Beetle gets a scalping

VOLKSWAGEN has tried to raise the youth (or is that Empty Nester?) appeal of its ageing New Beetle with a lowered roof/drop-top concept.

Dubbed Ragster and revealed at the Detroit motor show, it is a modern expression of a 1950s Porsche Speedster-like hot-rod design.

The existing New Beetle Convertible has had its A-pillars shortened by around 90mm, while a new U-shaped roof fixing has been incorporated into the car’s frame.

More importantly, it reveals what the Beetle facelift will look like, with new front guards, headlights, bumpers, tail-lights and alloy wheels, as well as a revised cabin featuring a new steering wheel, centre console and trim.

The Ragster Concept features a colour-coded leather 2+2 interior, bespoke instrumentation, fanciful 19-inch wheels and a chromed double exhaust. The overall car stands at 103mm lower than the standard article.

VW was hush on motivation, only saying that any number of petrol and diesel engines that can (presumably) fit within the 1997-2003 MK4 Golf platform are possible.

The Detroit show also marked the 11th anniversary of the original Concept 1 New Beetle debut, and seven years since the model produced at Pueblo, Mexico, came on stream.

Since then progress has been limited to only a wider variety of engines on offer and 2002’s soft top addition.

The word is that VW will not develop an all-new Beetle with the much more modern MK5 Golf underpinnings, and that the current car will live on beyond 2007 at least.