The Beetle successors that never were
July 19, 2021 by Volkswagen![The Beetle successors that never were](images/articleimages/volkswagen-ea47-12-ea48-400.jpg)
Trending News• The end of the Car-Gument: The New Renault Scenic is such a perfect family car that buyers are promised relationship bliss – or their money back!
• The new Transporter: The interior – A perfect workplace for professionals on the go
• Standout dynamics showcased in distinctive style: the BMW M Performance Parts for the all-new BMW M5
• Ferrari extends cryptocurrency payments to European dealers
• Automobili Pininfarina Celadná: A stunning new brand galleria for Central Europe
Reportedly the EA97 project was abandoned while workers were prepping its assembly line, and after 200 pilot cars had been assembled by hand. The development of this rear-engine two-door vehicle began in 1957. It featured a more pontoon-shaped body and a 1.1-liter engine. What was the problem? 'It was positioned too close to the Beetle and the Type 3,' according to the AutoMuseum Volkswagen website. 1961 Type 3 Cabriolet The Type 3 released in 1961 gave motorists a more upmarket alternative to the Beetle. This elegant Cabriolet prototype was built for people who wanted a convertible. The folding convertible top featured a glass rear window. Sadly, it was shelved out of fear the model would create internal competition with the Karmann Ghia convertible. 1963 EA128 The EA128 was Volkswagen's vision for a large luxury car. The four-door vehicle was marketed as a six-passenger vehicle (albeit a tight fit) and was powered by a 2.0 liter air-cooled horizontally opposed engine borrowed from the Porsche 911, which also debuted in 1963. 1966 EA142 While developing the Type 4, which made its debut in 1968, Volkswagen experimented with various body styles, including this elegant EA 142. The rear engine hatchback sported the same 1.7-liter engine that would appear in the production version of the Type 4. 1969 EA276 This was the inspiration for the original Golf, which was sold as the Rabbit in the U.S. The front-wheel-drive hatchback was boxier than many of the other Beetle replacements. Though this car is outfitted with the same air-cooled flat-four-cylinder engine as the Beetle, VW changed to a four-cylinder, water-cooled inline engine before releasing the Rabbit in 1974. 1969 EA266 One of the more innovative replacement candidates was the EA266. It was developed with assistance from Porsche and a team led by Ferdinand Piëch, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who would later become Chairman of the Volkswagen group in 1993. The mid-engine hatchback features a water-cooled four-cylinder 1.6-liter engine mounted under the rear seat in a longitudinal configuration with the transaxle directly behind it to save space. Despite the sporty design and Porsche DNA, the EA266 fell short of the assembly line – destined for the museum floor instead.
posted on conceptcarz.com
Related Posts
Recent Posts
- The end of the Car-Gument: The New Renault Scenic is such a perfect family car that buyers are promised relationship bliss – or their money back!
- The new Transporter: The interior – A perfect workplace for professionals on the go
- Standout dynamics showcased in distinctive style: the BMW M Performance Parts for the all-new BMW M5
- Ferrari extends cryptocurrency payments to European dealers
- Automobili Pininfarina Celadná: A stunning new brand galleria for Central Europe