(Followup) Earlier, rumors broke about a new rear-engine Volkswagen Beetle based on the new “Up!” city car platform. While the rumor is just starting to make the rounds in the the U.S. media, our German sources tell us the report has been circulating for a few weeks in Europe. So far, we have very few details on the proposed Up!-based Beetle, but we’ve included an illustration of what such a vehicle might look like.
As previously noted, the rear-engine Beetle would actually slot below the regular front-engine ‘New Beetle,’ which is also due for a major update, after a decade on the market. The next New Beetle is expected to hit our shores in 2010 or 2011, and will ride on the same platform as the next-generation Golf – due out in 2010. That model would be similar to size to the current car, and will offer a hybrid drivetrain.
The rear-engine Beetle is rumored to slot below that car, according to Motor Trend and German sources. Its styling would be unmistakably Beetle and the rear-engine layout would be definite throwback to the original car.
If VW decides to green light a second Beetle model, it would essentially create a sub-brand for VW — similar to Toyota ’s Scion – and could spawn even more models in the future.
