VW to Stop New Beetle's Production

Volkswagen has confirmed that it would halt production of the New Beetle range, with the German automaker expected to showcase the next-generation at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November.

The company has announced potential customers to hurry and place their orders for the outgoing Beetle hatchback and Beetle Cabriolet, before current stock sells out. “Customers will still be able to purchase New Beetle models from the available dealer stock until stock runs out,” said a Volkswagen Group Australia spokesman last week, quoted by goauto.com.au.

The announcement follows confirmation by Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby that a new Beetle will debut in 2012. The official made the statement while speaking at a Volkswagen event in Germany last year.

According to Autoweek, the next-generation Beetle will use Volkswagen's 2.0-liter four-cylinder and new 2.5-liter five-cylinder petrol engines (the latter in the U.S.), as well as a 1.4-liter petrol-electric hybrid drive system. The next-generation Beetle will be based on the same platform used by the incoming new Jetta sedan, which will be launched globally mid-year 2010.

The new platform may mean the new Beetle will be larger and dynamically superior than the current model. Launched in 1998, the New Beetle shares its platform with the Mk4 Golf and Audi’s original TT. It is expected that the incoming Beetle will feature an evolutionary styling, still retro but less girly. The car will be given a more aggressive look by using a flat roofline, just like the 2005 Ragster Concept, but the proportions will be similar. Inside, a larger cabin is to expect.