As someone who absolutely loves the classic Volkswagen Beetle and owns one, I’m actually glad to hear that the Beetle won’t be returning anytime soon.
Don’t get me wrong, I think the Volkswagen ID Buzz is great. It pays homage to the original Beetle while incorporating modern electric vehicle design. But it’s comforting to know that Volkswagen’s plans don’t solely revolve around reviving retro cars.
Volkswagen CEO rules out Beetle revival as retro is “a dead end”
This is partly because it means Volkswagen won’t have to deal with the inevitable backlash on social media. Whenever a “spiritual successor” to a beloved 60s or 70s icon is announced, keyboard warriors are quick to criticize, claiming it’s nothing like the original and questioning its authenticity.
If you need proof of this, just look at the recent reaction to Ford’s plan to revive the Capri as an electric five-door crossover based on a Volkswagen architecture. It wasn’t exactly well-received.
But it’s also a relief because capturing the essence of the original Beetle would be extremely difficult in today’s world. We’ve already seen this with the two Golf-based Beetles that Volkswagen launched after the original’s discontinuation, which didn’t receive the warmest of receptions.
The MEB platform would make it easier to create a modern Beetle that is true to its roots: rear-wheel drive, flat floor, front trunk, and so on. However, the Beetle is a name that is synonymous with no-frills family transportation, durability, dependability, and above all, charm.
It’s hard to imagine any new electric vehicle, no matter how compact, well-designed, or competitively priced, embodying those same values.
Take a look at the Fiat 500 and Mini Electric, for example. These are luxury products that only loosely pay tribute to their 1950s predecessors (both of which were rivals to the Beetle back in the day). While they are beautifully engineered and visually appealing, what has truly garnered praise is their departure from the utilitarian principles that defined their original counterparts.
Volkswagen is indeed working on an affordable and cheerful electric city car for families. However, it will be a modern and stylish replacement for the Polo, rather than a retro-inspired Beetle. This is good news for those who value substance over style. It allows Volkswagen to embrace its bold electric future while keeping the long and fascinating Beetle legacy as a chapter in its history, rather than a burden.