Amidst the board-room shakeups and in-flux product plans following the quasi-takeover by Porsche, a few things have nevertheless stayed on course at Volkswagen Central in Wolfsburg, Germany. One such project is the replacement for the not so new New Beetle, which is reportedly on track for a 2010 launch.
Set to share a platform with the next-generation Rabbit and upcoming Scirocco, the 2010 Beetle will once again be styled in California and engineered in Germany, according to our sources. That, however, is where the similarities will end. Despite its overall success as a revival of the iconic original design, Volkswagen is looking to move away from the "chick car" image of the New Beetle.
Designers have reportedly been ordered to create a more modern and sleek style for the next-gen Beetle that will be bigger than the outgoing model and make better use of available interior space.
The cutesy bug-eye look, rounded shape, and bulbous roofline are binned in favor of a more aggressive -- and more traditional -- style with a sportier stance and coupe-style roof as depicted in the drawings.
The new car is being designed so it can be easily adapted for a wide variety of model variants. The potential Beetle plan may also explain why VW has hesitated bringing the Scirocco -- a vehicle that would be similar in scope -- stateside.
A soft-top cabrio will come shortly after the hatchback's launch, with a sport wagon with small rear doors reportedly coming shortly thereafter. Other variants on the table include a micro-van, a pickup, and a sport wagon-based crossover -- with hotted-up versions also part of the product mix.
While the plan to move away from the classic Beetle shape may end up backfiring if carried out, it's an understandable move for Volkswagen to attempt to create a sub-brand using the Beetle name -- much like what BMW is attempting with its Mini lineup.