VW Makes Rear Engine Vehicle Again

In the news: Sources inside Volkswagen headquarters are reportedly saying that the German auto maker is currently making a rear engine vehicle again. Volkswagen has indicated that it is currently working on a rump-motored, water-cooled small car. It is one that resembles the original Beetle in both layout and purpose.

Reports are also saying that Volkswagen's reinvention of its iconic people's car will have its engine situated on top of the transaxle and a radiator in the nose. Three wheelbase options and two body styles will be offered worldwide, but only two variations will come to the United States. These are the 130-inch-long Beetle reincarnation aimed at the Smart for Two, and the no-frills, four-door notchback likely to be marketed as a smaller, cheaper Jetta. Pricing will be in the range of $10,000 to $14,000.

Other features supposedly included are ABS, satellite navigation, and a sun roof. Power steering however, will not be offered as a cost-reducing measure. Although third-world countries will receive a two-cylinder engine and emerging markets may even get a one-cylinder unit, U.S. VW cars will likely be powered by a turbocharged and direct-injected three-cylinder.

Speculations are that the rear-engine revival was largely Ferdinand Piëch's idea. Piëch, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, the man behind the original Beetle reportedly convinced VW chairman Martin Winterkorn that the dynamically challenged rear-engine layout was attractive enough to succeed.

According to reports, one VW executive has already admitted that the company plans to install stability control to address handling issues. But other automotive journalists are still not sold on the rear-engine idea though it is quite certain that it can be made to work in an inexpensive car like a VW small car.

Other have been speculating that the German automaker has long abandoned the people's car demographic for "richer climes", what with Piëch's grand vision for the brand lay in cars like the Phaeton in recent times. But who knows if wild ideas like these will be able to do wonders for Volkswagen's seemingly lackluster offerings of late? That we have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, no mention of the engine components of the rear engine vehicle has been made. Nonetheless, it can be anticipated that the automaker will give it the same quality VW engine components, with the same durable VW valve covers. These are components which are typically made of heavy gauge die cast steel. They come in different shapes, sizes, and finishes to function to all kinds of engine specifications.