VW to make RWD Mini-fighter! World Still Awaits RR New Beetle.

[Tornado]

Report: Volkswagen plans rear-engine Mini competitor


Volkswagen is planning a rear-engine compact car to compete with BMW's Mini Cooper, according to a report by German car magazine Auto Bild. Few details are available, but such an engine layout would dictate a rear-wheel-drive system — a rarity in the world of modern compact cars.
Aside from the Porsche 911, few modern cars have their engine over the back wheels. Most modern super cars use a mid-engine configuration, and the rest of the vehicles on the road typically have the powerplant up front. Even the Volkswagen Beetle — once an iconic rear-engine car — now has its engine in front of the the passengers.
The reasons for designing such a vehicle are not known, but VW might be trying to create a new niche for an ultra-sporty low-cost compact car. Earlier this month, we told you how Volkswagen's new CEO Martin Winterkorn intends to fill "lucrative market niches" with new models over the coming years. His goal is to transform VW into a maker of high-profit niche cars

Linky.


I can't say I'm surprised VW is going to try to fill the Lupo's market segment so quickly, but I am surprised if it ends up being RR. Though I've read that making RR cars makes it much easier to pass pedestrain crash compliance in small cars...

 

[Leonidae]

anything about the engines? I'm putting my money on those small but feisty TSi-engines.

 

[Poverty]

The Audi "A1" might be the same. Except it wont be called the A1 according to my ever reliable audi sources.

 

[Poverty]

anything about the engines? I'm putting my money on those small but feisty TSi-engines.

Your bang on the money 👍

 

[F1GTR]

Sounds good, I just hope they actually go through with it.

 

[Tommi]

Yes i also hope it is made it would be nice to see VW make a car to rival the mini.

 

[JCE]

If it looks anything like that green one in the pic I'd be thrilled. I hope it comes to America.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm all for the idea, but I am doubtful that it will come to America. Why? Well, it just doesn't seem like the kind of things most Americans would go for. That said, the success of the ForTwo could change a lot of that with the idea that an RR car isn't the best idea when they are that small... But I don't even know what I'm talking about.

Would I buy one? Probably. Would it be fun to drive? Hopefully. Will they be "cheap"? Probably not.

 

[Leonidae]

I think it'll probably be more like MR 2-seater than RR 4-seater.

 

[Wolfe]

If this doesn't turn out to be an RR New Beetle successor, then VW will have made an even more retarded decision than when they decided to make the New Beetle FF to begin with.

 

[Jim Prower]

If they go RR, they have to put a boxer mill in there. I don't care if it's water-cooled, It's gotta be a boxer. Perhaps share it with a new Miata-class Porsche. or buy a share in Fuji Heavy industries...

New Beetle STi, anyone?

 

[Leonidae]

New Beetle STi, anyone?

You, Sir, are out of your mind.

 

[Jim Prower]

You, Sir, are out of your mind.

I'm not sure whether I should take that as a compliment or not.

 

[YSSMAN]

If they go RR, they have to put a boxer mill in there. I don't care if it's water-cooled, It's gotta be a boxer. Perhaps share it with a new Miata-class Porsche. or buy a share in Fuji Heavy industries...

New Beetle STi, anyone?

Ask Porsche to lob two cylinders off the 3.6L mill and you could probably get what you want. Whether or not Porsche would do it is a whole-nother question.

 

[niky]

It'd have to be a transverse four to be narrow enough to make sense back there.

Of course, my wish is for a turbo twin cylinder, maybe 600-1000cc. That wouldn't be very smooth or quiet, but VW could stick a balancer shaft on it... or... a boxer twin?

 

[Omnis]

W-4? It would be so awesome if they made a 12x rpm turbo screamer.