Should VW have made a mini Beetle?

[LuS1fer]

I was behind a MINI and a Fiat 500 this morning and pondering on their massive success and just began wondering why VW didn't design the new Beetle as a smaller, Polo-sized car.

I know the original Beetle was Golf size but it was tiny inside and it's not like the new Beetle was as huge a success.

So is there any reason VW didn't go down this route instead of giving us the dull as dishwater Up?

[v8will]

Probably easier to get the proportions right when using the dull MK4 Golf platform.

A cheap way of jumping the retro bandwagon which failed IMHO.

Or are you talking about the latest Beetle?

[LuS1fer]

Yes, the latest Beetle which is now facing criticism it looks 911-ish. Is it cute, is it retro, does it want to be taken seriously etc.

I was looking at a Corsa and thinking that looks a little Beetle-backed so I don't think it would be impossible.

[Dr Interceptor]

The original 'Concept 1' concept car for the New Beetle shown back in 1994 was indeed based on the Polo platform.

However, the Polo wasn't sold in the US, and didn't meet US crash safety import legislations.

Hence why when it came to actually producing the new Beetle, it was dumped onto the Golf MK4 platform.

Here's the tiddly little concept 1 images - http://www.carstyling.ru/en/cars.1994_Volkswagen_C...

[LuS1fer]

Ah, had no idea that was the case. Looks better to mey eyes.

[Captain Muppet]

I saw my first one of the New New Beetle last night. I felt less irrational hatred for it that I did for the New Beetle, but I'd still need a good reason not to judge the owner of one a marketing-lead vacuous puppet.

I've no idea why I hate them so much. I'm a little concerned about it.

[Dr Interceptor]

LuS1fer said:

Ah, had no idea that was the case. Looks better to mey eyes.

It did look better you're right... unfortunately the beetle design didn't really fit the Golf chassis, hence why the production car featured a sea of dashboard infront of the driver!

[airportparking]

I cant see why its not been a sucess really, it looks good, based on Golf so drives good, but people just dont like them

[Dr Interceptor]

airportparking said:

I cant see why its not been a sucess really, it looks good, based on Golf so drives good, but people just dont like them

No, it's the Golf element that killed it IMO. Sure, use the Golf engine range, but the Beetle needed its own platform so desperately. It ended up being a round peg in a square hole. The bean counters won... and the car wasn't as good as it could have been.

[renrut]

airportparking said:

I cant see why its not been a sucess really, it looks good, based on Golf so drives good, but people just dont like them

Because most people would have chosen the golf instead when it came to part with money - same outside size, more space inside, more practical and imo have better proportions.

[airportparking]

Well the scirocco hasnt done to badly

[The Wookie]

Dare I say it but I actually quite like the styling of the new one, it might even be my favourite looking of the cars based on that platform. If they did a proper go fast model I might even be tempted.

[PumpkinSteve]

Great idea! Beetle based on a Polo platform