Ferrari Pays Tribute To The Mille Miglia With 140 Cars: Video

2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI (MkVII) Spy Shots

Arie Luyendyk Jr: Young Man Of Many Roles
Volvo Explains Its Pedestrian Airbag System

Mercedes-Benz Driver Narrowly Evades Death By Tanker: Video

Driven Tours The McLaren Technology Center: Video
Gymkhana FOUR Bonus Edit: Behind The Hoons

A Night Lap Of The Nürburgring In A Porsche 911 GT3 Cup: Video

Red Bull Spy App Goes Mobile

VW up! could spawn second Beetle model for U.S.

Ralph Hanson

Author

LATEST ARTICLE
Report: Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Back On Production Path
When General Motors' financial situation turned from serious to bankruptcy-bound, two of the first... Read More

N/ALEADERBOARD RANK
1799ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
0COMMENTS POSTED

4,724 views Jul 11, 2008

volkswagen up concept motorauthority 001

VW up! could spawn second Beetle model for U.S.

Enlarge Photo

Volkswagen may end up converting the New Beetle into a family of cars with a new report claiming a second, smaller Beetle based on last year’s up! concept car could be developed for the U.S. market. The second-generation New Beetle is expected to arrive in 2011 and will take over from the current model, which should be phased out by around 2010 or 2011.

The new Beetle will be based on the upcoming Golf Mark VI platform, which will be sold in the U.S. in base GT trim or as the sporty GTI. The second-generation New Beetle, which MotorTrend reports will come with a hybrid option, will come after the new Golf and could come in a new speedster bodystyle in addition to the standard coupe and cabrio.

After the introduction of these mainstream models, the U.S. version of the up! minicar car will be launched. This new subcompact model is tipped to arrive with trademark Beetle styling. There have been rumors that the production up! may be styled as a Beetle in order to cash in on the iconic car’s popularity. However, European versions of the car are expected to resemble the concept and will most likely be sold as a replacement for the Lupo.

Combining the Beetle's brand cachet with two new fuel-efficient models may be a strategy VW is mulling over to boost sales, especially considering its North American sales fell 0.5% last year while its global figure increased by 7.9%.

2007 Volkswagen up! concept

2012 Volkswagen New Beetle renderings

2007 Volkswagen up! concept

2012 Volkswagen Beetle renderings

HI-RES GALLERY: volkswagen up concept motorauthority 001