2011 VW Beetle – A First Look
Volkswagen’s classic Beetle hasn’t changed much since the car first rolled off German assembly lines during World War II. But fans of the little bug don’t seem to mind, why change perfection? The next generation of VW’s tiny masterpiece keeps its cuteness on the outside while sexing it up underneath the bonnet.
The 2011 VW Beetle seems to be heading in a similar direction as Volkswagen’s Up! concept: small and sporty, with a lowered roof to take on less wind resistance. Of course, if you’re measuring close to 6′ tall you may want to go for a convertible version. 2011 will bring a less curvy/bulky Beetle onto dealer lots, showing off a more sporty look, which will be backed up by what leaked statements from the auto maker call “a wide range of engine options.”
Rumors claim the next generation Volkswagen Beetle will have a two and extended four seater variation, possibly spinning off into two separate car models. A leaked interior shot (below) shows off a flashier dash along with futuristic steering wheel and gauges. Sorry to say there doesn’t seem to be a place around the instrument panel for flowers. Keep you eyes out for more official press drops from VW, and enjoy more of the supposed leaked pictures of their 2011 Beetle below.
Herbie, is that you?
looks owesome ,great,fantastic i am a fan of them i was a former owner of a 1971 and right now i have a 1999.
Come on fellas. The photos are of the 2005 Ragster concept which was shelved by none other than the awful VOA and not of the VWup!/Beetle concept floating around the internet. VOA should’ve built the Ragster as an alternative to the cute but round beetle. I would’ve bought one with a 225 horse 1.8T and a six speed box. The Ragster just oozed cool. To bad it will never happen now. Another one bites the dust, courtesy of the stuck in reverse VOA.
If VW doesn’t introduce a Turb-charged V-6 or Inline 5,
No buy by me. I’ll keep renewing my 2004 Convertible GLS 1.8T
Puts out 235 Horses.
Dick
I love it!
I had an 03 convertible then went to a 07 E0S Presently an 09 EOS.
I will be a 2011 owner of a convertible.
the new bug is the ugliest car i have seen i have wanted one since i was 2 and 4 years from turning 16 they make the bug so ugly it looks like you are trying to copy the pt crusiers which are so ugly now the bug does not look like a bug it looks like a cockroack. my friends hate the new bug so do i oh and heres somthing from a friend:this car sucks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! all we can say is this bla bla bla bla horrible car you should leave the bug the same model but change the inside so that it is more hitec. the new bug sucks
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The 2011 Beetle is the ugliest car I have seen. Was considering trading in my 2001 for a 2011 but have changed my mind. I’ll stick with the 2001 until it falls apart and then get another make. Why take a nostalgic auto like the Beetle and change it so drastically that you take the “bug” out of the “Beetle”? One of the most interesting things about the Beetle was the dome top and now you are going to take it away and suggest that tall people get a convertible – GET REAL !!!!!
How can the auto manufacturers of the Beetle change our beloved “Bug” so drastically that it doesn’t even look like the “Bug” anymore – get real and give us back our “bug”
I dont like it. It looks like the bug was flattened on the top??? I feel that the outside should stay the same but change the inside which would include new and updated features!
I think that there is a lot of difference in looks between this potential 2011 New Beetle model and the currently available 2010 models. And it is not for the better!
The 2010 is so much ‘prettier’ and curvier—and definitely retains more of the classic looks.
This new version is more like an everyday ordinary car, and less like a classic Beetle. I am happy to be an owner of the 2010, and would not touch the next years model with a barge pole.
http://www.design-cars.com/images/stories/CarDesign/vw_beetle.jpg
This is an imposter. why don’t they implement what they have learnt from car design and car safety and bring back old designs rather than making imposters and badging them with the original name. They have done the same with the ford mustang and vw scirroco ( which has no resemblence to the old design – it might as well as been a golf).
“True designs are the best”
Rather unfortunate design, VW may have realized they couldn’t sell existing Beetle designs to the greater masses as it was too much of a “cute” car that had a limited audience to granny’s and college girls with cash to burn. I’ll keep the 05 for now, anyways these cars are so poorly constructed I’d recommend looking into something else… considering that this new Beetle’s characteristics appear to be a bit more a morph of small cute into mainstream… then I’d rather consider a car with quality construction, road handle, sophisticated interior, and more power (e.g BMW 1 series)
Like it!!!! Germany style !!! looks more mini cooper !!!hahaaa Barbara your 2001 for the 2010? Lol traiding??? were ?? your 2001 is nothing now !! tried to buy 2010 ok !! bye & kisses!!
Ok….so……this new bug….it looks like CRAP…..they think that more guys will want to drive this….hellz no….I agree that it does look like more like a squished PT Cruiser than a Beetle….what the heck were the designers thinking???
omg i’ve always loved the little buggies lol and i so totally love this new one especially kuz i’m graduating that year
It’s well known that no other car elicits more of an emotional response from buyers than the VW Beetle. Nice try to gain more sales by making the interior roomier. It came off as a bad dream. It just defeated the reason people choose the classic bug design. Came at a good time for me though…I’m buying an extended warranty on my 2006 Diesel Beetle soon. Should I have to start over with a new car, I’ll look at other designs. I’ll be back when our classic is back.
When are the good folks (volks?) at VW going to wake up and realize that the world is desperately longing for a new, updated Karmann Ghia?
Don’t they know that if they simply kept the basic shape (already fifty years ahead of it’s time, when it was first introduced in the early fifties) perhaps without all of the expensive hand-welding, to cut at least some of the cost, they would have a runaway hit.
What’s the matter with those people? It’s a bleeding no-brainer!
I DO NOT LIKE THE NEW BUGS!!!!!! it looks more like a mini cooper than a bug. i like how the top goes back but what happen to the rounded top?? thats what made a bug, a bug.
very pretty indeed, will swop 2002 outright.
technically this looks nothing like the new bug. and to everyone with complaints about changing it up a little bit check this, google an original bug. looks nothing like a bug from 1998 all the way to 2010. shut up.
don’t even go there about the style. we all have to deal with change so learn how. if you don’t like it don’t buy it. simple as that. don’t bash these ideas because they can only improve the VW beetle. and they arn’t suggesting tall people should ride in a convertable. maybe you guys should do a little more homework on these before you say something.
Tommy.. I agree ! The Ghia would be great thing. use the saem body style and all. It’s no brainer. Vw keeps trying to compete with “cookie cutter” cars of today. They have no clue how much they could expand their sales if they took a chance on the ” niche” body body designs that enthusiasts know and love.
What the heck is happening to our beloved beetle??? Just when I’m getting ready to turn in my Subaru (2/11) and DYING to get a Beetle (once again)…they’re going to turn it into a WANNA BE BEETLE??? As the saying goes, “IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT”…to radical a change for me to consider now!!!!! You’re taking the “beetle” out of the BEETLE. Awful, shameful, too radical a change…HATE THE ROOF!!!!
VOLKSWAGEN DESIGNERS: It’s not workin’ guys…not at all!!! And where’s the flower/pencil/anything you want holder.
Hope I can get a leftover 2010…
PS: Who declared the happy little beetle a “chick car”…men handled it throughout the decades w/out calling it a “chick car”…rediculous.
What the heck is happening to our beloved beetle??? Just when I’m getting ready to turn in my Subaru (2/11) and DYING to get a Beetle (once again)…they’re going to turn it into a WANNA BE BEETLE??? As the saying goes, “IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT”…to radical a change for me to consider now!!!!! You’re taking the “beetle” out of the BEETLE. Awful, shameful, too radical a change…HATE THE ROOF!!!!
VOLKSWAGEN DESIGNERS: It’s not workin’ guys…not at all!!! And where’s the flower/pencil/anything you want holder.
PS: Who declared the happy little beetle a “chick car”…men handled it throughout the decades w/out calling it a “chick car”…rediculous.
What the heck is happening to our beloved beetle??? Just when I’m getting ready to turn in my Subaru (2/11) and DYING to get a Beetle (once again)…they’re going to turn it into a WANNA BE BEETLE??? As the saying goes, “IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT”…to radical a change for me to consider now!!!!! You’re taking the “beetle” out of the BEETLE. Awful, shameful, too radical a change…HATE THE ROOF!!!!
PS: Who declared the happy little beetle a “chick car”…men handled it throughout the decades w/out calling it a “chick car”…rediculous.
I agree with most of the comments posted…the beetle “look” was one of the primary reasons for choosing that car…this 2011 concept car looks like a beefed up mini-cooper or PTCruiser…..they should have brought back the Karman Ghia styling and it would have been a mega hit!!!! I have a 2005 beetle convertible and may trade it for a 2010 while they are still available, rather than have to go for the new styling….by the way, the curved beetle top made it roomier and a pleasure for both entry and exit….
the bug got squished. what are they trying to do? slowly kill it. ha ha
I am buying a 2010 Beetle this weekend! Been looking and humming and hahhing to long I may be one of the “granny’s” you refer to but…just eat my dust.
Leave the shape alone and offer more colours.
I have a 2004 beetle convertible and she is just grand. Personally, I don’t like the new body. I like curves!!!! Don’t loose the curves… that is what make a bug a bug. If we have to change I would rather go back to the old original herby body style than this new box. Please don’t put the bug in a box!!!! Let it free!!!!
Review of 2011 VW Beetle
These pictures are concept pictures from the old platform of the present beetle, which production just ended. The 2011 Beetle will be based on a new platform which will reduce the massive dash and provide a much streamlined design with a similar roof contour to these pictures. It will lose its cuteness and will have more testosterone in its design.
I have a 2000, and i have always longed for a classic convertible. I just dont know how I feel about it
I had a 68 Beetle and loved it. The new Beetle look feminist the very first time I saw it. I didn’t like it at all. It is just too cute. So I am not surprised at all that VW want to make it more aggressive. But this? It is a big disappointment. If they want to make it more man like, it has to have the look of the old beetle, or somewhat close to mini today. You have to have lots of crome and don’t make it too cute please. I do not want a classic and timelss car and not a cute car. The new Beetle lost its classic car and that is why it is not much of a success. Also, fix the quality problem too. I do not understand why the German doesn’t seem able to match the Japanese cars in terms of quality. German engineering? How about Japanese quality as well.
it’s beatiful car……
because consept car detail n goods…
HATE IT!!!!!!!!!! I had a 1979 & a 2001 wanted a new one NOT ANYMORE!!!!!!
Wake-up Wolfsburg……..Have you forgotten what a beetle really looks like and how it should perform…..We all need the beetle..in more ways that one…If the beetle disappears…so will Wolfsburg…………..
When will the 2011 be available to purchase? Thanks. Delberta Meyer
I Love the dropped top look! This looks like a very sporty VW. Hot Rod meets VW Bettle, just got a final edition and already wishing the 2011 was here!
For the sports car (should I say tuner car lover) lover, VW has always provided a blood pressure spike with the GTI’s, now the Bettle lovers may get the same option! We love them fast, low and wide…
Jul 7th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
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