New Beetle Ragster
In celebration of Volkswagen of America's 50th Anniversary this year, Volkswagen commissioned their design group to put together a special New Beetle design study called the Ragster. Essentially a "chop-top" New Beetle, various cues point to the heavy-duty aftermarket and customization market with racing bucket seats, huge Brembo brakes, 19" wheels and more. While Volkswagen has no plans to produce the Ragster as a production model, the concept does give clues to the New Beetle's forthcoming facelift from the window-line down. The facelift will be more evolutionary than revolutionary with new creases in the sheet metal around the fenders and front bumper giving the car a slightly more angular look. Expect to see the facelifted car later this year.
The Volkswagen press releases follows below:
Wolfsburg / Detroit, 9. January 2005 - 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.
Ragtop + Speedster = Ragster The development team based the Ragster on the reinforced convertible, shortening the A-pillars by about 90 millimeters and creating a set u-shaped roof fixing for the Ragtop’s frame. It becomes instantly clear where the „Hot Rod“ with its ragtop and speedster dimensions got its name.
New design: The Ragster shows new visual ways. And this does not only hold true for the top. The fenders, bumpers, headlights, tail lights and 19” aluminum rims are all newly designed as well and more progressive and sporty than ever. Newly designed interior: Racing car bucket seats, sports car type steering wheel with integrated engine start button (right side) and ragtop control (left side), center console and the extremely clean designed cargo area.
Power? Anything goes: The drive - A powerful gasoline engine or a high torque TDI are imaginable. Although it has yet to be determined which motor will be built and if the study will be produced in series – Anything goes. Just as in Concept 1, the study on the New Beetle, which also started in Detroit. - A great place for a world premiere…
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!! Renault F1 :)
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