Volkswagen announces end for New Beetle
Retro-styled Golf derivative ceasing productionAustralian Volkswagen dealers are taking orders for the final shipment of the New Beetle. Confirmed officially today, the Volkswagen Group is ceasing production of the Mexican-built small car, which was developed as an homage to the air-cooled Type 1 Volkswagen.
Unlike the original, the New Beetle was based on the Golf platform and featured water-cooled engines driving transversely to the front wheels. Volkswagen developed the car in response to demands from the American market for retro-look cars. This styling fad led to the development of the last Ford Thunderbird, the Chrysler PT Cruiser, the (BMW) MINI and a host of other vehicles such as the Rover 75 and the Jaguar S-Type.
In Australia, the New Beetle's market appeal had been in decline for a couple of years and had never been a volume-selling model anyway, a point reinforced with the recent release of the New Beetle BlackOrange. According to VFACTS, the car had sold 613 units in 2008, but just 254 units in 2009. To date in 2010, the car has sold 67 units, versus 91 for the same period last year.
Aussie buyers looking for a car boasting a reproduction style are now limited to the PT Cruiser, the MINI and the Fiat 500.
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