Boost

Headline in Wall Street Journal "Makers of Plastic Flowers See Rosey Future With Introduction Of New VW Beetle." Headline in Women's Home Journal "New VW Beetle Is Oh So Loveable." Headline in Men's Health
"Friends Do Not Let Friends Drive New VW Beetle."