In a nutshell: New Beetle Ragster
It’s a statement, an automotive way of life. More than 800.000 drive one, the Volkswagen with the perhaps most famous design in the world: the New Beetle. For the North American International Auto Show in Detroit the German company presents the hot potential of the design classic – with a study on the New Beetle Ragster. Its most visible characteristic: a drastically dropped roof with a large ragtop.
World Premiere of Rallycross-Beetle in Chicago
Volkswagen Beetle will enter motorsports in the U.S. this summer. At the Chicago Auto Show today, Volkswagen of America presents the Rallycross-Beetle with all-wheel-drive and a TSI engine that delivers more than 560 hp (412 kW).
Beetle Final Edition – Premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2018
The Beetle, along with the the New Beetle, is a true icon in the history of automobile manufacture. Volkswagen of America, Inc. celebrates the last production year of the Beetle and Beetle Cabriolet with the “Final Edition” special models. The two particularly stylish Beetles will be presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2018 (28 Nov – 9 Dec 2018).
75 years ago in Wolfsburg: Start of series production of the Volkswagen Beetle
On December 27, 1945 the serial production of the Volkswagen Limousine (Type 1) got started. This was the real beginning of the success story of the Volkswagen. The model had originally been planned as a prestige project of the National Socialists. But from 1939 onwards the Wolfsburg plant had produced armaments instead of vehicles. Up to the end of World War II, only 630 units of the model, which had been renamed “KdF-Wagen” in 1938, left the Volkswagen plant. It was only under British trusteeship that the unique success story of the VW Beetle began at Wolfsburg thanks to the strategic vision of Major Ivan Hirst.
Beetles in boxes: 70 years of CKD car exports by Volkswagen
Since 1950, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand has been exporting vehicles dismantled into individual parts in order to assemble them in the destination country. This approach is referred to as “completely knocked down” (CKD). Initially, the approach was to open up new markets; nowadays, CKD also ensures supplies to Volkswagen’s global production network – and is a key factor in sales. To date, about 200 million vehicles have been exported to countries throughout the world. About 3 million further vehicles or parts are added every year. The first vehicle to be assembled from individual parts supplied in a box was the legendary Beetle.
Production launch for an icon: The first VW Beetle rolled off the line at the Wolfsburg plant 70 years ago
It was shortly after the first post-war Christmas 1945 that the first of the Volkswagen Type 1 – the model which, as the Beetle, would subsequently be sold more than 21 million times – rolled off the production line. By the end of 1945 only 55 vehicles had been produced in total however. The start of mass production was a highly improvised undertaking, and material shortages hampered operations over the subsequent months. Yet the early vehicles were visible symbols of hope; a new beginning for the car plant under British control.
“Mille Miglia Green”: new e-up! starts at the first e-mobility edition of the famous contest
The Mille Miglia is without doubt one of the most legendary classic car rallies worldwide. The “Mille Miglia Green” is a completely new event that borrows the original idea of long-distance racing – but only electric and hybrid vehicles are permitted to compete. The first edition of the competition starts next weekend (27–29 September). Just like the traditional event for classic models, it starts in Brescia – and the new e-up! with increased range will be taking part, as well as two electrified e-Beetles.
The buggy is back – and now it’s electric!
Volkswagen is bringing a legend back to life! At the beginning of March, the Wolfsburg-based Group will reveal the first fully electric version of a new buggy. Taking its cues from popular American dune buggies, the concept vehicle is based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB), demonstrating how multifaceted the new platform truly is.