The new Beetle has a classic look 04/20/2011
Volkswagen is known for its compact vehicles that are adored by everyone from adults to teenage girls, with the latter particularly favoring the "cute" models like the Beetle. While people in recent years may have thought that the Beetle was reserved for the younger generation or Lindsey Lohan in the little-appreciated sequel "Herbie: Fully Loaded," the car's newest design is sure to be a crowd pleaser for those who enjoy sleek, classic models.
Klaus Bischoff, the head of design for Volkswagen, had one plan for the 2012 version of the brand's Beetle - make it masculine. The New York Times reports that Bischoff was determined to make the car appear sportier, in an effort to get the New Beetle out of people's memories.
The New Beetle, which was launched in 1998, did not do as well in terms of sales. We can see why, it practically has the sign "16-year-old girl's first car" on the lot. MSNBC reports that male consumers stayed away from the vehicle, and even though it appealed to women, the demand was just not there.
Still, Bischoff was smart to revert back to the original model for inspiration, as the newer version had stumbled a bit when it tried to reinvent itself.
"I didn't want to lose this beloved icon for the brand," Bischoff said in an interview with MSNBC during the release. "It was clear for us designers that we didn't want to follow the path of the [1998] New Beetle. That game was over."
We couldn't agree more, as this new model gives us a hint of a Porsche, which is perfect for the classic driver who wants a little polish in his life. The newest model is definitely a welcomed design in our book.