Volkswagen Might Develop a Four-Door EV Beetle

There have been rumors of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle’s imminent demise. The currently poor-selling model could get a new lease on life thanks to innovative EV technology.

Few vehicles are as widely recognized around the world as the Volkswagen Beetle. The car that started its life as a machine pioneered by Hitler became one of the most iconic symbols of the peace and hippie movement of the 1960s and beyond.

Today, the model still lives, but many publications pointed out its current poor sales and likely coming death. Volkswagen recently confirmed that it will not develop a new Beetle and that means once the model’s lifecycle is up, it won’t be in VW’s lineup.

However, new information surfaced recently that suggest VW will keep the Beetle around, but in a very different form.

The True Flower Power Beetle

The Volkswagen Beetle became a symbol for the hippie movement. It’s often associated with environmentalism. If the rumors that VW will make an EV beetle are true, the model will seem to have finally achieved a level of environmentalism that many of its fans over the years can be proud of.

VW has not confirmed anything at this point. Autocar reported that Volkswagen could use the MEB platform that underpins many of its other upcoming electric vehicles, like the ID BUZZ microbus and the ID Crozz SUV.

This flexible platform also opens up the possibility of a four-door version of the Beetle. VW design boss Klaus Bischoff told Autocar that the platform would eliminate many of the practical concerns that plague the current model.

Could the Beetle Survive in the Age of the Crossover?

Keeping the Volkswagen Beetle around as an EV could be a smart move. VW boss Herbert Diess wants to focus on making several vehicles with emotional appeal, according to Autocar. The ID BUZZ microbus is the first of these models and should debut in 2022.

The Beetle would be an obvious next choice, and if VW has no plans to keep the model around as a two-door gasoline version, it seems like a no-brainer. Still, crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks are the big sellers right now. The American market has seen a huge surge in sales of those vehicle types. According to Automotive News, crossovers, SUVs, and trucks outsell cars by more than two to one. It also looks like this won’t change anytime soon.

With that in mind, we wonder what will come of a vehicle like the Beetle EV if VW chooses to produce it. Will it be able to compete in a market where crossovers, SUVs, and trucks reign supreme?

Next: The Chevy Blazer curiously returns as a crossover

It will be interesting to see how VW chooses to use the well-known beetle name in the future. Hopefully, the company doesn’t slap it on an arch-shaped crossover.