Volkswagen to resurrect Kombi

Volkswagen's second new-generation Beetle is only just over a year old in Australia, but according to a German report the next all-new model, due by 2018 and based on the Golf's new MQB platform, will spawn an entire family of retro-style Beetle-based models.

Chief among them, says Auto Bild, will be the long-awaited production version of the 2011 Bulli concept, a small six-seat people-mover inspired by the original Kombi, by 2019.

Volkswagen is also said to be considering a Beetle-style SUV, which would feature an all-terrain all-wheel drive system, a design not unlike that of the 2014 Beetle Dune Concept and, possibly, five doors.

Beyond replacements for the existing two-door hatch and cabriolet models (the latter of which is not sold in Australia), the next-generation Beetle line-up could also include a coupe derivative that may resurrect the Karmann Ghia name.

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine driving all four wheels and offering anything up to a Golf R-like 221kW, the sportiest Beetle coupe could follow styling cues previewed by the e-Bugster convertible concept.

It’s unclear whether all these models will wear the Beetle name, but at least the people-mover and SUV are expected to come with three- and four-cylinder turbo-petrol engines and, eventually, petrol-electric hybrid power.

Far from being discontinued, as some reports have suggested, VW's modern Beetle – which attracted 120,000 sales globally last year – looks set to expand into a bigger model range than ever, as part of the German giant's quest for global sales domination from 2018.