End of the line for the iconic 'Bug'

After seven decades, the longest car in the history of the automobile is about to disappear. Volkswagen will end production of its iconic Beetle by the end of the 2019 model year, the German manufacturer said Thursday.

Designed in Germany in the run up to the Second World War, the Beetle became an icon of the American counterculture during the Vietnam War. But it lost momentum after the two oil shocks of the 70s and, despite two attempts to reclaim the attractiveness with complete makeovers, it has been little more than a niche vehicle largely forgotten in recent years.

Thus, VW has launched what it calls "the final edition", special versions of the Beetle coupe and convertible models that will mark the end of the race next year.

"The loss of the Beetle after three generations … will arouse a host of emotions from the many dedicated Beetle fans," said Hinrich J. Woebcken, President and CEO of Volkswagen America.

But while Woebcken said that "there are no immediate plans to replace him," he added, "I would also say, 'Never say never'.

Indeed, Volkswagen announced last year that it would revive another model formerly legendary, the Microbus, a staple of the hippie era. He will be back at the beginning of the next decade as a Buzz. VW plans to introduce dozens of electric vehicles away from the diesel engines behind the scandal for the brand and costing VW more than $ 30 billion. Some speculate that the Beetle could also see a rebirth with a battery under its hood.

It would not be the first time the ugly coupe had come from the dead.

Known as Bug or, in other parts of the world, the German Käfer for "beetle" – it was originally planned in Adolf Hitler's plan for a "popular car" ", In German, a" Volkswagen ". Ferdinand Porsche, the brilliant engineer who later lent his name to the sports car company. The first ladybug was assembled in 1938 but the production was disrupted by the transformation of German manufacture into a war foot. And the Beetle would have completely disappeared if it was not a British officer in charge of supervising the restoration of the VW factory in the heavily bombed city of Wolfsburg after the end of the war. He spotted one of the little ones cut under a pile of rubble and decided to start building the car again.

As the German economy recovered, the Beetle was one of the first cars to be shipped to the United States, quickly developing a loyal customer base among those who disdained the boulevard cruisers that produced Detroit. Demand exploded in the 1960s as VW Beetle and Microbus became symbols of the anti-war counterculture, with sales of the small coupe climbing to 400,000 a year, making Volkswagen the largest automotive importer.

But the 1970s caused two oil shocks in the Middle East and demand shifted to Asian imports, which offered both better quality and higher fuel economy. VW itself has focused on new models, including the Rabbit – known in the rest of the world as Golf. By the end of the millennium, the ladybug had been largely removed from the key markets of the United States and Europe and only a handful was produced at the VW plant in Puebla, Mexico, for Latin American markets.

The original Beetle will remain in history as having the largest production of a single platform, totaling nearly 22 million. Production was halted in 2003, falling to 30,000 a year, compared to a record 1.3 million.

The "New Beetle" made its debut even before the last of the old models was launched in Puebla. This new version, however, has never had a relationship with buyers, but Volkswagen has decided to try again by launching a third entirely new version in 2011.

Known to fans like the A5, he tried to recreate the look of the original Beetle, with a longer hood than the New Beetle, which VW hoped buyers would consider more macho. The automaker has also lined up celebrity confessions. In November 2010, Oprah Winfrey announced on her television show that she would give one of the A5s to all members of the audience. But sales have never taken off, despite VW's launch of a series of special editions.

In March, the authorities announced that there would be no fourth-generation Beetle, implying that the current model would have disappeared by the end of the decade. They still have not said exactly when the last car of the final edition will be built, but it should disappear by the end of this year, in the middle of 2019.

As for the final edition, it will be available in coupe or convertible. Two unique colors, Safari Uni and Stonewashed Blue, will be added to the standard paint options. There will be distinctive body details, including chrome trim and body color mirrors. Prices will start at $ 23,940 and will be in the $ 30,000 range.

When the last Ladybug will take its course, it will have the distinction of being the oldest plate in the history of the automobile.