GETTING THE BUGS OUT; NEW BEETLE'S DESIGNERS ENDURE BUMPY ROAD.Byline: Brooke Olson Daily News Staff Writer Volkswagen's New Beetle rolled onto dealers' floors last week, but its dubious appearance at the 1994 Detroit Auto Show An auto show, or motor show, is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. It is commonly attended by automobile manufacturers. Most auto shows occur once or twice a year. nearly put the brakes on the bug. Designers from VW's Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. center brought the Concept I prototype to the stage, its chic model design and nostalgic appeal carefully concealed under a large sheet. As the cover was pulled off, the crowd's reaction was a loud and resounding re·sound v. re·sound·ed, re·sound·ing, re·sounds v.intr. 1. To be filled with sound; reverberate: The schoolyard resounded with the laughter of children. 2. . . . silence? ``There was dead silence for 10 or 15 seconds,'' said Charles Ellwood, design director at the VW Simi Valley Centre. ``We were all saying Oh God no, oh God no, and, all of a sudden, there was this applause.'' The immediate response by those who saw it was universal: ``Build it!'' Volkswagen - and its auto dealers - was immediately flooded with a barrage of calls from ``Veedub'' enthusiasts, who were eager to get their hands on the new vehicle. The earlier Bug was last offered in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. in 1977. The new Bug's debut at the Detroit Auto Show was just the first speed bump along the way to the showroom. It all began with idle lunchtime banter at the top-secret Simi Valley Volkswagen design facility in 1991, when a bunch of designers asked the question: Why don't we build a new Bug? They thought they could re-create the magic of the VW classic, but support for the idea had to be won. ``When they unveiled it to the top management at VW, the top management was a little uncertain about it,'' said Murat Gueler, a designer at the Simi Valley center. VW had been working hard to get past the ``Beetle image'' - a cheap automobile with an unmistakable buzz of that 25- to 50-horsepower air-cooled engine Air-cooled engines rely on the circulation of air directly over hot parts of the engine to cool them. Introduction Most modern internal combustion engines are cooled by a closed circuit carrying liquid coolant through channels in the engine block, where the coolant . But designers felt that VW should capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. the fact that the Beetle remains arguably ar·gu·a·ble adj. 1. Open to argument: an arguable question, still unresolved. 2. That can be argued plausibly; defensible in argument: three arguable points of law. one of the biggest cult cars ever made - with the longest production run of all vehicles. ``The designers had talked to the public and the dealers about Volkswagen and they found that everyone associated VW with the cute old Beetle and the cute old bus,'' Ellwood said. ``The idea was to reproduce the nostalgia people felt toward the Beetle, while at the same time bringing the vehicle up to modern safety standards Safety standards are standards designed to ensure the safety of products, activities or processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory. ,'' he added. Indeed, VW's ad campaign touts the New Beetle as having ``Less flower. More power.'' Uberdecision-makers Over the next two years, a team including as many as 20 designers set to work creating a model of their concept of the new Bug. Nervously, they took it to Germany for a presentation in 1993 before VW's top managers behind closed doors. They were impressed. The go-ahead was given to develop a ``concept'' car for the Detroit car show, Ellwood said. ``It was purely a conceptual thing at the time,'' Ellwood said. One year later, Volkswagen unveiled its Concept I prototype at the 1994 Detroit show, creating a wave of excitement that extended nationwide. But even then, it wasn't until the end of 1994 that Volkswagen made the decision to make the leap from show stopper Show stopper A legal barrier, such as a scorched-earth policy or shark repellant system, that firms use to prevent a takeover. show stopper A legal barrier to a takeover attempt that is virtually impossible for the suitor to overcome. to the showroom. ``There was a lot of research done and a lot of work back and forth between design centers to gauge exactly how well the vehicle would actually sell,'' Ellwood said. New technology ``At the Detroit show there was a lot of excitement and the press just didn't leave the stand for two days and we found that the excitement just kept on growing and growing,'' he added. The Beetle underwent a series of design changes before the VW crew settled on its current shape - a blend of modern technology and the company's heritage. The half-a-cantaloupe, upside-down cereal bowl profile is unmistakable. But the technologically modern, front-engine, front-wheel-drive is reassuring for anyone who lived with its original air-cooled system. ``I remember so many hot summer days when my Bug would just overheat o·ver·heat v. o·ver·heat·ed, o·ver·heat·ing, o·ver·heats v.tr. 1. To heat too much. 2. To cause to become excited, agitated, or overstimulated. v.intr. and then there was the complete lack of heat in the winter,'' said Chris Samson, self-proclaimed Bug lover and 21-year-old Tarzana resident. ``Not to mention there's the joys of a rear-engined car with swing axle A swing axle is a simple type of independent suspension first used in early 20C. aircraft, Sopwith, Fokker et al, 1910 or earlier usually with rubber bungee and no damping.. rear suspension For front-wheel drive cars, rear suspension has few constraints and a variety of beam axles and independent suspensions are used. For rear-wheel drive cars, rear suspension and those occasional whiffs of exhaust fumes exhaust fumes fumes given off by vehicles; contain some carbon monoxide, the amount varying with the efficiency of combustion in the particular engine. In most engines the use of exhaust fumes for euthanasia is not recommended because it operates partly on the carbon dioxide ,'' he added with a smile. But Samson's not complaining. He loves the car and believes it is a ``total American classic.'' So classic, in fact, that he wants to own nothing else. ``I'm eager to see those new Bugs,'' Samson said, adding that he may eventually buy one. And that's exactly the attitude VW is hoping for. VW expects to sell about 50,000 in the first full year of production. ``But the dealers are saying that our number is somewhat conservative,'' said Steve Keyes, director of VW communications. Mark White, manager of Volkswagen of Van Nuys Inc., said his dealership has been getting calls the past four years about the New Beetle. ``Everyone wants to know when they can get their hands on one,'' White said. The two-door automobile can be driven off the showroom floor for $15,000. Not a bad price considering old Beetle models - last sold in 1979 - can be worth up to $15,000 apiece. ``I sold my Beetle for almost $13,000 and it cost me less than $3,000 when I first bought it in 1963,'' said Eric Kerras, 48, of Simi Valley of his former blue, Beetle convertible. ``We think the New Beetle is a very good value,'' Keyes said, ticking off the features of the new Bug, including air conditioning air conditioning, mechanical process for controlling the humidity, temperature, cleanliness, and circulation of air in buildings and rooms. Indoor air is conditioned and regulated to maintain the temperature-humidity ratio that is most comfortable and healthful. , side air bags, rear disc brakes and power steering power steering n. A device driven by the engine of a vehicle that facilitates the turning of the steering wheel by the driver. power steering Noun . The predicted success of the car has created a feeling of exhilaration among the Simi Valley designers. ``You've got to remember that in designing a car like the Beetle, you're taking an icon and you have to be very careful about messing with it,'' Ellwood said. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: The road to creation of the New Beetle was not all smooth sailing. John McCoy/Daily News |
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