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I understand why VW had to stop making the rear engine beetle. But with current technology, why can't VW put the engine back in the rear on the Beetle? Is it because of platform sharing?
The first generation New Beetle is build on VW's A4 chassis (not to be confused with Audi A4), which is the platform the 4th generation Golf/Jetta is built on.
For what its worth, the second generation (not out yet) New Beetle will be built on the VW A5 chassis, so basically the same issue.
I understand the cost cutting this involves, but is it really worth the extra cost to create a new body to put on the same chassis? If built from scratch as a modern rear engine Beetle, they can make a stripped down "people's car" model as a tribute to the original Beetle and a well balanced performance model like VW does with the Golf/GTI.
There is no benefit to be gained by moving the motor to the rear. In fact just more problems.
The newer cars are safer with the motor in front, cooling is simplified. They have to stay current with recent suspension changes, and the last beetle had limited rear headroom. VW actually despises the old air cooled vehicles, they are very hard to talk to now regarding air cooled cars. The only reason they have a new beetle is for marketing.
There is no benefit to be gained by moving the motor to the rear. In fact just more problems.
The newer cars are safer with the motor in front, cooling is simplified. They have to stay current with recent suspension changes, and the last beetle had limited rear headroom. VW actually despises the old air cooled vehicles, they are very hard to talk to now regarding air cooled cars. The only reason they have a new beetle is for marketing.
Porsche made it work despite the obvious drawbacks. The fact that their race cars at one point drove around with concrete slabs in the front bumper should speak volume to that.
That said, I love the German stubbornness and engineering involved, and they have turned into fantastic vehicles, in the 80's it'd just kill you though.
And how many new 911s do you know that are sold for under, say, $25k?
They don't share platforms, and use unique-to-them chassis. And they cost a lot due to it.
The original Beetle was a simple, rugged economy car based on designs that Porshe did with Tatra in the '30s. A modern one simply needs better planning and layout, and it needs to be profitable for VW (the Veyron is the only car NOT profitable for VW, and the guy in charge of that program was sent packing to Mercedes). Thus platform sharing.
Why platform sharing? It means you can share development and manufacturing costs, yet easily make cars that appeal to different people instead of relying on ONE body to appeal to everyone.
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