The Iconic Volkswagen Beetle is Experiencing a Rush of Nostalgia
Nostalgia is in and it continues to creep into the automotive industry. The Volkswagen Beetle found itself at this very same crossroads as young adults in the 90s celebrated the return of the iconic vehicle. Styles and trends continue to circle back around and Generation Z is keeping this streak alive. Nostalgia for turn of the century culture is at an all time high and it’s currently manifesting in renewed appreciation for the Volkswagen Beetle. Many wonder how the iconic model keeps its pop-culture edge throughout the years and Freeman Thomas, half of the design duo behind the modern Beetle, explains why.
First revived in 1993 as an electric car, the New Beetle began as a small-scale model captured on the sunny California beaches before officially being greenlit as a concept car for auto shows. During the 1994 Detroit Auto Show, Volkswagen unveiled its “Concept One” car, a nostalgic vehicle that paid homage to the original Beetle often associated with flower power. The concept was introduced then with a nostalgic voiceover exclaiming “Remember when…” as the New Beetle would showcase a modern, front engine chassis.
“The journalists were all tearing up. The overwhelming response from the press was so big that they would not leave the show stand and go to other press conferences, they wanted to see if Volkswagen would actually build the Beetle,” said Thomas.
After the unprecedented success at the Detroit Auto Show, Concept One was finally cleared for production as Thomas and his team got to work designing every interior and exterior detail. They made sure to take the original Beetle design down to its most geometric elements and opted to mix industrial design with Bauhaus hints by adding warm character design. The New Beetle was considered stylish and approachable as designers chose to bring in modernity rather than relying on the sharp lines and shapes of the past. Thomas even included the famous flower vase ideas into each vehicle as an homage to the porcelain Rosenthal bud vases found in the original models.
“Everybody has their own Volkswagen Beetle story, Memories based not just off the charisma of the design but the reliability of the vehicle and how it represented Volkswagen’s philosophy of how to build, design and sell a vehicle,” added Thomas.
By 1998, the New Beetle was introduced to consumers and became immediately popular. Volkswagen added a cabrio model during the 2003 model year that was once more inspired by the perfect mix of modernity and nostalgia. Thomas and his team designed the cabrio’s fold down top to sit on the rear of the New Beetle just like on the original convertibles. The New Beetle was all about simplicity, while harkening on the past. Even though the model was discontinued once again, the rumor mill churns with a possible all-electric comeback – time will tell!
“The Beetle means the simplicity of the past, when things were innocent and accessible and fun. That’s really what the Beetle represented,” said Thomas. Here’s hoping the same guiding principles can possibly be applied to an all-new Beetle if Volkswagen takes the plunge and brings the model into production again.
These days, Volkswagen finds itself busy with the task of democratizing EVs as the brand makes electric vehicles at accessible price points. The latest hit from the automaker is the Volkswagen ID.4, which you can experience today at Sunrise Volkswagen. Learn more about the Volkswagen ID.4 and the future of Volkswagen via Sunrise Volkswagen social media and in the meantime stay tuned for the latest news and offers.