The future of the New Volkswagen Beetle is
uncertain, with several reports claiming that the automaker will either drop it
completely or offer it in an altogether different guise. ueled by the second scenario,
Kleber Silva has rendered it with new looks, a slightly longer wheelbase and a
couple of extra doors at the rear.
The Bug also features a cleaner look overall,
C-shaped LED DRLs sitting under the signature headlamps, and a new set of
wheels with blue accents emphasizing its rumored zero-emission nature. Adopting an electric powertrain
means switching from the current platform to the new MEB, which will be shared
with the brand’s upcoming ID models, including the similarly sized ID Hatch.
This move won’t compromise the Beetle’s functionality and, thanks to clever
packaging, it will also offer more legroom for passengers sitting at the rear.
At the same time, the extra doors will facilitate easier ingress and egress.
Don’t get your hopes too high about
such a Beetle, because even if it sounds very much doable, VW execs
will apparently wait two to three years before deciding if it’s feasible or
not. So, even in the most optimistic scenario, an MEB-underpinned Bug,
powered by an electric motor and possibly with rear-wheel drive just like the
original model, won’t arrive sooner than 2021. And it will still remain a niche
vehicle, aimed at those who favor the classic shape of the Beetle, wrapped up
in a modern package.
