We like concept cars that are low on concept and high on car. Tiller steering? Yawn. Photon drive? Scratch and stretch. Hollywood sound stage on wheels? Head nods. A shape that would require further evolution of the Homo sapiens species to fit into? ZZZZZZ.
Rather, give us something like the…
…2005 Volkswagen New Beetle Ragster.
In fact, give us the Volkswagen New Beetle Ragster concept introduced at the Detroit auto show in January, 2005. We didn’t know it at the time, but the fenders, bumpers, headlights and taillights of the concept foretold styling changes for the 2006 update of Wolfsburg’s retro bug. What attracted our attention was the Volkswagen New Beetle with the classic look of a Carson top. Well, sort of.
Contemporary report originally published in CarBuzzard August 23, 2007; republished by author John Matras
Volkswagen gave the New Beetle a California custom look by chopping the A-pillars and windshield of a standard New Beetle Convertible by about 3.5 inches, then installing a hard roof with a flat top, replacing the traditional New Beetle arched roof. The center section of the roof was clipped and covered a retractable fabric panel, thus putting the rag in Ragster (officially “Ragtop + Speedster”).
And that basically was it. Volkswagen designers tarted the exterior with distinctive 19-inch alloy wheels. The redesigned interior got the obligatory “race car” bucket seats and a sports steering wheel with an engine start button and ragtop control on the spokes.
Hinting that the Ragster might actually go into production, Volkswagen suggested that “anything goes,” saying a “powerful gasoline engine or a high torque TDI are imaginable.” (Actually, we can imagine rocket power, too, though we have a seriously overactive imagination gland).
Reads the Ragster press release: “Although it has yet to be determined which motor will be built and if the study will be produced in series—Anything goes.[sic]”
Oh, yes. We recently reviewed the Volkswagen New Beetle Triple White and, well, it’s a girl’s car. Betcha the limited production run goes 98 percent female. And that’s a conservative estimate.
But produce the Volkswagen New Beetle Ragster with some serious muscle and watch the New Beetle franchise move significantly to the testosterone side of the aisle. If Volkswagen can have a waiting line for the R32, its limited-production 250 hp all-wheel drive version of the Golf (we’ve driven and will soon post a review), think what VW could do with that drivetrain under a bad boy Beetle. Hey, it works for us. You too?
Addendum: Technically the Volkswagen New Beetle Ragster isn’t a California custom VW because the Cal-look Beetle doesn’t chop the top but is rather stripped of trim, lowered and the engine hotrodded. But I like the look and it’s a shame that VW didn’t produce it. No doubt the body changes would require crash testing, a process that would be too expensive for a limited run. But do you like the design of the Volkswagen New Bettle Ragster, and barring the roof chop, what about a 250 hp all-wheel drive New Beetle?
