Revival: Volkswagen Beetle Electric on the cards?

It’s been more than a decade since Volkswagen’s iconic Beetle was last sold. Its lacklustre sales figures resulted in the two-door retro hatchback being dropped from the Volkswagen’s line-up in 2013. Recently, the company has been toying with the idea of a Beetle comeback, as evident by the electric Volkswagen Beetle concept created for the animated film “Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir”. A Beetle EV was also hinted last year by former Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess, who suggested that more “emotional” cars were possible with the scalable MEB platform.

• READ MORE: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Review

Volkswagen’s ID. family of electric-only cars is expanding, will it see something along the lines of an “ID.Bug” joining the line-up? Quite possible. The Volkswagen ID.4 is already well suited to be morphed into a Beetle EV, with its rear-mounted electric motor and rear-wheel drive, just like the rear-engined and rear-driven original Beetle. With a driving range of up to 345km, the powertrain of the ID.4 base model is also perfect for a city-focused car like the Beetle.

While the VW Beetle EV concept in the animated film looks a bit far fectched, here’s a more realistic rendering from automotive renderer Kleber Silva of Behance.net. Retaining the classic silhouette and scupted surfaces of its forebear, the Beetle EV is being reimagined as a modern zero-emission city car.

Image: Behance.net