Paul Tan's Automotive Industry News
   

Volkswagen’s rear-engined MINI fighter

vw_mini_competitor.jpg

Autobild reports that Volkswagen is working on a small MINI Cooper fighter, but what’s interesting is the car will supposedly use a rear engine, rear wheel drive layout, much like Volkswagen’s own timeless classic collectible, the Volkswagen Beetle. The Beetle’s new incarnation - the Volkswagen New Beetle - has departed from the classic’s RR layout, instead putting everything at the front.

This foray into a niche market of economical but fun and sporty cars could be Volkswagen’s attempt to tap into it’s full potential, which has not been realized, according to Volkswagen’s new CEO Martin Winterkorn.

17 Comments »

  1. liza said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 2:36 am

    aygo fighter, not mini,..

  2. dawgHause said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 3:41 am

    This might be reminiscient of the Mitsubishi iCar. Small package rear engined-rear wheel drive. Nice i like the idea of a pocket beetle, or even better, a pocket 911 for the masses.

  3. ajmal said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 4:10 am

    pretty good looking little car, fresh design i would say though it remind me of a merc… (¤_¤!)

  4. e-nabilll said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 4:57 am

    u never know,by the time its manufactured,it wil be in tanjung malim!

  5. L7 said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 8:22 am

    this is sure is something from the people’s car, though it does resemble a merc at first glimspe..

  6. albagmane said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 9:41 am

    i think this is a nice move… wonder this shape and size can use for drifting… hmm…

  7. KY said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 9:46 am

    oOO got side grills, i like.

  8. raptorclans said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 10:36 am

    oooh… welcome the spiritual successor to the Beetle :D

  9. nmh said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 2:55 pm

    mini sports car!!

  10. tanasi said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 3:24 pm

    Rear engine, but trust me they’ll dial in bloody too much understeer into it.

  11. ingolstadt said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 5:38 pm

    oooh manufacture this in Tanjung Malim and sell it at RM46k. wooohoo ~

  12. proton GL said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 10:21 pm

    prefer a retro look, i bet its more interesting,

  13. ryan_foong80 said,

    February 26, 2007 @ 10:35 pm

    AA…??? is it A Class ….

  14. transformer said,

    February 27, 2007 @ 11:57 am

    though its looks taller, that wide axle should helps stability, and tackle corner smoothly! IMHO, interior space should larger than mini !

  15. acbc said,

    March 1, 2007 @ 11:24 pm

    Looks good but I still prefer the Mitsubishi i because it has turbo!

  16. Volkswagen up! City Car Concept said,

    September 12, 2007 @ 1:28 am

    [...] Frankfurt Motor Show - it is exhibiting the small rear-engined rear wheel drive city car that was talked about early in February this year. It’s funny how Volkswagen has gone back to the RR format that it’s iconic Beetle had [...]

  17. gatot rukmono said,

    October 16, 2007 @ 8:34 am

    quite good I love it, small and rear engine are volkswagen mark

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