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LONDON: Volkswagen is to build another no-frills "People's Car" for the 21st century, 70 years after the emergence of the first "Beetle".
The tiny 111/2foot-long four-seater will be unveiled on Monday night on the eve of the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The new Beetle will have its engine in the rear, with luggage space under the bonnet.
In China, India and other developing countries the car will cost around 4,000 pounds. In Britain and Europe it will cost around 5,000 pounds, reports The Daily Mail.
In the West, a three-cylinder petrol engine will form part of the car, while in toher places, a two-cylinder engine will be offered.
It is thought Apple is also working on an "intelligent" version of the car with wi-fi internet access.
Volkswagen, which means "people's car" in German, was set up by the Nazis to build cheap cars for the masses.
The brilliant designer Dr Ferdinand Porsche was told to create a car that could carry two adults and three children and cost less than 50 pounds - half the price of the other cars then on the market.
His design, the original Beetle, was given the go-ahead by Adolf Hitler in 1936.
But before production could start, the Second World War broke out and VW's factory in Wolfsburg switched to making military vehicles.
After the war, the ruined factory was rebuilt under the guidance of British Army officers led by Major Ivan Hirst and 10,000 Beetles were produced in 1946.
The Beetle, also nicknamed the Bug, went on to become an icon of the Swinging Sixties, and in 1972, it became the world's best-selling car, overtaking the Model T Ford.
Production switched to Mexico in 1978 and there the last original Beetle - number 21,529,464 - came off the line in 2003.
source:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/2355402.cms
Will there be any takers in India because it's shape ?
I think there are lot of people out there who could buy this. Remember Swift was also radically very different and lot of people have liked it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mithun
(Post 561373)
Will there be any takers in India because it's shape ?
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If there are buyers in India for NHC and the Swift.. why not the Beetle?
the beetle would definately have takers in india. the shape is a big hit with the women and looks very cute. the original beetle was also a radical design for its time and had fast acceptance and became one of the most popular cars with the people. if VW manages to pull the same thing with the new beetle then i dont see anything stopping it, maybe the price would in india.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mithun
(Post 561373)
Will there be any takers in India because it's shape ?
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It is a new beetle so it may be nothing like the original beetle.
I think we underestimate the maturity of the Indian consumer - we have been pretty open to accepting cars with odd shapes - if you think of it - the Ambassador and the Fiat Padmini - were cars with shapes that were quite unique - and that tradition continued with the Badal and the swift and nhc today
If Volkswagen ever releases a beetle in India, I will stand in line for a week to buy it at 4000 quid.
Very true its big and the curves are perfect. I saw it running on bangalore roads 2-3 times and fell in love with it instantly, its different.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigman
(Post 561494)
It is a new beetle so it may be nothing like the original beetle.
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Me too...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi
(Post 561506)
If Volkswagen ever releases a beetle in India, I will stand in line for a week to buy it at 4000 quid.
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Are they serious about a two-cylinder engine or ET got it wrong? I'm curious as I haven't heard of a car running on a two-cyl engine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by junky
(Post 561172)
In the West, a three-cylinder petrol engine will form part of the car, while in toher places, a two-cylinder engine will be offered.
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Ohh is it just 4000 Pounds ?...
That's around 3,20,000 INR ... I'm gonna buy one sometime
4000 pounds in India should have cost roughly 3.28 Lacs. However considering the consideration that the India Government considers the Car to be a Luxury, & that any Luxury item in India has to be necessarily taxed beyond a common man's reach the same thing will be priced at nothing less than 5 Lacs...
Given that the car will be a 2 cylinder engine the probability of ppl buying it in lots is doubtful...
Also with the Tata's & Nissan's thinking about bringing in the 1L car, the beetle might at the end of it all have a short lived life here...
Are they going to launch the current new beetle @ 4 grand?? I think not! coz the current one is 16grand abroad!! I think i'l be an all new car. Maybe based on the lupo.
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